Arnold J. Vlietinck

TL;DR: This review provides a number of recommendations that will help to define a more sound 'proof-of-concept' for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiparasitic potential in natural products.

TL;DR: The chemical composition of essential oils from 15 aromatic medicinal plant species growing in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been studied and results indicate that all essential oils inhibited the growth of selected bacteria at different extents.

TL;DR: Many compounds of plant origin that inhibit different stages in the replication cycle of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been identified and only a very few of these plant-derived anti-HIV products have been used in a limited number of patients suffering from AIDS.

TL;DR: The present review is focused mainly on the antioxidant activity of proanthocyanidins and its relevancy in vivo and the three most important mechanisms of their antioxidant action will be discussed, i.e. free radical scavenging activity, chelation of transition metals, and inhibition of enzymes.

TL;DR: Since phytoestrogens are structurally very similar to the estrogen 17beta-estradiol, they may exhibit selective estrogen receptor modulating activities, and special attention will be given to the hormonal effects of various isoflavonoids, including genistein, daidzein, coumestrol and equol, several prenylated flavonoid, especially 8-prenylnaringenin, and the stilbene resveratrol.