Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 67612

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Interests: molecular pathology; oxidative stress; signal transduction; inflammaging;, microRNAs; bioinfomatics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The benefits of dietary components for human health, in particular antioxidant properties and their positive effect in the prevention of diseases (e.g., degenerative diseases) have been widely recognized. Significant efforts have been made in developing new devices and approaches to overcoming unsolved medical problems and to advance human health care. Biomaterials have been one of the key elements of this advancement, and dietary components have been considered as new agents in biomaterials. These latter may have important roles in modulating the functions of biomaterials and processing for various medical and biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration and drug delivery. Wound dressings have been formulated in several structural forms such as nanofibers, polymers, films, and meshes. The key factors for the successful repair of wounds sustained by biomaterials are based on surface topography, the type of polymer used, fabrication techniques, and the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the scaffolds.

In this Special Issue we invite researchers to submit their latest research findings or review articles related to nutrients or dietary components that may be used to produce functionalized biomaterials for wound dressing and health care. In vivo and/or in vitro studies on any of the following topics will be considered: analysis of nutrients with physiologically active compounds possessing antioxidant properties that may increase the production of key constituents of the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to effectual wound healing; compounds that are appealing in the field of regenerative medicine to support cell migration, proliferation, and growth; nutrients or bioactive natural compounds isolated from plant sources that may display bioactive properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anticoagulant, and antimicrobial activity (favorable factors for wound healing); natural polymers and composites which are both renewable and biodegradable; new biomaterial formulations with biomedical applications (for tissue regeneration and drug delivery); composite fibrous scaffolds containing both synthetic polymers (with appropriate mechanical properties) and natural polymers (with bioactive surfaces).

Prof. Maria Cristina Albertini
Prof. Seeram Ramakrishna, FREng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Antioxidants
  • biomaterials
  • nutrition
  • drug delivery
  • anti-microbial
  • anti-inflammatory
  • phytochemicals
  • tissue regeneration
  • nanotechnology
  • nanofibers

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 5687 KiB  
Article
Systematic Development and Characterization of Novel, High Drug-Loaded, Photostable, Curcumin Solid Lipid Nanoparticle Hydrogel for Wound Healing
by Simarjot Kaur Sandhu, Suneel Kumar, Jayant Raut, Mandeep Singh, Sandeep Kaur, Garima Sharma, Tomas L. Roldan, Sonia Trehan, Jennifer Holloway, Gabriella Wahler, Jeffrey D. Laskin, Patrick J. Sinko, Francois Berthiaume, Bozena Michniak-Kohn, Praveen Rishi, Narayanan Ganesh and Indu Pal Kaur
Antioxidants 2021, 10(5), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050725 - 5 May 2021
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4790
Abstract
The study aims to develop high drug-loaded (about 15% lipid matrix) curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles (CSLNs) for wound healing. CSLNs prepared by hot, high-pressure homogenization, without using organic solvents, were optimized using the Taguchi design followed by the central composite design. The optimized [...] Read more.
The study aims to develop high drug-loaded (about 15% lipid matrix) curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles (CSLNs) for wound healing. CSLNs prepared by hot, high-pressure homogenization, without using organic solvents, were optimized using the Taguchi design followed by the central composite design. The optimized CSLNs exhibited a high assay/drug content (0.6% w/w), solubility (6 × 105 times), and EE (75%) with a particle size < 200 nm (PDI—0.143). The CSLNs were safe (in vitro and in vivo), photostable, autoclavable, stable up to one year at 30 °C and under refrigeration and exhibited a controlled release (zero-order; 5 days). XRD, FTIR, and DSC confirmed solubilization and entrapment of the curcumin within the SLNs. TEM and FESEM revealed a smooth and spherical shape. The CSLNs showed a significant antimicrobial effect (MIC of 64 µg/mL for planktonic cells; 512 µg/mL for biofilm formation; and 2 mg/mL for mature biofilm) against Staphylococcus aureus 9144, while free curcumin dispersion did not exhibit any effect. This is the first report on the disruption of mature biofilms by curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles (CSLNs). The cell proliferation potential of CSLNs was also evaluated in vitro while the wound healing potential of CSLNs (incorporated in a hydrogel) was assessed in vivo. In (i) nitrogen mustard gas and (ii) a full-thickness excision wound model, CSLNs exhibited (a) significantly faster wound closure, (b) histologically and immunohistochemically better healing, (c) lower oxidative stress (LPO) and (d) inflammation (TNFα), and (e) increased angiogenesis (VEGF) and antioxidant enzymes, i.e., catalase and GSH levels. CSLNs thus offer a promising modern wound therapy especially for infected wounds, considering their effects in mature biofilm disruption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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18 pages, 3557 KiB  
Article
Delivery of Cinnamic Aldehyde Antioxidant Response Activating nanoParticles (ARAPas) for Vascular Applications
by Ana E. Cartaya, Halle Lutz, Sophie Maiocchi, Morgan Nalesnik and Edward M. Bahnson
Antioxidants 2021, 10(5), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050709 - 29 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3937
Abstract
Selective delivery of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activators to the injured vasculature at the time of vascular surgical intervention has the potential to attenuate oxidative stress and decrease vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperproliferation and migration towards the inner vessel [...] Read more.
Selective delivery of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activators to the injured vasculature at the time of vascular surgical intervention has the potential to attenuate oxidative stress and decrease vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperproliferation and migration towards the inner vessel wall. To this end, we developed a nanoformulation of cinnamic aldehyde (CA), termed Antioxidant Response Activating nanoParticles (ARAPas), that can be readily loaded into macrophages ex vivo. The CA-ARAPas-macrophage system was used to study the effects of CA on VSMC in culture. CA was encapsulated into a pluronic micelle that was readily loaded into both murine and human macrophages. CA-ARAPas inhibits VSMC proliferation and migration, and activates Nrf2. Macrophage-mediated transfer of CA-ARAPas to VSMC is evident after 12 h, and Nrf2 activation is apparent after 24 h. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of CA encapsulation in pluronic micelles for macrophage-mediated delivery studies. The results of this study highlight the feasibility of CA encapsulation and subsequent macrophage uptake for delivery of cargo into other pertinent cells, such as VSMC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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16 pages, 27372 KiB  
Article
Curcumin-Loaded Hydrophobic Surface-Modified Hydroxyapatite as an Antioxidant for Sarcopenia Prevention
by Ya-Jyun Liang, I-Hsuan Yang, Yi-Wen Lin, Jhih-Ni Lin, Chang-Chin Wu, Chih-Yung Chiang, Kun-Hung Lai and Feng-Huei Lin
Antioxidants 2021, 10(4), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10040616 - 16 Apr 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4269
Abstract
Oxidative stress and later-induced chronic inflammation have been reported to play an important role on the progression of sarcopenia. Current treatments for sarcopenia are mainly administered to patients whom sarcopenia already developed. However, there has been no promising results shown in therapy. Therefore, [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress and later-induced chronic inflammation have been reported to play an important role on the progression of sarcopenia. Current treatments for sarcopenia are mainly administered to patients whom sarcopenia already developed. However, there has been no promising results shown in therapy. Therefore, the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies against sarcopenia would be necessary. Curcumin is a traditional medicine that possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. In the present study, hydroxyapatite was subjected to hydrophobic surface modifications for curcumin loading (Cur-SHAP). It was, subsequently, utilized for delivery to the patient’s body via intramuscular injection in order to achieve constant release for more than 2 weeks, preventing the progression of the sarcopenia or even leading to recovery from the early stage of the illness. According to the results of WST-1, LIVE/DEAD, DCFDA, and gene expression assays, Cur-SHAP exhibited good biocompatibility and showed great antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects through the endocytic pathway. The results of the animal studies showed that the muscle endurance, grip strength, and fat/lean mass ratio were all improved in Cur-SHAP-treated rats from LPS-induced sarcopenia. In summary, we successfully synthesized hydrophobic surface modification hydroxyapatite for curcumin loading (Cur-SHAP) and drug delivery via the IM route. The LPS-induced sarcopenia rats were able to recover from disease after the Cur-SHAP treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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21 pages, 3727 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammaging Ability of Prune (Prunus Spinosa L.) Extract Result in Improved Wound Healing Efficacy
by Sofia Coppari, Mariastella Colomba, Daniele Fraternale, Vanessa Brinkmann, Margherita Romeo, Marco Bruno Luigi Rocchi, Barbara Di Giacomo, Michele Mari, Loretta Guidi, Seeram Ramakrishna, Natascia Ventura and Maria Cristina Albertini
Antioxidants 2021, 10(3), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10030374 - 2 Mar 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4988
Abstract
Prunus spinosa L. fruit (PSF) ethanol extract, showing a peculiar content of biologically active molecules (polyphenols), was investigated for its wound healing capacity, a typical feature that declines during aging and is negatively affected by the persistence of inflammation and oxidative stress. To [...] Read more.
Prunus spinosa L. fruit (PSF) ethanol extract, showing a peculiar content of biologically active molecules (polyphenols), was investigated for its wound healing capacity, a typical feature that declines during aging and is negatively affected by the persistence of inflammation and oxidative stress. To this aim, first, PSF anti-inflammatory properties were tested on young and senescent LPS-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). As a result, PSF treatment increased miR-146a and decreased IRAK-1 and IL-6 expression levels. In addition, the PSF antioxidant effect was validated in vitro with DPPH assay and confirmed by in vivo treatments in C. elegans. Our findings showed beneficial effects on worms’ lifespan and healthspan with positive outcomes on longevity markers (i.e., miR-124 upregulation and miR-39 downregulation) as well. The PSF effect on wound healing was tested using the same cells and experimental conditions employed to investigate PSF antioxidant and anti-inflammaging ability. PSF treatment resulted in a significant improvement of wound healing closure (ca. 70%), through cell migration, both in young and older cells, associated to a downregulation of inflammation markers. In conclusion, PSF extract antioxidant and anti-inflammaging abilities result in improved wound healing capacity, thus suggesting that PSF might be helpful to improve the quality of life for its beneficial health effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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18 pages, 9356 KiB  
Article
Radical Scavenging-Linked Anti-Adipogenic Activity of Aster scaber Ethanolic Extract and Its Bioactive Compound
by Ye-Eun Choi, Sun-Il Choi, Xionggao Han, Xiao Men, Gill-Woong Jang, Hee-Yeon Kwon, Seong-Ran Kang, Jin-Soo Han and OK-Hwan Lee
Antioxidants 2020, 9(12), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9121290 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3199
Abstract
Aster scaber is a wild vegetable cultivated in Korea and is known to contain phytochemicals with various biological activities. The potential antioxidant and anti-obesity effects of A. scaber and their mechanism are yet to be reported. We evaluated the total phenolic, flavonoid, and [...] Read more.
Aster scaber is a wild vegetable cultivated in Korea and is known to contain phytochemicals with various biological activities. The potential antioxidant and anti-obesity effects of A. scaber and their mechanism are yet to be reported. We evaluated the total phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents and oxygen radical absorbance capacity of A. scaber ethanolic extract (ASE), and analyzed the major phenolic compounds of ASE. Antioxidant activity was measured at the chemical level through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power assay, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assay. In addition, it was measured in vitro through inhibition of Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in 3T3-L1 adipocyte, and inhibition of lipid accumulation was also evaluated. ASE reduced the expression of enzymes involved in the production of ROS and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes that reduce increased ROS levels. They also reduced the expression of adipogenesis transcription factors that regulate adipocyte differentiation in relation to ROS production, inhibited the expression of lipogenesis-related genes related to fat accumulation through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, and increased expression of lipolysis-related genes. Thus, ASE containing CGA (chlorogenic acid) inhibits ROS production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, owing to its strong antioxidant activity, and inhibits lipid accumulation caused by oxidative stress. The extract can be used as a potential functional food material for reducing oxidative stress and obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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20 pages, 4586 KiB  
Article
Insights into Arbutin Effects on Bone Cells: Towards the Development of Antioxidant Titanium Implants
by Maria A. Bonifacio, Giorgia Cerqueni, Stefania Cometa, Caterina Licini, Luigia Sabbatini, Monica Mattioli-Belmonte and Elvira De Giglio
Antioxidants 2020, 9(7), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9070579 - 2 Jul 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3226
Abstract
Arbutin is a plant-derived glycosylated hydroquinone with antioxidant features, exploited to combat cell damage induced by oxidative stress. The latter hinders the osseointegration of bone prostheses, leading to implant failure. Little is known about arbutin antioxidant effects on human osteoblasts, therefore, this study [...] Read more.
Arbutin is a plant-derived glycosylated hydroquinone with antioxidant features, exploited to combat cell damage induced by oxidative stress. The latter hinders the osseointegration of bone prostheses, leading to implant failure. Little is known about arbutin antioxidant effects on human osteoblasts, therefore, this study explores the in vitro protective role of arbutin on osteoblast-like cells (Saos-2) and periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs). Interestingly, cells exposed to oxidative stress were protected by arbutin, which preserved cell viability and differentiation. Starting from these encouraging results, an antioxidant coating loaded with arbutin was electrosynthesized on titanium. Therefore, for the first time, a polyacrylate-based system was designed to release the effective concentration of arbutin in situ. The innovative coating was characterized from the physico-chemical and morphological point of view to achieve an optimized system, which was in vitro tested with cells. Morpho-functional evaluations highlighted the high viability and good compatibility of the arbutin-loaded coating, which also promoted the expression of PDPC differentiation markers, even under oxidative stress. These results agreed with the coatings’ in vitro antioxidant activity, which showed a powerful scavenging effect against DPPH radicals. Taken together, the obtained results open intriguing opportunities for the further development of natural bioactive coatings for orthopedic titanium implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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16 pages, 6752 KiB  
Article
Cathelicidin Modulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching through ROS/IL-6 Pathway
by Xiaoliang Dong, Di Wu, Yihan Zhang, Lingling Jia, Xiaohua Pan, Jia Sun and Li-Long Pan
Antioxidants 2020, 9(6), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9060491 - 5 Jun 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3935
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are stromal cells of the blood vessels and their differentiation is thought to be essential during atherosclerosis. Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides (CRAMP) are suggested to play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Even so, the relationship of CRAMP [...] Read more.
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are stromal cells of the blood vessels and their differentiation is thought to be essential during atherosclerosis. Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides (CRAMP) are suggested to play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Even so, the relationship of CRAMP and VSMC remains unclear. The present study was to determine whether CRAMP regulates VSMC phenotypic transformation and underlying mechanisms. We demonstrated that CRAMP could reverse platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced VSMC phenotypic transformation, evidencing by increasing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), smooth muscle 22α (SM22α) and decreasing of proliferation and migration. Further studies showed that CRAMP inhibited nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-induced autocrine of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which further activated of janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator 3 (STAT3). Meanwhile, our data showed that CRAMP can significantly inhibit PDGF-BB enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level which further affected the NF-κB signaling pathway, indicating that CRAMP can regulate the phenotypic transformation of VSMC by regulating oxidative stress. These results indicated that CRAMP regulated the differentiation of VSMC by inhibiting ROS-mediated IL-6 autocrine, suggesting that targeting CRAMP is a potential avenue for regulating the differentiation of VSMC and treatment of atherosclerosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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12 pages, 1360 KiB  
Article
Antihypertensive Effects of Polyphenolic Extract from Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) Bark in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
by Kwan Joong Kim, Eun-Sang Hwang, Min-Jeong Kim, Ji-Ho Park and Dae-Ok Kim
Antioxidants 2020, 9(4), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9040333 - 19 Apr 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5532
Abstract
Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) bark is a by-product of the wood industry and contains a high level of antioxidative phenolics including flavonoids, which have a variety of beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects [...] Read more.
Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) bark is a by-product of the wood industry and contains a high level of antioxidative phenolics including flavonoids, which have a variety of beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of P. densiflora bark extract (Korean red pine bark extract; KRPBE) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). A group of Wistar-Kyoto rats as a normotensive group was orally fed tap water. Four groups of SHRs were orally fed tap water, captopril (a positive control), 50 mg/kg/day of KRPBE, and 150 mg/kg/day of KRPBE, respectively. Blood pressure of rats was measured once every week for seven weeks of oral administration. After seven weeks, the lungs, kidneys, and serum were collected from rats, then angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, angiotensin II content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were determined. Blood pressure of the captopril- and KRPBE-treated groups was significantly lower than that of the SHR control group. The ACE activity, angiotensin II content, and MDA content significantly decreased in the captopril- and KRPBE-treated groups than those in the SHR control group. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed six phenolics in KRPBE: protocatechuic acid, procyanidin B1, catechin, caffeic acid, vanillin, and taxifolin. KRPBE, which contains plenty of antioxidative phenolics, has antihypertensive effects partly due to reduction of ACE activity and angiotensin II content, and its antioxidative effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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Review

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24 pages, 982 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant for Neurological Diseases and Neurotrauma and Bioengineering Approaches
by Nasera Rizwana, Vipul Agarwal and Manasa Nune
Antioxidants 2022, 11(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11010072 - 29 Dec 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5279
Abstract
Antioxidants are a class of molecules with an innate affinity to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been associated with a wide range of diseases mediated by physiological damage to the cells. ROS play [...] Read more.
Antioxidants are a class of molecules with an innate affinity to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been associated with a wide range of diseases mediated by physiological damage to the cells. ROS play both beneficial and detrimental roles in human physiology depending on their overall concentration. ROS are an inevitable byproduct of the normal functioning of cells, which are produced as a result of the mitochondrial respiration process. Since the establishment of the detrimental effect of oxidative stress in neurological disorders and neurotrauma, there has been growing interest in exploring antioxidants to rescue remaining or surviving cells and reverse the neurological damage. In this review, we present the survey of different antioxidants studied in neurological applications including neurotrauma. We also delve into bioengineering approaches developed to deliver antioxidants to improve their cellular uptake in neurological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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36 pages, 3074 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Properties of Herbal Materials
by Shokoh Parham, Anousheh Zargar Kharazi, Hamid Reza Bakhsheshi-Rad, Hadi Nur, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Safian Sharif, Seeram RamaKrishna and Filippo Berto
Antioxidants 2020, 9(12), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9121309 - 21 Dec 2020
Cited by 270 | Viewed by 26290
Abstract
Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many studies to investigate antimicrobial and antiviral agents. However, the use of any antimicrobial agents must be limited due to their possible toxic or harmful effects. In recent years, due to previous antibiotics’ lesser [...] Read more.
Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many studies to investigate antimicrobial and antiviral agents. However, the use of any antimicrobial agents must be limited due to their possible toxic or harmful effects. In recent years, due to previous antibiotics’ lesser side effects, the use of herbal materials instead of synthetic or chemical drugs is increasing. Herbal materials are found in medicines. Herbs can be used in the form of plant extracts or as their active components. Furthermore, most of the world’s populations used herbal materials due to their strong antimicrobial properties and primary healthcare benefits. For example, herbs are an excellent material to replace nanosilver as an antibiotic and antiviral agent. The use of nanosilver involves an ROS-mediated mechanism that might lead to oxidative stress-related cancer, cytotoxicity, and heart diseases. Oxidative stress further leads to increased ROS production and also delays the cellular processes involved in wound healing. Therefore, existing antibiotic drugs can be replaced with biomaterials such as herbal medicine with high antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant activity. This review paper highlights the antibacterial, antiviral, and radical scavenger (antioxidant) properties of herbal materials. Antimicrobial activity, radical scavenger ability, the potential for antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer agents, and efficacy in eliminating bacteria and viruses and scavenging free radicals in herbal materials are discussed in this review. The presented herbal antimicrobial agents in this review include clove, portulaca, tribulus, eryngium, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, thyme, pennyroyal, mint, fennel, chamomile, burdock, eucalyptus, primrose, lemon balm, mallow, and garlic, which are all summarized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants and Biomaterials in Health and Nutrition)
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