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Anacardic acid (AA) is a bioactive phytochemical found in nutshell of Anacardium occidentale. Chemically, it is a mixture of several closely related organic compounds, each consisting of salicylic acid substituted with an alkyl chain. The traditional Ayurveda depicts nutshell oil as a medicinal remedy for alexeritic, amebicidal, gingivitis, malaria and syphilitic ulcers. However, the enduring research and emerging evidence suggests that AA could be a potent target molecule with bactericide, fungicide, insecticide, anti-termite and molluscicide properties and as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of the most serious pathophysiological disorders like cancer, oxidative damage, inflammation and obesity. Furthermore, AA was found to be a common inhibitor of several clinically targeted enzymes such as NFjB kinase, histone acetyltransferase (HATs), lipoxygenase (LOX-1), xanthine oxidase, tyrosinase and ureases. In view of this, we have made an effort to summarize the ongoing research on the therapeutical role of AA and its derivatives. The current MiniReview sheds light on the pharmacological applications, toxicity and allergic responses associated with AA and its derivatives. Although the available records are promising, much more detailed investigations into the therapeutical properties, particularly the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities, are urgently needed. We hope the present MiniReview will attract and encourage further research on elucidating and appreciating the possible curative properties of AA and its derivatives in the management of multifactorial diseases.Plant medicines play a vital role in human health and diseases. According to the WHO, in recent times, more than 80% of the world's population in developing countries depends primarily on herbal medicines for basic healthcare needs. The ancient ayurvedic preparations and usage have proven the healing abilities of plants, undoubtedly. Hence, a large proportion of drugs used in modern medicine are either directly isolated from plants or synthetically modified from a lead compound of natural origin. Medicinal plant extracts and their isolated compounds are often used as an alternative for the drugs with associated complications in the treatment of many disorders [1,2].In the course, anacardic acid (AA) ( fig. 1A) and its related compounds from Anacardium occidentale (an angiosperm belonging to the Anacardiaceae family) seed (Cashew nutshell) have received great attention by the chemicobiology researchers and pharmaceutical companies. AA alone constitutes about 90% of the cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), and the remaining part is constituted by AA-related compounds such as cardanol, cardol and 2-methyl cardol ( fig. 1B-D) [3]. It is a yellow liquid partially miscible in alcohol and ether but nearly immiscible in water [4,5]. Chemically, AA is a mixture of several closely related organic compounds each consisting of a salicylic acid substituted with saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain that has 15-17 carbon.Outstandingly, AA claims a lion'...

The genus Garcinia belongs to the family Clusiaceae and has been involved in ayurvedic preparations to medicate various pathophysiological disorders. The bioactive molecules like hydroxycitric acid (HCA), flavonoids, terpenes, polysaccharides, procyanidines and polyisoprenylated benzophenone derivatives like garcinol, xanthochymol and guttiferone isoforms have been isolated from the genus Garcinia. The genus has received the attention of pharmaceutical industries due to their immense remedial qualities. The HCA has been known for its hypolipidemic property. The polyisoprenylated benzophenone and xanthone derivatives are known for their antioxidant, apoptotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antiulcer, anti-protozoal, and HAT inhibiting properties. Future studies on the synthesis of therapeutically important products and their analogs and evaluation of their safety and efficacy would be of great interest.Though the genus includes more than 300 species, we have made an effort to conceive the curative qualities of bioactive compounds of selected plants to the best of our knowledge.

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Indian Echis carinatus bite causes sustained tissue destruction at the bite site. Neutrophils, the major leukocytes in the early defence process, accumulate at the bite site. Here we show that E. carinatus venom induces neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. The NETs block the blood vessels and entrap the venom toxins at the injection site, promoting tissue destruction. The stability of NETs is attributed to the lack of NETs-degrading DNase activity in E. carinatus venom. In a mouse tail model, mice co-injected with venom and DNase 1, and neutropenic mice injected with the venom, do not develop NETs, venom accumulation and tissue destruction at the injected site. Strikingly, venom-induced mice tail tissue destruction is also prevented by the subsequent injection of DNase 1. Thus, our study suggests that DNase 1 treatment may have a therapeutic potential for preventing the tissue destruction caused by snake venom.

The hyaluronidases (HAases) are a group of less extensively studied glycosidases distributed throughout the animal kingdom and are popularly known as 'spreading factors'. In recent years, HAases received much attention due to their ability to abruptly alter the hyaluronic acid (HA) homeostasis. HAases preferentially degrade HA, which is a megadalton acidic structural polysaccharide found exclusively in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of animals. The HA-HAase system has been suggested to participate in many pathophysiological conditions. The HA degradation in ECM, crack down the structural integrity with an eventual increased tissue permeability that is attributed for the spreading property. The spreading property has been widely accepted in functions including envenomation, acrosomal reaction/ovum fertilization, cancer progression, microbial pathogenesis such as wound infections, pneumonia, and other sepses like, bacteremia and meningitis. HA fragmentation has dual effects; generation of a wide molecular range bioactive oligosaccharides of angiogenic, pro-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory properties; and impairment in the reservoir capacity of ECM that holds metal ions, growth factors, cytokines and various enzymes for signal transduction. Hence, inhibition of HA degradation appears critical and imperative in HAase mediated pathological conditions. HAase inhibitors are thus potent regulators that maintain HA homeostasis and they might serve as anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-microbial, anticancer and anti-venom/toxin and contraceptive agents. In addition, HAase inhibitors may serve as tools to understand several unexplained and complex functions of HAases in HA metabolism. Therefore, this review is expected to provide an integrated update as of 2008 on the HAase inhibitors and their possible role as therapeutics in the management of a wide range of pathological conditions.

The diffusion of toxins from the site of a bite into the circulation is essential for successful envenomation. Degradation of hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix (ECM) by venom hyaluronidase is a key factor in this diffusion. Hyaluronidase not only increases the potency of other toxins but also damages the local tissue. In spite of its important role, little attention has been paid to this enzyme. Hyaluronidase exists in various isoforms and generates a wide range of hyaluronic acid degradation products. This suggests that beyond its role as a spreading factor venom hyaluronidase deserves to be explored as a possible therapeutic target for inhibiting the systemic distribution of venom and also for minimizing local tissue destruction at the site of the bite.