International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce

The excellent outcome of #INPST-based collaborative work #NaturalProducts #DrugDiscovery By: @_INPST @_atanas_ @univienna @LBG_research @FrancescaGiamp5 @Bio_Lab_UNIVPM @DHPSP @maciejbanach @ilkay_E_ORHAN @BgSciencesBAS @docmmiller @UNI_FIRENZE @NatRevDrugDisc @MedUni_Wien

Not all impactful science is obvious at the start. Some begins as risky, collaborative experiments. This is one of those stories 👇 citationclassics.com/stories/from-c… #INPST

🏆 We have a winner! Announcing the Highly Cited Paper Award 2025 in Exploration of Digital Health Technology (EDHT). explorationpub.com/Journals/edht/… 👏 Congratulations to the authors! #ExplorDHT #DigitalHealth #OpenAccess #HighlyCited

Controlling prediabetes isn’t about avoiding sugar—it’s about choosing the right sugar source ▶️ A new clinical study found that daily mango eating resulted in a better blood sugar control and less body fat. 🔗 The study: doi.org/10.3390/foods1… 🌐 #INPST #Nutrition #Health

Genetic determinants of lycopene concentration in subcutaneous adipose tissue: insights into interindividual variability in adult males ▶️ Lycopene (LYC) is a carotenoid obtained primarily from tomatoes and tomato-based products. ▶️ LYC displays potent antioxidant properties and its intake and circulating concentrations have been associated with a reduced risk of prostate and breast cancers as well as cardiovascular diseases. ▶️ Following absorption, it is mainly stored in adipose tissue, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of total body stores, where it may influence processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation. ▶️ However, the factors determining LYC concentration in adipose tissue remain poorly understood. ✅️ Adipose tissue LYC concentration displays high interindividual variability, which can be explained in part by genetic variants in genes involved in carotenoid and lipid metabolism pubs.rsc.org/en/content/art…

Olfactory cleft biopsy analysis of Alzheimer’s disease pathobiology across disease stages ▶️ A simple sample taken from the top of the nose to collect nerve and immune cells can detect early biological changes related to Alzheimer's, even before thinking and memory problems appear. ▶️ The nasal swab allowed for the detection of early changes in nerve and immune cells. This includes individuals who showed signs of Alzheimer's disease in the laboratory but were not yet experiencing symptoms. ▶️ A combined genetic scoring of nasal tissue correctly differentiated early-stage & clinical Alzheimer's disease from healthy controls in approximately 81% of cases. nature.com/articles/s4146… @CelestinoGutirr @DelRealMartin2 @drfherediaz @HealthyFellow @LoriShemek @DrGrimaldesJ @DrRPalmquist

The potential of natural dietary products in mitigating inflammation during pregnancy ▶️ Exacerbated inflammation in pregnancy can be detrimental in many aspects and can result in spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, or preterm delivery ▶️ A maternal healthy diet can help prevent and mitigate inflammation. The adequate selection of foods is of utmost importance especially during pregnancy, which involves choosing natural products while avoiding ultra-processed foods, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates. ▶️ Plant-based diets, particularly those rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, are especially important since they contain numerous bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties pubs.rsc.org/en/content/art…

Chlorogenic acid and gallic acid synergistically reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in diabetic BALB/c mice ▶️ The combination of CGA & GA exerts a synergistic effect that significantly reduces hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in diabetic BALB/c mice, showing greater efficacy than when administered separately. Sources of CGA: green tea, yerba mate, cacao, fruits (apple, pear, blueberry, strawberry). Sources of GA: Grapes and red wine, pomegranates and berries, nuts, mangoe and bananas. nature.com/articles/s4159… @drfherediaz @drfherediaz @_atanas_ @CelestinoGutirr @DrGrimaldesJ

@_atanas_ Yes.

The association between high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the development of type-2 diabetes ▶️ Animal & human studies suggest that excessive fructose consumption contributes to metabolic disturbances, including insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased fat accumulation in the liver through de novo lipogenesis (DNL). ✅️ In contrast, controlled isocaloric studies in which fructose replaces other carbohydrates often demonstrate attenuation. ▶️ Thus, HFCS should not be viewed as intrinsically toxic, but rather as a contributor to metabolic risk when consumed in energy-dense diets typical of modern food environments. doi.org/10.3389/fcdhc.… @HealthyFellow @tatiann69922625 A comparison of hepatic metabolism of fructose and glucose following high sugar intake from SSBs, highlighting that increased de novo lipogenesis from fructose intake combined with reduced fatty acid oxidation contributes to hepatic fat accumulation.

Total and different types of olive oil consumption, gut microbiota, & cognitive function changes in older adults ▶️ Higher consumption of virgin olive oil was associated w/cognitive preservation, possibly mediated by favorable alterations in gut microbiota composition. link.springer.com/article/10.118… @_atanas_ @tatiann69922625 @drfherediaz @HealthyFellow @CelestinoGutirr @DrGrimaldesJ

Dermatological conditions for which sunbathing can be beneficial ▶️ Some dermatological conditions can improve their symptoms or progression thanks to responsible sun exposure: Psoriasis Atopic dermatitis Acne Vitiligo lavanguardia.com/vida/salud/202… @_atanas_ @CelestinoGutirr @DelRealMartin2 @drfherediaz @DrGrimaldesJ @guani_vic

Kombucha as a Bioactive Functional Beverage: Current Evidence, Production Challenges, and Future Perspectives Bioactivities that contribute to human health: Antioxidant Anticancer Antimicrobial Anti-inflammatory Hepatoprotective Antidiabetic mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/6…

@pushmeet @GoogleDeepMind The real breakthrough isn’t prediction—it’s democratization of knowledge

@_atanas_ Evidence-based communication is vital. Clear science helps combat the pseudoscience harming patient communities every day.

"Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe." Galileo Galilei cc: @Nicochan33 @Khulood_Almani @sonu_monika @CurieuxExplorer @_atanas_ @ingliguori @antgrasso @LindaGrass0 @KirkDBorne @GlenGilmore @rwang0 @Ronald_vanLoon

Presence of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in different types of human urinary tract infections (UTI). A pilot study ▶️ Cystitis is the most common UTI in humans. This infection can ascend the urinary tract, spreading to the renal pelvis and potentially causing serious conditions such as pyelonephritis or urosepsis. ▶️ Human UTIs are primarily of bacterial origin, with E. coli being the most common urogenital pathogen. ▶️ A key defense mechanism of the innate immune system involves the formation of NETs that can trap and eliminate microbial agents. ▶️ Activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) release NETs, composed of a reticular DNA core, along w/nuclear histones, granular peptides, & enzymes. ▶️ Elevated levels of NETs, ​​exDNA, and related proteins, such as LL37 and MPO, were detected in urine samples from patients with UTIs & were associated w/leukocyturia. ▶️ Drugs such as furosemide, which affect the kidney's electrolyte balance & reduce NET formation, can exacerbate pyelonephritis. ▶️ The formation of the NETosis phenomenon is linked to the exacerbation of UTIs. ▶️ The presence of NETs in human urine confirms their role in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections (UTIs). ▶️ Understanding these complex mechanisms could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for patients with UTIs, although the polymicrobial nature of many complicated or recurrent UTIs poses a challenge. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.… @HealthyFellow @tatiann69922625 Live-cell fluorescence microscopic (LCFM) analysis of human urine samples for the detection of bacterial colonization, leukocyturia, cellular activity and NET release

Resveratrol Mitigates Age-Associated Cognitive Decline via Inhibition of cGAS-STING-Mediated Microglial Senescence ▶️ Resveratrol mitigated brain aging and microglial senescence by suppressing cGAS-STING pathway activation and STING signal transduction. ✅️ These results not only support the central role of the cGAS-STING axis in microglial senescence and age-related brain dysfunction but also highlight a novel anti-aging mechanism of resveratrol that may be exploited for future therapeutic development. mdpi.com/2073-4409/15/6… @DrRPalmquist @CelestinoGutirr @DrGrimaldesJ @drfherediaz @_atanas_

Association between menopause-related symptoms & muscle mass index among perimenopausal & postmenopausal women and the mediating role of estrogen levels ✅️ Lower muscle mass is associated w/severe menopausal symptoms, partially mediated by estrogen. ✅️ Maintaining muscle mass may alleviate symptoms, highlighting the importance of resistance training & hormone regulation in perimenopausal women. frontiersin.org/journals/endoc… @DHPSP @_atanas_ @drfherediaz

⬆️⬇️ Join our focus group for evidence‑based science communication on social media x.com/_atanas_/statu…

Adipose Tissue (AT) Aging & Natural Interventions: Potential Roles of Polyphenols and Polysaccharides ▶️ AT serves as a critical metabolic & endocrine organ, essential for maintaining systemic energy homeostasis & inter-organ communication. ▶️ During the aging process, it undergoes significant structural remodeling & functional decline, characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism, chronic low-grade inflammation, reduced insulin sensitivity, & adipokine imbalance ✅️ Polyphenols such as curcumin, RES, anthocyanins, & quercetin not only suppress adipose tissue inflammation but also exert broader anti-aging effects in liver, brain, & skeletal muscle, supporting their regulatory role in systemic inflammaging. ✅️ This review, grounded in the three primary hallmarks of adipose tissue aging (oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, & dysregulated lipid metabolism), systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms & recent advancements in the application of polyphenols & polysaccharides as natural modulators. mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/6… @tatiann69922625 @HealthyFellow Roadmap of Adipose Tissue Aging and Related Diseases. Aging adipose tissue is characterized by three interrelated hallmarks—oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, and dysregulated lipid metabolism. These processes drive structural remodeling and functional decline of adipose depots, leading to impaired adipokine secretion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Through endocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic signaling, aging adipose tissue contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, osteoarthritis and infertility. This schematic summarizes how local adipose senescence propagates systemic aging and chronic disease progression. Upward arrows indicate increase/upregulation, whereas downward arrows indicate decrease/downregulation.