Natural products – Page 5

Natural Products in Renal-Associated Drug Discovery

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This research examines how natural products like green tea and medicinal mushrooms can help treat kidney diseases. Scientists reviewed various plants used in traditional medicine and analyzed how compounds from these plants affect gene expression in kidney cells. The study identified specific genes and biological pathways that explain how these natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents protect kidneys from injury and disease.

A concise review of mushrooms antiviral and immunomodulatory properties that may combat against COVID-19

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This review explores how medicinal mushrooms have compounds that could help fight COVID-19 and boost immune function. Various mushroom species contain natural substances like beta-glucans and polysaccharides that have shown antiviral properties and can strengthen the body’s immune response. The research suggests these mushrooms could potentially be used alongside conventional treatments to help patients recover from COVID-19 more effectively.

Isolation, (bio)synthetic studies and evaluation of antimicrobial properties of drimenol-type sesquiterpenes of Termitomyces fungi

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Termite colonies farm a fungus called Termitomyces for food in an ancient partnership. Scientists discovered that the mushrooms produced by this fungus release distinctive chemical signals, particularly a compound called drimenol. By isolating and synthesizing these compounds, researchers found they have antimicrobial properties and may play a role in communicating between termites and their fungal crop or protecting mushrooms from infection.

Screening of Basidiomycete Strains Capable of Synthesizing Antibacterial and Antifungal Metabolites

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Researchers tested 18 different types of wood-decay fungi (basidiomycetes) to see if they could produce natural antibiotics and antifungal compounds. They found that 16 of the 18 strains successfully produced antimicrobial substances. Five strains were particularly promising, showing strong activity against dangerous bacteria including antibiotic-resistant strains. The study identified specific chemical compounds from these fungi that could potentially be developed into new medicines.

Anti-Influenza Activity of Medicinal Material Extracts from Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

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Researchers tested extracts from traditional Tibetan medicinal plants, mushrooms, and lichens to see if they could fight influenza virus. They found that seven out of nine extracts could reduce influenza virus infection in laboratory cells, with a mushroom extract called Armillaria luteo-virens showing particularly strong antiviral effects. These results suggest that traditional medicinal materials from the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau could be valuable sources for developing new flu treatments that might work better against drug-resistant flu strains.

Exploring the Anticancer Potential of Coriolus versicolor in Breast Cancer: A Review

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Coriolus versicolor, also known as turkey tail mushroom, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Recent scientific research shows it may help fight breast cancer through multiple mechanisms: killing cancer cells directly through programmed cell death pathways, breaking down the estrogen that fuels some breast cancers, preventing cancer spread, and boosting the immune system. While early studies are promising and one clinical trial showed good safety and immune benefits, larger studies are needed before this mushroom can be recommended as an official cancer treatment.

Microbe Profile: Streptomyces formicae KY5: an ANT-ibiotic factory

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Scientists discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae living in ant nests in Africa that produces powerful antibiotics effective against dangerous drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. This bacterium has the genetic potential to make at least 45 different antimicrobial compounds, though most are not currently being produced under standard laboratory conditions. Using advanced gene-editing techniques like CRISPR, researchers are working to activate these hidden pathways to discover new medicines. This research demonstrates how exploring bacteria in nature can lead to finding new antibiotics to treat serious infections.

Comparative Efficacy of Antrodia cinnamomea on Liver Function Biomarkers in Mice and Rats: A Network Meta-Analysis

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This study compared different extracts from a medicinal mushroom called Antrodia cinnamomea to see which ones work best for protecting liver health. Researchers analyzed data from multiple animal studies and found that extracts rich in compounds called triterpenoids were the most effective at improving liver function and reducing inflammation. The findings suggest that this mushroom could potentially become a natural treatment option for liver disease in the future.

Tyrosinase Inhibitors Derived from Chemical Constituents of Dianella ensifolia

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Researchers isolated four new plant compounds and 67 known compounds from Dianella ensifolia, a traditional Asian medicinal plant. Two of these compounds (11 and 14) were found to inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, making them approximately 13 times more effective than arbutin, a common cosmetic whitening ingredient. These findings suggest that D. ensifolia could be developed as a natural source of skin-whitening agents for treating age spots, freckles, and other pigmentation disorders.

Genome-Mining Based Discovery of Pyrrolomycin K and L from the Termite-Associated Micromonospora sp. RB23

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Researchers discovered two new antimicrobial compounds called pyrrolomycins from a bacterium found in termite guts using genome analysis and advanced chemistry techniques. These compounds are modified versions of known antimicrobial molecules, featuring halogenated structures. Interestingly, the bacteria appears to protect itself from its own toxic compounds through chemical modifications, a strategy that researchers believe could inform the design of new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacteria.

Research Keyword: Natural products