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Increasing evidence indicates that the cultivation of mindful eating, adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle, and the development of psychological resilience may contribute to the enhancement of overall health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between mindful eating and the Mediterranean lifestyle in relation to psychological resilience and the maintenance of a healthy weight. In the framework of a cross-sectional study, 288 individuals voluntarily took part in an online research survey conducted in Greece. Results showed that both mindful eating and the Mediterranean diet were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with psychological resilience. Multiple regression models identified mindful eating and the Mediterranean diet as predictive factors of psychological resilience (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) intercorrelation between mindful eating, the Mediterranean diet, and psychological resilience. Following the application of multiple regression models, mindful eating and Mediterranean diet were identified as predictive factors of psychological resilience (p < 0.0001). Individuals with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) displayed stronger adherence to mindful eating and the Mediterranean lifestyle, in contrast to those classified in the overweight and obesity BMI groups. People with higher mindful eating scores had 14% better odds of maintaining their weight loss after a weight-reducing diet than those with a lower mindful eating score (OR: 1.142, 95% CI: 1.084, 1.204, p < 0.0001). In summary, the integration of mindful eating and the Mediterranean lifestyle may represent a feasible approach to bolstering psychological resilience, overall health, and well-being.

The heterocyclic ring system of pyrido [2,3-d]pyrimidines is a privileged scaffold in medicinal chemistry, possessing several biological activities. The synthesis of the pyrimidine derivatives was performed via the condensation of a suitable α,β-unsaturated ketone with 4-amino-6-hydroxy-2-mercaptopyrimidine monohydrate in glacial acetic acid. Chalcones were synthesized, as starting materials, via the Claisen–Schmidt condensation of an appropriately substituted ketone and an appropriately substituted aldehyde in the presence of aqueous KOH 40% w/v in ethanol. All the synthesized compounds were characterized using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, LC-MS and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant (DPPH assay), anti-lipid peroxidation (AAPH), anti-LOX activities and ability to interact with glutathione. The compounds do not interact significantly with DPPH but strongly inhibit lipid peroxidation. Pyrimidine derivatives 2a (IC50 = 42 μΜ), 2f (IC50 = 47.5 μΜ) and chalcone 1g (IC50 = 17 μM) were the most potent lipoxygenase inhibitors. All the tested compounds were found to interact with glutathione, apart from 1h. Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays were performed with the HaCaT and A549 cell lines, respectively. In the MTT assay towards the HaCaT cell line, none of the compounds presented viability at 100 μM. On the contrary, in the MTT assay towards the A549 cell line, the tested compounds showed strong cytotoxicity at 100 μM, with derivative 2d presenting the strongest cytotoxic effects at the concentration of 50 μΜ.

Natural Functional Foods (NFFs) are unprocessed foods with proven health benefits beyond their nutritional value. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) and Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDILIFE) are well known for their beneficial effects on health. Psychological Resilience (PsyR) is not only an important factor in human well-being; it is also regarded as a key indicator of mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between NFFs and the MD and MEDILIFE in Greece, as well as their association with PsyR and other health-related parameters. In a cross-sectional design, 338 healthy adults participated voluntarily in an online research survey. There was a statistically significant association between the consumption of NFFs grown and produced in the Mediterranean region and the MD and MEDILIFE (p < 0.001). When the MD and MEDILIFE associated NFFs scores were summed up to form a 10-item scale (NAFFAME), the NAFFAME had a statistically significant positive correlation with PsyR (p < 0.001) and sleep quality (p < 0.05) and a negative correlation with body mass index (p < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the means of the NAFFAME score on different weight loss diet outcomes. Multinomial regression analysis identified the NAFFAME score as a prognostic factor in maintaining weight loss after a diet (OR: 1.119, 95% CI: 1.035, 1.208, p < 0.01 compared with no weight loss). This study identified NFFs as a part of the MD and MEDILIFE. NFFs linked to the MEDILIFE could help predict the outcome of a weight loss diet and appear to have a positive effect on PsyR, sleep quality, and maintaining a healthy weight. Thus, the consumption of NFFs grown and produced in the Mediterranean region could be a natural, healthy, and sustainable way of enhancing physical–mental health. Randomised controlled trials should be conducted to confirm the findings of this cross-sectional study.

A series of novel multi-substituted coumarin derivatives were synthesized, spectroscopically characterized, and evaluated for their antioxidant activity, soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory ability, their influence on cell viability in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), and cytotoxicity in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) and human melanoma (A375) cells, in vitro. Coumarin analogues 4a–4f, bearing a hydroxyl group at position 5 of the coumarin scaffold and halogen substituents at the 3-phenyl ring, were the most promising ABTS•+ scavengers. 6,8-Dibromo-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (4k) and 6-bromo-3-(4,5-diacetyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (3m) exhibited significant lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (IC50 36.9 and 37.1 μM). In the DCF-DA assay, the 4′-fluoro-substituted compound 3f (100%), and the 6-bromo substituted compounds 3i (80.9%) and 4i (100%) presented the highest activity. The 3′-fluoro-substituted coumarins 3e and 4e, along with 3-(4-acetyloxyphenyl)-6,8-dibromo-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (3k), were the most potent lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors (IC50 11.4, 4.1, and 8.7 μM, respectively) while displaying remarkable hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, 85.2%, 100%, and 92.9%, respectively. In silico docking studies of compounds 4e and 3k, revealed that they present allosteric interactions with the enzyme. The majority of the analogues (100 μΜ) did not affect the cell viability of HaCaT cells, though several compounds presented over 60% cytotoxicity in A549 or A375 cells. Finally, the human oral absorption (%HOA) and plasma protein binding (%PPB) properties of the synthesized coumarins were also estimated using biomimetic chromatography, and all compounds presented high %HOA (>99%) and %PPB (60–97%) values.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder affecting a vast variety of the population. The onset of RA as well as the development of systematic immunization is affected by both genetic and environmental risk factors. This review aims to point out the role of natural products in the management of RA, focusing on the reports of basic research (in vitro and animal studies) emphasizing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties considered in the field of RA. A systematic screening of the relevant literature was carried out on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus with the following criteria: publication date, 2015–2020; language, English; study design, in vitro or animal models; and the investigation of one or several natural products in the context of RA, including, when available, the molecular mechanisms implicated. A total of 211 papers were initially obtained and screened. In vitro and animal studies referring to 20 natural products and 15 pure compounds were ultimately included in this review. The outcomes of this work provide an overview of the methods employed in basic research over the past five years, with emphasis on the limitations presented, while demonstrating the potential benefits of utilizing natural products in the management of RA as supported by in vitro and animal studies.

The natural process of aging gradually causes changes in living organisms, leading to the deterioration of organs, tissues, and cells. In the case of osteoarthritis (OA), the degradation of cartilage is a result of both mechanical stress and biochemical factors. Natural products have already been evaluated for their potential role in the prevention and treatment of OA, providing a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach. This review aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of natural products and their derivatives in osteoarthritis via a systematic search of literature after 2008, including in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and animal models, along with clinical trials and meta-analysis. Overall, 170 papers were obtained and screened. Here, we presented findings referring to the preventative and therapeutic potential of 17 natural products and 14 naturally occurring compounds, underlining, when available, the mechanisms implicated. The nature of OA calls to initially focus on the management of symptoms, and, in that context, several naturally occurring compounds have been utilized. Underlying a global need for more sustainable natural sources for treatment, the evidence supporting their chondroprotective potential is still building up. However, arriving at that kind of solution requires more clinical research, targeting the implications of long-term treatment, adverse effects, and epigenetic implications.