Veronica Plants—Drifting from Farm to Traditional Healing, Food Application, and Phytopharmacology

Abstract

The Veronica genus, with more than 200 species, belongs to the Plantaginaceae family and is distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere and in many parts of Southern Hemisphere. These plants are traditionally used in medicine for wound healing, in the treatment of rheumatism, and in different human diseases. This paper reviews the chemical composition of some valuable Veronica species, the possibilities Veronica extracts have in food preservation and as food ingredients, and their functional properties. Veronica species represent a valuable source of biological active secondary metabolites, including iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds. In particular, due to presence of these phytochemicals, Veronica species exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant. In fact, some studies suggest that some Veronica extracts can inhibit foodborne pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, but only a few of them were performed in food systems. Moreover, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other bioactivities were reported in vitro and in vivo. The bioactivity of Veronica plants was demonstrated, but further studies in food systems and in humans are required.

Diet, Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Diseases: Linking Pathophysiology to Cardioprotective Effects of Natural Bioactive Compounds

“…The ability of oleuropein to inhibit prooxidative processes has been shown in vitro on human LDL and on Caco-2 cells [149]. A large body of research has supported the in vitro cardioprotective potential of berry fruits rich in flavonoids, through improvements in plasma lipids and vascular function as well as systemic and vascular inflammatory response reduction [150,151]. LDL oxidation inhibition and induction of LDL receptor expression in hepatocytes have been demonstrated by cranberries consumption [152].…”

Impact of Natural Compounds on Neurodegenerative Disorders: From Preclinical to Pharmacotherapeutics

“…Neuroinflammation is a factor that plays an essential role in the increased loss of neuronal tissue and brain damage in cerebral ischemia, as well as in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) ( Table 1). For example, neuronal damage due to the accumulation of Aβ, tau protein and α-synuclein results in the recruitment and activation of microglia, which initiates the inflammatory response [43,79,80]. Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury (CI/RI) trigger the recruitment of resident microglia as well as infiltrating macrophages and neutrophils, which is followed by an enhanced inflammatory response and an over-production of inflammatory mediators (cytokines) [81,82].…”

“…Genistein is capable of attaching itself to the receptive proteins of the female sex hormones and having estrogen-specific hormonal effects, even being able to replace them, triggering either an estrogenic or a regulatory hormonal impact [85]. To date, studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin, genistein, resveratrol and naringenin are arbitrated via the inhibition or downregulated translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which regulates the transcription of cytokines [80]. Ginsenosides [49], linalool [54], quercetin [57], resveratrol [53] and sulforaphane [74] inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 to reduce neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative models.…”

“…The resultant hypoxia and reduction in glucose supply to neurons causes depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and irreparable damage to surrounding neurons [102] (Figure 3). Reducing the risk of thrombosis using antithrombotic or antiplatelet agents is a preventative strategy for ischemic stroke [80,103]. In addition, preventing thrombosis of collateral arteries can potentially improve cerebral perfusion and protect the ischemic penumbra from further post-ischemic damage [104].…”

Curcumin’s Nanomedicine Formulations for Therapeutic Application in Neurological Diseases

“…This is crucial for both neurons' development and survivaland for synaptic plasticity. Polyphenols play a beneficial role in maintaining brain health [23]. They are potent antioxidants, and their presence in the diet decreases the markers of oxidative stress, which reduces the risk of neurological diseases [24].…”