Age-related pathologies, particularly cardiovascular disorders, pose a significant global health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts an increase in advanced mortality by 2030 unless critical interventions are implemented. Atherosclerosis remains the major cause of various cardiovascular diseases. Hence, this review focused on the interaction between known mechanisms of vascular aging, disease manifestation, and progression during atherosclerosis. In the review, we highlighted five altered vascular mechanisms in cardiovascular models: genomic instability, neurohormonal deregulation, epigenetics, protein regulation, and the gut microbiome. The articles were selected from various indexed scientific databases. It is important to note that the mechanisms are equally interrelated with other aging pathways, such as inflammation and senescence. In conclusion, atherosclerosis is multifaceted and cholesterol-lowering therapy has been widely used. However, more than one specific action line is required to eradicate or slow down its manifestation. Equally, establishing a balance between aging stressors resulting in vascular injuries and stress buffering mechanisms during aging is critical to the treatment of atherosclerosis. The promising therapeutic targets reviewed include the angiotensin (1–7)/MAS axis, the gut microbiome, histone deacetylases, DNA repair systems, noncoding RNAs, β3/dopamine adrenoceptors, senescence and inflammation checkpoints.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as an aggressive viral infection in the last few years. Initially reported in the Wuhan area of the People’s Republic of China, it soon emerged across the globe. Researchers confront a worrying situation to rapidly develop effective strategies to combat this novel infection and its long-term aftereffects. To date, there have been myriad reports ranging from the repurposing of the classical antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine to several other antiviral and anti-bacterial agents like remdesivir, favipiravir, and most recently azithromycin, which has entered clinical use in many countries for combating COVID-19 infections. Several studies have highlighted the nexus between COVID-19-associated morbidity and diabetes in a wide-ranging class of subjects ranging from pediatric cases to adults and patients with other co-morbidities. Metformin is a mainstay in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). It is safe, inexpensive, and effective and does more than merely control blood sugar levels. Important metabolites that encourage blood clotting and inflammation are also suppressed by metformin. Pro-inflammatory molecules are linked to obesity and T2D. Both are major risk factors for aggravated COVID-19. These characteristics gave rise to a hypothesis that metformin may find use as an efficacious treatment for COVID-19 especially if it decreases the inflammatory molecules that fuel the COVID-19 virus-induced effects. In this review, we attempt to elucidate the role of classical anti-diabetic medicine metformin in the treatment of COVID-19 infections by highlighting the pharmacological role of this drug during elevated glucose levels and insulin resistance. We examine how COVID-19 has correlations to diabetic physiology and thereby the possibility of repurposing metformin for COVID-19 treatment.

Traditional medicines and their active ingredients and some natural products and derived analogs have been used for treating multiple diseases including cancer. Among these compounds cytotoxic agents such as bleomycin, paclitaxel and vincristine block essential pathways and genes required for cancer cell growth and these agents have diverse clinical applications. Dietary phenolics including flavonoids and related compounds are associated with multiple health benefits however most individual dietary compounds and other natural products that show promising anticancer activity in preclinical studies exhibit minimal clinical effectiveness and this is particularly true for cancer. Many of the compounds perform poorly in clinical trials due to pharmacokinetic consideration and limited uptake (e.g., curcumin) and these are issues that can be addressed. The clinical effectiveness of flavonoids and many other natural product-derived anticancer compounds can also be enhanced by a more targeted approach. This would include identifying a significant response/gene or target in a specific cancer and then identifying the optimal compound. In this review, I have discussed a limited number of targets including non-oncogene addiction genes such as Sp transcription factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or the orphan nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) sub-family. Thus, the most active compound for these responses could be used only for treating patients that are ROS-inducible or highly express targets such as Sp1 or NR4A sub-family members. A mechanism-based precision medicine approach should enhance the clinical efficacy of dietary and related natural products as anticancer agents and decrease toxic side effects for some combination therapies.

Premature aging can be partially explained by inefficient autophagy (the process of cellular self-digestion that recycles intracellular components) and premature senescence (cease of cellular division without cell death activation). Autophagy and senescence are among the basic biochemical pathways in plants and fungi suggesting that some of their metabolites have the potential to act as autophagy inducers (AI) and senescence inhibitors (SI) and to inhibit inflammation and human aging. Several compounds have already been identified: trehalose and resveratrol are natural compounds that act as AI; flavonoids found in fruit and vegetables (curcumin, quercetin, and fisetin) are among the first SI discovered so far. New AI/SI can be identified using various approaches like hypothesis-driven approach for screening receptor agonists using an in-silico library of thousands of natural compounds; cheminformatics studies of phytochemicals using docking and molecular dynamics simulation, structure similarities/mimicry in vitro, “blind” high throughput screening (HTS) of libraries of natural metabolites against relevant models, and more. This article aims to promote the use of plant and fungi novel resources to identify bioactive molecules relevant for healthy aging based on the knowledge that plants and fungi use autophagy and senescence mechanisms for their own survival and homeostasis. As autophagy and senescence are interconnected, how drugs targeting autophagy, senescence, or both could contribute to healthy aging in humans will be speculated.

Traditional medicine systems worldwide utilize natural products (NPs), including plant-derived compounds, minerals, and organisms, harnessing their healing potential. NPs offer a rich source of potential drug candidates, driving innovation in drug discovery. Recent breakthroughs have reignited interest in harnessing the therapeutic benefits of natural compounds. Clinical applications of NP-based immunotherapies, such as curcumin and resveratrol in cancer treatment, highlight their diverse pharmacological properties. However, despite these advancements, challenges persist in the clinical implementation of NPs. Issues such as standardization, regulatory approval, and supply sustainability remain significant hurdles. Overcoming these limitations requires a concerted effort to address the complexities of NP drug development. Nevertheless, ongoing research efforts and interdisciplinary collaboration hold promise for advancing NP-based therapeutics, paving the way for the development of innovative treatments for various diseases. In the world of precision medicine, a new chapter unfolds as NPs join the therapeutic journey. The exploration of NPs as sources of bioactive compounds has revealed promising prospects for precision therapeutics in medicine. This article explores the therapeutic potential of NPs within the context of precision medicine. It examines the intricate pathways through which bioactive compounds derived from nature offer tailored therapeutic prospects, emphasizing their role in precision medicine interventions. Exploring the synergy between NPs and precision therapeutics at a molecular level, this article delineates the exciting prospect of customized treatments, signifying a transformative impact on modern medical care. The review article further highlights their potential in tailoring treatments based on individual genetic makeup and disease characteristics. Additionally, it discusses challenges and prospects, addressing issues of sourcing, standardization, scalability, and regulatory considerations to realize the full therapeutic potential of NPs.

In recent times, there has been a revolutionary surge in antioxidant research, with a focus on harnessing microalgae to enhance wellness and extend human longevity. Microalgae, a diverse group of unicellular photosynthetic organisms, have emerged as promising sources of natural antioxidants due to their ability to synthesize various bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, polyphenols, and tocopherols. These antioxidants play a pivotal role in scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, known contributors to aging and chronic diseases. This review provides an over-view of recent advancements in understanding microalgae’s antioxidant potential, covering their biochemical composition, extraction techniques, and purification methods. Moreover, it delves into compelling in vitro and in vivo studies showcasing microalgae-derived antioxidants’ protective effects against oxidative damage, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The sustainable cultivation of microalgae in controlled environments further supports the potential for large-scale production and commercialization of their antioxidant compounds. As microalgae continue to revolutionize antioxidant research, they hold immense promise in developing novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to promote human health and wellbeing.