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Photodynamic treatment is a minimally invasive and clinically approved procedure for eliminating selected malignant cells with activation of a photosensitizer agent at a specific light. Little is known, however, about the phototoxic properties of curcumin, as a natural phenolic compound, against different types of cancers. It is generally accepted that cellular damage occurs during photo treatment. There is a limitation in using of curcumin as a drug due to its low solubility, but nanoparticles such as anionic nanoclays or layered double hydroxide (LDH) could overcome it. The aim of this study was to investigate cellular responses to curcumin‐LDH nanoparticles after photodynamic treatment of MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells. For this purpose, the MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cell line treated with curcumin‐LDH nanoparticle and then irradiated (photodynamic treatment). After irradiation, lactate dehydrogenase assay, clonogenic cell survival, cell death mechanisms such as autophagy and apoptosis were determined. Cell cycle distribution after photodynamic therapy (PDT) and also intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were measured. The result showed that curcumin‐LDH–PDT has a cytotoxic and antiprolifrative effect on MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells. Curcumin‐LDH–PDT induced autophagy, apoptosis, and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cell line. Intracellular ROS increased in MDA‐MB‐231 cancer cell line after treatment with curcumin‐LDH along with irradiation. The results suggest that curcumin‐LDH nanoparticle could be considered as a novel approach in the photodynamic treatment of breast cancer.

Cellular metabolisms produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are essential for cellular signaling pathways and physiological functions. Nevertheless, ROS act as “double-edged swords” that have an unstable redox balance between ROS production and removal. A little raise of ROS results in cell proliferation enhancement, survival, and soft immune responses, while a high level of ROS could lead to cellular damage consequently protein, nucleic acid, and lipid damages and finally cell death. ROS play an important role in various pathological circumstances. On the contrary, ROS can show selective toxicity which is used against cancer cells and pathogens. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is based on three important components including a photosensitizer (PS), oxygen, and light. Upon excitation of the PS at a specific wavelength, the PDT process begins which leads to ROS generation. ROS produced during PDT could induce two different pathways. If PDT produces control and low ROS, it can lead to cell proliferation and differentiation. However, excess production of ROS by PDT causes cellular photo damage which is the main mechanism used in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the functions of ROS in living systems and describes role of PDT in production of controllable ROS and finally a special focus on current ROS-generating therapeutic protocols for regeneration and wound healing.

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Forty cold-pressed Citrus oil samples, belonging to more than 12 species cultivated in Ethiopia, Kenya, Italy and Japan were investigated for enantiomeric distribution of monoterpene hydrocarbons. Simple enantioselective GC methods involving either a chiral capillary column coated with permethylated P-cyclodextrin or an on-line coupling of a non-chiral and chiral capillary columns were used. The species or varieties showing significant dimerence in the enantiomeric purity of a-pinene, P-pinene, sabinene and/or limonene were identified. In all the oil samples except kiyookadaidai, (4S)-(-)-l* imonene was limited to 2.88% to 0.45%. (-)-Enantiomem of a-pinene, P-pinene or sabinene were in excess only in 7 oil samples obtained from lemon, bergamot, Thahiti lime and tachibana, whereas, their (+)-enantiomers exceeded the (-)-enantiomen in other 23 samples. Sweet orange oils, except Washington navel and Hamlin cultivars that are only 80% pure in (+)-P-pinene, showed greater than 97% enantiomeric purity for all the selected chiral monoterpene hydrocarbons. The least enantiomeric purity of a-pinene, P-pinene or sabinene was found in ujukitsu, ichang lemon or kiyookadaidai. INTRODUCTIONDepending on the specific plant from which they are derived, essential oils and natural extracts may contain a characteristic distribution of chiral isomers. In some cases, only one enantiomer is present. In others, both (+) and (-)-enantiomen may be found together in different ratios. The origin of these characteristic chiral distributions is attributable to the genetically controlled biosynthetic mechanisms of the plants. Therefore, natural chiral aroma compounds may be characterized by definite and specific distribution of their enantiomers. Accordingly, chirality evaluation provides usefkl information on the genuineness or quality of citrus oils'4 and permits differentiation between the citrus species, hybrids and culti~ars.~-~ For example, the enantiomeric ratio of a-pinene and j3-pinene has been investigated for precise differentiation of the Rutaceae species;' and the enantiomeric ratios of some chiral components were very different in hybrids of lemon and industrial lemons.

Owing to its prevalent nature, diabetes mellitus has become one of the most serious endocrine illnesses affecting a patient's quality of life due to the manifestation of side effects such as cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Curcumin ((1E, 6E) 21, 7‐bis (4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione), a major compound of turmeric, has been used in conventional medicine because of its safe nature and cost‐effectiveness to meliorate diabetes and its comorbidities. These effects have also been observed in rodent models of diabetes resulting in a reduction of glycemia and blood lipids. Both the preventive and therapeutic activities of this compound are due to its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory characteristics. Furthermore, preclinical outcomes and clinical investigation demonstrate that the use of curcumin neutralizes insulin resistance, obesity, and hyperglycemia. Despite the many benefits of curcumin, its two limiting factors, solubility and bioavailability, remain a challenge for researchers; therefore, several methods such as drug formulation, nano‐drug delivery, and the use of curcumin analogs have been developed to deliver curcumin and increase its bioavailability. Practical applications The rise of people with type 2 diabetes has become a major concern at the global healthcare level. The best diabetes treatments today are anti‐diabetic drug administration, lifestyle‐related interventions (such as healthy eating and daily physical activity), arterial pressure detection, and fat control. The polyphenol curcumin, found in turmeric, can promote health by acting on a variety of cellular signaling pathways. This review article discusses curcumin and its role in the treatment of diabetes.