Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2024 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
Natural products with health benefits, nutraceuticals, have shown considerable promise in many studies; however, this potential has yet to translate into widespread clinical use for any condition. Notably, many drugs currently on the market, including the first analgesic aspirin, are derived from plant extracts, emphasizing the historical significance of natural products in drug development. Curcumin and resveratrol, well-studied nutraceuticals, have excellent safety profiles with relatively mild side effects. Their long history of safe use and the natural origins of numerous drugs contrast with the unfavorable reputation associated with nutraceuticals. This review aims to explore the nutraceutical potential for treating pseudoachondroplasia, a rare dwarfing condition, by relating the mechanisms of action of curcumin and resveratrol to molecular pathology. Specifically, we will examine the curcumin and resveratrol mechanisms of action related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, oxidative stress, cartilage health, and pain. Additionally, the barriers to the effective use of nutraceuticals will be discussed. These challenges include poor bioavailability, variations in content and purity that lead to inconsistent results in clinical trials, as well as prevailing perceptions among both the public and medical professionals. Addressing these hurdles is crucial to realizing the full therapeutic potential of nutraceuticals in the context of pseudoachondroplasia and other health conditions that might benefit....
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a pathology that affects both an individual’s life and their partner’s, representing an increasing health concern. Currently, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) remain the first-line therapy for erectile dysfunction, and no other drugs are approved. However, the high cost of these drugs and related adverse events limit their use. Since the concept of nutraceuticals has been extended from health promotion to the treatment of diseases, in this work, a novel mixture of different natural substances named Icarifil (L-Citrulline, L-Carnitine, Eruca vesicaria, Panax ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, Turnera diffusa, Taurine, Vitamin E, Zinc) was studied to verify its ability to increase the proliferation of muscle epithelium cells and cell turgor, as well as, due to containing antioxidants, its ability to reduce the amount of ROS that are mediators in the pathophysiological process of ED. Moreover, Icarifil showed efficacy in inhibiting PDE5 levels higher than 65% compared to the control and 35% compared to the mixture of L-Citrulline and L-Carnitine, the major components of the formulation. In association with the low dosage of a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor (tadalafil), the inhibitory capacity of tadalafil was significantly increased and comparable to high-dosage drug response, promoting the possibility of reducing the daily dosage of the drug and consequently its adverse effects....
(1) Background: Lifestyle changes, eventually coupled with a nutraceutical, are recommended strategies for managing high–normal blood pressure (BP) patients with low–moderate cardiovascular (CV) risk. In a real-life clinical setting, we evaluated the effects of generic written lifestyle advice, extrapolated from the 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines, and a beetroot-based nutraceutical on 24 h BP in a population with a high–normal office BP and low–moderate CV risk. (2) Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted in two ESH Hypertension Excellence Centres on 43 consecutive subjects with high–normal BP according to repeated office BP (OBP) measurements and a low–moderate CV risk based on SCORE2/SCORE2-OP. Additionally, 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was carried out at baseline and three months after lifestyle changes, according to generic written advice from the 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines, coupled with a nutraceutical containing 500 mg of dry beetroot extract. (3) Results: The mean age was 50 ± 11 years, with male prevalence (54%). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 58%. The mean OBP was 135 ± 3/85 ± 3 mmHg. At baseline, the mean 24 h BP, daytime BP, and night-time BP were 127 ± 7/80 ± 6 mmHg, 131 ± 8/83 ± 6 mmHg, and 118 ± 8/70 ± 5 mmHg, respectively, BP profiles compatible with hypertension status in some subjects. After a median follow-up of 98 (92–121) days, all BPs, except night-time diastolic BP, were significantly decreased: −3 ± 6/−2 ± 4 mmHg for 24 h BP, −3.9 ± 6.0/−3.0 ± 4.0 mmHg for daytime BP, and −3.3 ± 7.4/−1.3 ± 4.7 mmHg for night-time BP, respectively. No significant clinical changes in body weight were detected. BP decreased independently of baseline BP levels, sex, smoking status, and body mass index, while a more substantial BP decrease was observed in older patients. (4) Conclusions: Our exploratory study shows, for the first time, that written generic lifestyle advice taken from the ESC/ESH hypertension guidelines coupled with a beetroot-based nutraceutical may represent a valid initial non-pharmacological approach in subjects with a high–normal office BP and low–moderate CV risk, even without personalized diet interventions....
Peripheral nerve injuries lead to severe functional impairments and long recovery times, with limited effectiveness and accessibility of current treatments. This has increased interest in natural bioactive compounds, such as ursolic acid (UA). Our study evaluated the effect of an oleolyte rich in UA from white grape pomace (WGPO) on neuronal regeneration in mice with induced sciatic nerve resection, administered concurrently with the induced damage (the WGPO group) and 10 days prior (the PRE-WGPO group). The experiment was monitored at two-time points (4 and 10 days) after injury. After 10 days, the WGPO group demonstrated a reduction in muscle atrophy, evidenced by an increased number and diameter of muscle fibers and a decreased Atrogin-1 and Murf-1 expression relative to the denervated control. It was also observed that 85.7% of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) were fully innervated, as indicated by the colocalization of α-bungarotoxin and synaptophysin, along with the significant modulation of Oct-6 and S-100. The PRE-WGPO group showed a more beneficial effect on nerve fiber reformation, with a significant increase in myelin protein zero and 95.2% fully innervated NMJs, and a pro-hypertrophic effect in resting non-denervated muscles. Our findings suggest WGPO as a potential treatment for various conditions that require the repair of nerve and muscle injuries....
Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a significant public health challenge that has an adverse impact on functional independence, quality of life, and life expectancy. Management of people’s chronic conditions is a key aspect of contemporary medical practice. Our study was an open label, single arm, prospective pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of treating people with TSCI. The study intervention was treatment with oral selenium and vitamin E. Participants were 18 years or older and experienced a TSCI at least one year prior to enrollment. Daily doses of 50 mcg of selenium and 400 IU of vitamin E were administered. Participants had radiologic (MRI tractography) and clinical (ASIA) assessments prior to initiating treatment, and these assessments were repeated after one year of treatment. Four subjects completed the full twelve-month study. Adherence, based on pill counts, was approximately 75% in all subjects. There were no adverse events related to study medications. During the treatment period, subjects reported improvement in certain symptoms. There was no significant difference in ASIA scores before and after the intervention. Combination treatment with vitamin E and selenium has been demonstrated as safe for TSCI patients. It is possible to use DTI values to locate the epicenter of a lesion as well as gauge the extent of injury. MRI tractography may serve as a meaningful surrogate endpoint. The results of this study suggest that it is feasible to conduct a larger long-term clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of combination treatment of TSCI....
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