Astragalus polysaccharides are known to possess effective pharmacological effect to increase γ-globin mRNA expression and raise the level of HbF in K562 cells. Astragalus is known to be a useful candidate for the development of new medicine of gene therapy for beta-thalassemia. 26 Curcuma comosa is a Thai herbal medicine and is known for its anti-inflammatory activity. It is reported that the n-hexane extract of the aerial parts of Curcuma comosa increases HbF production in K562 cell line. 27 Resveratrol (trans-3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) is a stilbenoid containing two aromatic rings joined together by methylene group. Resveratrol is a natural

phytoalexin synthesized by about 72 plants species.28 It inhibits www.selleckchem.com/products/nu7441.html the progression of fungal infections in plants.29Botrytis cinerea infection leads to the excessive production of resveratrol in the outer layer of grapes and in the epidermis of leaves. It was originally isolated by M.

Takaoka in 1939 from the roots of Veratrum grandiflorum. 28 Over the past decades, interest in the possible health benefits related to intake of resveratrol had risen rapidly. 29 Resveratrol is present in different fruits especially berries, red grapes and peanuts. Pomegranates, PF-06463922 soybeans and peanuts are the richest source of resveratrol.28 and 30 It is helpful in prevention of inflammations, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. It also acts as an antioxidant and helps in scavenging free radicals generated in body.31 When cultured erythroid cells (obtained from both normal and beta-thalassemic patients) were treated with resveratrol (in a concentration of 100 μM), the amount of HbF was found to be increased from 0.55 ± 0.6% to 3.81 ± 0.54% in beta-thalassemic erythroid cells. The efficacy

of resveratrol for the production of HbF in vivo as well as its dependency on genetic features of beta-thalassemia patients with different mutations should be checked. 32 Although resveratrol has wide range of therapeutic significances, it possesses also some drawbacks like unstable structure, poor bioavailability, and low solubility in water, rapid excretion and no change in resting metabolic rate. To overcome these limitations, resveratrol’s nanodelivery systems have been developed. Two types of nanocarriers of resveratrol have been constructed. Lipid carriers carrying resveratrol have been found to be more stable as compared to solid lipid containing resveratrol. There is a need of further studies to confer its parameters and bioavailability in human body.33 Take home message The life of human beings is dependent on nature. Natural compounds have always played an important role in our life. The compounds with following concepts ‘less cytotoxic, cheap, no side effects’ can be consumed daily for the treatment of beta-thalassemia.