Raj K. Keservani

Protein and Peptide in Drug Targeting and its Therapeutic Approach

Aim. The main aim of this review article is to provide information like advantages of protein and peptides via different routes of drug administration, targeted to a particular site and its implication in drug delivery system. Methods. To that aim, from the web sites of PubMed, HCAplus, Thomson, and Registry were used as the main sources to perform the search for the most significant research articles published on the subject. The information was then carefully analyzed, highlighting the most important results in the development of protein and peptide drug targeting as well as its therapeutic activity. Results. In recent years many researchers use protein and peptide as a target site of drug by a different delivery system. Proteins and peptides are used as specific and effective therapeutic agents, due to instability and side effects their use is complicated. Protein kinases are important regulators of most, if not all, biological processes. Abnormal activity of proteins and peptides has been implicated in many human diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Conclusions. It is concluded that the protein and peptide were used in drug targeting to specific site and also used in different diseased states like cancer, diabetes, immunomodulating, neurodegenerative effects and antimicrobial activity.

Chapter 9 – Nutraceutical Formulations and Challenges

Nutraceuticals are a unique product category with various synonyms that are used internationally. Nutraceuticals create an open environment for new products that promise novel solutions to health-related issues. Nutraceuticals will play an important role in future therapeutic developments. Medicinal plant research should be focused on to produce useful healthcare products (phytomedicines/nutraceuticals/food supplements/conventional drugs) from medicinal and food plants for human welfare. Nutrients in the form of small solids or droplets improve bioavailability. However, there remain numerous barriers to successful implementation of cost-effective manufacturing processes. These challenges are addressed in the work presented here with particular focus on stability, bioavailability, and consumer acceptance. In this chapter we discuss nutraceutical formulations and challenges and stability and safety evaluation in brief.

Medicinal Effect of Nutraceutical Fruits for the Cognition and Brain Health

The recent era is witnessing evaluation of medicinal and nutritional value of fruits and fruit juices for the management and prevention of brain diseases like headache stress, anxiety, hypertension, and Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases by the scientists and researchers worldwide. Fruits possess various chemicals such as antioxidants and polyphenols, which reduce and balance the effect of hormone in brain responsible for brain disease. Natural remedy is cheap, easily available, nontoxic, and easy to prepare and provides good mental health as compared to other remedies. The main objective of this review is to acknowledge medicinal benefits of fruits for the cognition and management of brain disease.

Nutraceutical and Functional Food Regulations in India

Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in the recent years have witnessed a tremendous increase in the interest among the consumers due to their potential of providing health benefits. India is the second largest producer of the food (next only to China). Although, there were multiple laws and regulations covering the foods in India, but there was no single law that could have significantly regulated the functional foods. In 2006, the Indian government passed Food Safety and Standard Act to integrate and streamline the many regulations covering nutraceuticals, foods and dietary supplements. The act calls for the creation of the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA). Once established, the FSSA will be charged with drafting rules and regulations for companies in the food sector to be licensed by local authorities, and a system of checks and balances, including product-recall procedures enforcements and penalties.

Antioxidants and Vitamins: Roles in Cellular Function and Metabolism

Plants and their extracts have been used as medicine against various diseases since ancient times. Antioxidant and vitamins are dispensable bioactive compounds present in plants and their products have been documented to possess several biological activities and are implicated as therapeutic agents against several chronic human diseases. Antioxidants and vitamins are emerging as effective agents against many chronic and progressive human diseases of aging by reducing oxidative stress and simultaneously suppressing free radicals and the formation of reactive oxygen species in various metabolic reactions at the cellular level. Antioxidants are broadly categorized as endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous antioxidants are developed by the biological systems itself and include antioxidant enzymes and molecules such as glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, GSH, and albumin. Exogenous antioxidants are generally dietary antioxidants that include vitamin C, tocopherols, flavonoids, carotenoids, lipoic acid, and selenium. Endogenous and exogenous antioxidants function synergistically to neutralize oxidative stress and recycle endogenous antioxidants. Exogenous antioxidants may be vitamins or dietary polyphenols representing radical scavenging activity. Induction of oxidants at the cellular level reduces the metabolic efficiency of cells and hence cellular function. This chapter provides an overview of the role of the chemistry of antioxidants and vitamins and their biological effects, and an update of their mechanism(s) of action at a cellular level.

Roles of AMP, ADP, ATP, and AMPK in Healthy Energy Boosting and Prolonged Life Span

Abstract Gerontological studies have revealed molecular pathways involved in the aging process. The wish to extend the human life span has a long tradition in many cultures. There is a role for mechanistic target of rapamycin/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitochondrial biogenesis, reactive oxygen species production, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy in prolonging or reducing the life span of an organism. There is delicate balance of adenosine monophosphate/5′-adenylic acid (AMP), adenosine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and calcium ion in the cellular mechanism. AMPK is the sensor and most important regulator of metabolic homeostasis. The broad-spectrum activity of AMPK in the cell metabolism makes it an important target for drug discovery. It is involved in most reactions producing energy under stressful conditions. This chapter describes AMPK involvement in a healthy life and the disease pathogenesis that affects quality of life.

Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fats

Abstract The composition of the diet, specifically carbohydrates, protein, and lipids, has been in medicine since antiquity for the purposes of quick recovery and the digestive system. The consumption of these nutrients for energy is driven by both physiological and psychological needs. Carbohydrates, fat, and protein are required each day to provide energy, growth, maintenance, and the repair of body tissues. Carbohydrates and fat are major sources of energy in the diet; however protein is necessary for all kinds of biological processes and hence has the smallest role for direct energy purposes. Energy used by the body is described in terms of the metabolic rate underlying passive and active conditions which are further correlated to body weight. Energy metabolism and the role of carbohydrates, lipids, and protein in foods are areas of emerging research with a therapeutic approach against obesity and related biological disorders. This chapter provides an overview of the role of protein, carbohydrates, and fats in energy metabolism, weight loss, and their dietary composition regarding weight loss and weight maintenance in various progressive diseases.

Naturally Occurring Toxicants as Etiologic Agents of Foodborne Disease

Learning Objectives • Examine the etiology (causation) of human disease related to naturally-occurring foodborne toxicants. • Understand the chemical complexity of foods. • Explore goiter, tropical ataxia neuropathy (TAN), tropical amblyopia, lathyrism, and their linkage to foodborne toxicants. • Review a range of natural food toxicants that are involved in human disease. Complexity of Food Nutrients • Carbohydrates • Proteins • Lipids • Minerals • Vitamins

Chapter 10 – Nanobiomaterials involved in medical imaging technologies

Recently nanobiomaterials have been used as a contrast substance for medical imaging, including in ultrasonography, computed tomography, scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging. Nanoparticles have become more prevalent in reports of novel contrast agents, especially for molecular imaging and detecting cellular processes. Fluorescent nanoparticles can easily be tuned for specific imaging purposes. They offer a more intense fluorescent light emission, longer fluorescence lifetimes, and a much broader spectrum of colors than conventional fluorophores. Nanoparticle contrast agents for ultrasound have also been developed, which may enhance the sensitive detection of vascular and cardiac thrombi, as well as solid tumors of the colon, liver, and breast, in a noninvasive manner. Most common materials that have been used for the development of photo-based nanoparticles (NPs) are polymer-based (including chitosan, dextran, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)) and metal-based (gold, silver and silica). Quantum dots, when used in conjunction with MRI, can produce exceptional images of tumor sites. Imaging agents allow clinicians to detect diseases at their earliest, most treatable, presymptomatic stage. Nanomedicines can be detected in vivo by medical imaging, after they are loaded with imaging-functionalized particles or are radioactively labeled. In this chapter we will discuss the potential advantages and applications of nanobiomaterials in the field of medical imaging.

Emerging trends of nanobiomaterials in hard tissue engineering

Abstract In the last decade many new developments have been made in hard tissue engineering. The regeneration of hard tissues, like bones and teeth, has always been challenging for bioengineering. Many researchers have used various biomaterials for engineering of mineralized (hard) tissue. The specific biological, structural and biochemical properties of biomaterials attract scientists to use them for regeneration of hard tissue. Furthermore, nanobiomaterials show self-assembly that can be used for cell three-dimensional cultures as well as tissue generation in vivo. In this chapter, we present hard tissue regeneration technologies and applications of nanobiomaterials in hard tissue engineering. The chapter focuses on the various nanobiomaterials used for tissue engineering and their modification for enhancement of scaffold properties. The chapter also summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of various nanobiomaterials and their future prospects in regenerative therapy.