Begoña Criado

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, complementary therapies—particularly phytotherapy and nutritional interventions—are increasingly used, although their efficacy and safety remain insufficiently validated. Therefore, high-quality scientific evidence is still required to substantiate the use of these approaches. Objective: Based on a comprehensive theoretical review, this study proposes a flexible and integrative research protocol—conceived as an adaptable methodological framework rather than a single fixed trial—to evaluate traditional phytopharmaceutical formulations used in breast cancer, combining molecular, cellular, animal, and clinical approaches with an exploratory bioresonance-based functional screening component. Methods: The protocol integrates device-based exploratory assessment, in vitro, in vivo and clinical modules, providing a multiscale framework to investigate the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of phytotherapeutic interventions. Bioresonance-based measurements are included strictly as exploratory, hypothesis-generating observations, to be cross-validated against established pharmacological, biochemical and clinical endpoints. Expected outcomes: The proposed protocol is expected to combine detailed molecular characterization, functional biological assays and patient-centered clinical monitoring. By integrating preclinical and clinical modules, the framework is intended to support the development of personalized therapeutic strategies and to define how exploratory device-based functional screening can be rigorously evaluated within conventional research pipelines. Conclusions: Overall, this framework may contribute to generating structured evidence on phytotherapeutic strategies and to inform their possible future integration into personalized breast cancer care, provided that its exploratory components are independently validated.

Intracellular pH (pHi) may provide complementary information on postmortem cellular metabolism and homeostasis, but its temporal behavior remains poorly understood. This pilot in vitro study evaluated temporal changes in platelet pHi and pHi in a mixed non-platelet blood-cell population (predominantly erythrocytes and leukocytes), together with plasma glucose, lactate, and ammonia during a simulated postmortem interval (PMI). Venous blood from eight healthy volunteers was maintained at 24 ± 3 °C and analyzed at 0, 3, 6, and 24 h. Intracellular pH was assessed by BCECF-AM flow cytometry, and metabolites were quantified enzymatically. Platelet and non-platelet-cell pHi remained stable during the first 3 h, decreased significantly at 6 h, and increased toward baseline values at 24 h. Glucose concentrations decreased over time, lactate increased progressively, and ammonia increased significantly only at 24 h. Lactate was associated with pHi in both blood-cell populations. Intracellular pH exhibited a biphasic temporal pattern and distinct relationships with metabolic biomarkers during the simulated PMI. An exploratory mixed-effects model incorporating non-platelet-cell pHi, lactate, and glucose explained a substantial proportion of temporal variability (marginal R² = 0.907) and yielded a leave-one-donor-out cross-validation RMSE of 0.4998 on the log-transformed time scale. These findings support further investigation of multi-marker approaches for PMI estimation.

Background/Objectives: Parkinson’s disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and many patients seek adjunctive non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture, whose neural mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows those mechanisms to be examined in vivo. We systematically synthesized the available fMRI evidence on the neural effects of acupuncture in Parkinson’s disease and appraised the methodological quality of that evidence. Methods: EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, The Cochrane Library, CENTRAL and SciELO were searched, with no restriction on year of publication. Eligible studies were clinical fMRI studies of acupuncture in patients with Parkinson’s disease, of any interventional or controlled cross-sectional design, published in English or Portuguese. Screening and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers using Rayyan. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 for studies with a randomized element and with ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. Results: Seven studies, reported in eight publications and published between 2009 and 2024, were included, comprising 151 patients with Parkinson’s disease (147 contributing analysable data) and 36 healthy controls, with sample sizes from 8 to 74 participants. One was a three-arm randomized controlled trial, one was a random-order crossover placebo study, one a non-randomized two-group study, two were single-arm interventional studies, and two were controlled cross-sectional comparisons. GB34 was used in five of the seven studies, and all used 3-Tesla echo-planar BOLD imaging. Acupuncture was consistently associated with modulation of the precentral gyrus, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, cerebellum, insula and putamen, accompanied in individual studies by improvements in pain, gait or motor scores. Risk of bias was high in both studies with a randomized element and serious or critical in the five non-randomized studies; no study was at low risk of bias. Conclusions: These findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating. They are not sufficient to establish clinical efficacy, to separate specific neuromodulatory effects from non-specific ones, or to support a change in clinical practice. Adequately powered, sham-controlled randomized trials with harmonized imaging protocols are required.

Background/Objectives: Despite the high prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain (CIPNp), its management remains challenging, and reliable preventive strategies are still lacking. Current treatment is largely symptomatic and often provides only modest benefits, as available pharmacological therapies have shown limited and inconsistent efficacy. In this context, acupuncture has been investigated as a non-pharmacological intervention, but the certainty and clinical applicability of the available evidence remain unclear. This critical narrative review examines the clinical evidence, mechanistic plausibility, and current research gaps concerning acupuncture for CIPNp. Methods: A non-systematic narrative review was conducted with preference given to peer-reviewed articles published in English, including clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical guidelines, mechanistic studies, and narrative reviews considered relevant to the objectives. Publications were not selected according to a predefined systematic protocol, and no formal quality assessment, risk-of-bias analysis, or meta-analysis was performed. The extracted information was organized thematically rather than quantitatively. Results: Clinical trials and evidence syntheses suggest that acupuncture may be associated with reductions in pain and sensory symptoms in some patients with CIPN. However, confidence in these findings is limited by small samples sizes, heterogeneous acupuncture protocols, variable comparators and outcome measures, and limited long-term follow-up. Much of the proposed mechanistic rationale derives from animal models or human studies in non-CIPN pain conditions. Conclusions: Acupuncture may be considered a monitored adjunctive option for selected patients with persistent CIPNp. More rigorous and adequately powered trials are required to determine efficacy, optimal treatment protocols, durability of benefit, and potential treatment-response modifiers.

Cancer remains a persistent global health challenge, continuously driving the search for novel and effective therapeutic strategies. In the case of breast cancer, treatment decisions are primarily guided by factors such as the disease stage, histological grade, molecular receptor status, and the presence of genetic mutations. Understanding these parameters is crucial for tailoring interventions and improving clinical outcomes. To enhance prognostic and diagnostic accuracy, attention has increasingly turned to identifying molecular targets that play key roles in breast cancer development. Currently, standard treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, these approaches are often associated with significant side effects and a diminished quality of life. As a result, many breast cancer patients are turning to complementary therapies—including phytotherapy, nutritional interventions, and dietary supplements—to support conventional treatment, alleviate adverse effects, and improve overall well-being. Within the vast realm of medicinal flora, anticancer plants represent a compelling area of study, serving as a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds. These compounds have demonstrated significant promise in the ongoing battle against cancer. Often highlighted in traditional medicinal practices, these plants harbor a wide array of phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenoids. These phytochemicals manifest diverse biological activities, notably exhibiting pronounced anticancer properties. The exploration of these natural compounds has opened new avenues for developing innovative and targeted therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment. They achieve definitive chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive roles by integrating with specific molecular signals. Their multiple biological functions include antimutagenic, antiproliferative, antimetastatic, anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, which collectively enable them to control cancer progression and intervene at various stages of cancer cell development. Moreover, these compounds are involved in regulating the cell cycle and microRNA, ultimately leading to cancer cell death by promoting apoptosis and autophagy, often mediated through ROS signaling. Thus, based on a large theoretical revision, we conclude that high-quality evidence is necessary in order to advise these products concerning their efficacy and safety. Also, clinical evidence should be supported by a comprehensive individual diagnosis and adequate research protocols in order to evaluate whether the benefits of these plant-produced interventions can outweigh their harms.

The marine seaweed Undaria pinnatifida belongs to the large group of brown macroalgae (Ochrophyta) and is valued both as a nutritious food and a source of pharmaceutical compounds. It has been widely consumed in East Asia as part of the traditional diet and is generally regarded as a “healthy longevity food.” Consequently, it represents one of the most promising natural sources of biomedicinal and bioactive products. This review aims to synthesize current scientific evidence on the pharmacologically active compounds of U. pinnatifida, emphasizing their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative and chronic diseases. This narrative review is based on a comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles from scientific databases, focusing on studies addressing the pharmacological properties of U. pinnatifida and its major bioactive constituents. Recent research highlights that compounds such as fucoxanthin (a carotenoid), fucosterol (a sterol), fucoidan (a polysaccharide), alginate, and dietary fiber found in U. pinnatifida possess significant potential for developing treatments for conditions including goitre, urinary diseases, scrofula, dropsy, stomach ailments, and hemorrhoids. Moreover, these compounds exhibit remarkable pharmacological properties, including immunomodulation, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, and antibacterial activities, all with low toxicity and minimal side effects. Additionally, U. pinnatifida shows promise in the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as neuropsychiatric conditions like depression, supported by its antioxidant effects against oxidative stress and neuroprotective activities. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that U. pinnatifida polysaccharides (UPPs), particularly fucoidans, exhibit significant biological activities. Thus, accumulating evidence positions UPPs as promising therapeutic agents for a variety of diseases.

Background: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition associated with deficit in reaction time which can lead to falls, resulting in limited independence, diminished quality of life, heightened rates of institutionalization and increased healthcare costs. We aimed to examine the effects of an acupuncture protocol in motor time response after an auditory stimulus. Methods: This study employed a case series design. Reaction time to exposed rhythmic and random auditory stimuli outcomes were evaluated at six different moments over a month-long acupuncture treatment protocol using the MP 36 system from Biopac Systems. Results: We observed a tendency to have more pronounced improvements in the time response in the more affected side of the body compared with the contralateral one. Patients tended to show better values of response to random auditory stimuli compared to rhythmic auditory ones. We also observed a tendency to obtain better results when considering the accumulative effects of the acupuncture protocol. Conclusions: Our findings indicated a possible role of reaction time as a sensitive and useful tool for motor function assessment in PD patients. Also, from our results, we concluded that the acupuncture protocol used may lead to an improvement in efficacy of motor response after aleatory and rhythmic stimulus; we also found a tendency for a higher efficacy of acupuncture in random stimuli responses in the first stages of the disease. However, further in-depth research, including a statistical evaluation with a larger participant pool, is necessary to validate and confirm these promising results.

The olive tree is currently cultivated worldwide, with higher incidence in Mediterranean Basin. Its climate is highly favorable to the synthesis of phenolic compounds, stored in olive leaves; their consumption has been linked to a lower incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disorders for which the research interest upon this feature has increased in last decade. This study aimed (i) to review evidence about the importance of olive leaf extract (OLE) on human health and the physiological effect of its major compounds; (ii) to update the state of the art of studies conducted on the health and technological usage of olive leaf extract; (iii) to report potential uses of OLE in pharmaceuticals, food production, and cosmetics; and (iv) to prospect the future of clinical applications of OLE from diverse cultivars, especially in metabolic inflammatory conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Overall, cultivars richer in TPC, including TFC, αT, omega-3 and omega-9, present a main research target for supplementation alone or in conjunction with vitaminic compounds, due to their nutraceutical value in metabolic disorders, chronic inflammatory diseases, and anti-aging treatments, whereas cultivars with less water content might be useful as substrates for food preservation. With regard to future prospects, it would be of great interest to clarify the specific mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of OLE on neuro-immune and cardiovascular health to design safer and healthier nature-based medicine for a wide array of costly and highly prevalent chronic diseases, such as inflammatory and metabolic-related syndromes, namely, PCOS.

Natália M. de Oliveira, Jorge Machado, Lara Lopes, Maria Begoña Criado. J Pharmacopuncture 2023;26:105-23. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2023.26.2.105

The rapid spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic. Although specific vaccines are available and natural drugs are being researched, supportive care and specific treatments to alleviate symptoms and improve patient quality of life remain critical. Chinese medicine (CM) has been employed in China due to the similarities between the epidemiology, genomics, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Moreover, the integration of other traditional oriental medical systems into the broader framework of integrative medicine can offer a powerful approach to managing the disease. Additionally, it has been reported that integrated medicine has better effects and does not increase adverse drug reactions in the context of COVID-19. This article examines preventive measures, potential infection mechanisms, and immune responses in Western medicine (WM), as well as the pathophysiology based on principles of complementary medicine (CM). The convergence between WM and CM approaches, such as the importance of maintaining a strong immune system and promoting preventive care measures, is also addressed. Current treatment options, traditional therapies, and classical prescriptions based on empirical knowledge are also explored, with individual patient circumstances taken into account. An analysis of the potential benefits and challenges associated with the integration of complementary and Western medicine (WM) in the treatment of COVID-19 can provide valuable guidance, enrichment, and empowerment for future research endeavors.