The Middle East is known as the cradle of civilization. It was the crossroads of ancient empires and the birthplace of major world religions. Today it is the center of many world issues due to its economic, religious and political importance. Although it has lagged behind many other regions of the world in medicinal research, this has increased dramatically in recent years with increasing numbers of relevant publications and the country of Iran has spearheaded this progress. Much of the research has focused on increasing our understanding of the aging process and attempting to identify biomarkers and natural products to improve the human healthspan. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the research conducted in the Middle East on the health benefits of curcumin, a phytochemical derived from the famous spice turmeric. Hundreds of studies have now been published describing the health benefits of this spice. The importance of this research is exemplified by poor data regarding health and longevity as only 0.08% of the population in Iran consists of individuals over 90 years of age. This is approximately 10 times lower than the percentage of this same age group in the United Kingdom and the United States of America and almost 20 times lower than that in Japan. This book presents a series of reviews and meta-studies describing research which has resulted in identification potential new biomarkers and drug targets for age-related disorders. All of the studies have focussed on the testing of curcumin and related products, which have already shown some promising leads in age-related conditions such as heart-disease, diabetes, cognitive impairment and cancer. The authors in this series come from different centers and cities of Iran, including Mashhad, Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Birjand, Quchan and Yazd, and many of the chapters feature collaborations with other countries of the Middle East and throughout the world, including Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This underscores the emergence of the Middle East into this arena of research. The book will be of high interest to scientific and clinical researchers in the subject of aging and age-related disease, and to physicians and pharmaceutical company scientists since it gives insights into the latest strategies, biomarkers and targets involved in the mechanism of action of curcumin to promote healthy aging. It will also provide important information on disease mechanisms related to age-related disorders, as each chapter will be presented in the context of specific chronic diseases.

Humankind has used a variety of spices to flavor food for centuries. However, the chemistry and potential health benefits of these herbs have become clearer only rather recently. Numerous studies performed during the past decades have revealed several advantageous properties of bioactive constituents of various spices, including their anticancer effects. This edited collection summarizes diverse types of anticancer activities of compounds derived from some well-known spices, describing the anticancer mechanisms behind their action and highlighting molecular targets and cellular signaling pathways. It acquaints the reader with the potential anticancer activities of agents contained in laurel, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, dill, parsley, and several other common spices. These molecular entities could probably be considered as lead structures for further design of more efficient anticancer drugs in the future.

Curcumin-Based Nanomedicines as Cancer Therapeutics presents a consistent and thorough overview of nanocurcumin applications in cancer treatments. It brings together the novel applications of nanocurcumin in biological milieu as well as helps readers to define the major gaps in knowledge that can lead to significant scientific discoveries.Nanocurcumin have been widely explored for treatment of various cancers, however the scientific literature is inconsistent in style and structure and scattered across many sources. By providing an explicit account on vital aspects on nanocurcumin-based anticancer delivery approaches and discussing the perspectives of the technologies explored so far based upon the findings outlined, the book offers updated and in-depth knowledge on the topic in one single source written by global leading experts.In addition, the book aims to stimulate the interest of the academic researchers, industrial scientists, businessmen and young scholars to address key multidisciplinary challenges faced by nanotechnologists to foster the desired collaboration among biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers, and clinicians to find proper and efficient new cancer treatments. Discusses the complete journey of curcumin delivery from fundamental to most recent anticancer applications using nanotechnology Provides in-depth knowledge on novel anticancer application of nanocurcumin in biological milieu Presents reliable and updated information for researchers on nanocurcumin-based anticancer targeted drug delivery

Herbal Medicine for Autoimmune Diseases addresses the immune system's role in autoimmune conditions and introduces evidence-based herbal therapies for diseases like lupus, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. Chapters highlight innovative approaches such as phyto-nanotechnology for enhanced drug delivery and the therapeutic benefits of berry fruits. Readers will gain insights into bioactive compounds, their efficacy in clinical settings, and the integration of traditional wisdom with contemporary research. Ideal for students, researchers, and pharmaceutical professionals, this book bridges the gap between ancient remedies and cutting-edge healthcare solutions, offering a valuable resource for understanding and managing autoimmune disorders. Key Features: - Detailed exploration of herbal treatments for specific autoimmune diseases. - Integration of phyto-nanotechnology for advanced drug delivery systems. - Evidence-based insights supported by preclinical and clinical research. - Practical implications for academia, pharmaceutical research, and clinical practice. Readership: Undergraduate and graduate students and researchers.

Aptamers Engineered Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapy details the selection technologies, biological characteristics, and clinical uses of aptamer-based nano agents for cancer therapeutics. The book helps facilitate speedy solutions for some of the problems pertaining to the manufacture of nano-aptamers – such as toxicity, thermal stability, cost efficiency, tumor penetration and blood stability. Key chapters cover cell-SELEX technology for aptamer selection, mechanisms of multi-drug resistance of cancer, the relevance of aptamers as anticancer therapies, as well as the broad range of aptamer-functionalized nanostructures available. This book provides exciting insights into this relatively new approach to cancer therapeutics, and will be of interest to materials scientists, biomedical engineers, molecular biologists, biochemists and clinical scientists, with a focus on cancer therapy. - Reviews the mechanisms behind multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cancer and how aptamer-mediated novel therapeutic agents and strategies can facilitate MDR reversal - Covers a range of aptamers engineered nanostructures, including PLGA nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, quantum dots, nucleic acid aptamers, and more - Discusses the challenges associated with using aptamers as cancer therapeutics and how this translates into clinical use

Aging is an inevitable part of life, and is becoming a worldwide social, economic and health problem due to the fact that an increasing proportion of individuals in the advanced age category have a higher probability of developing age-related disorders. New therapeutic approaches are still in need to decrease or slow the effects of such diseases in this aging society. Advances in ‘omic technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have significantly advanced our understanding of diseases in multiple medical areas. It is hoped that emerging hits from these analyses might be prioritized for further screening as potential novel drug targets for increasing the human healthspan in line with the lifespan, which will in turn lead to new therapeutic strategies and drug development projects by the pharmaceutical industry. This new book presents a series of reviews describing studies which have resulted in the identification of potential new drug targets for age-related disorders. Much of this information has come from ‘omic comparisons of healthy and disease states or from testing the effects of potential new therapeutic approaches. Each chapter will be presented in the context of specific chronic diseases or different therapeutic strategies, providing important information on disease mechanisms related to the aging process. This book will be of interest to researchers in the areas of aging and chronic disease, as well as clinical scientists, physicians, and major drug companies. With contributors from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vietnam, this is a timely follow up to Guest’s previous book Reviews on New Drug Targets in Age-Related Disorders.

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.