Since the emergence of the first cerebral organoid (CO) in 2013, advancements have transformed central nervous system (CNS) research. Initial efforts focused on studying the morphogenesis of COs and creating reproducible models. Numerous methodologies have been proposed, enabling the design of the brain organoid to represent specific regions and spinal cord structures. CNS organoids now facilitate the study of a wide range of CNS diseases, from infections to tumors, which were previously difficult to investigate. We summarize the major advancements in CNS organoids, concerning morphogenetic designs and disease models. We examine the development of fabrication procedures and how these advancements have enabled the generation of region-specific brain organoids and spinal cord models. We highlight the application of these organoids in studying various CNS diseases, demonstrating the versatility and potential of organoid models in advancing our understanding of complex conditions. We discuss the current challenges in the field, including issues related to reproducibility, scalability, and the accurate recapitulation of the in vivo environment. We provide an outlook on prospective studies and future directions. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art CNS organoid research, highlighting key developments, current challenges, and prospects in the field.

Phytoconstituents are being emphasized as chemotherapeutic agents, as well as probable anticancer agents. The purpose of the present research was to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of crude ethanolic extracts and bioactive fractions of Adiantum venustum D. Don collected from three sites in Himachal Pradesh, India. The bioactive phytoconstituents were examined qualitatively and quantitatively in crude ethanolic extracts and fractions of all sites, and biological activities were analyzed. The potential presence of terpenoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and flavonoids was examined, and it came to light that BF-II [n-butanol fraction of Site-II (2000 m altitude)] had a significantly higher phytochemical concentration. Additionally, the crude ethanolic extracts and fractions were examined for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and BF-II was found to have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as verified by the IC50 values (lowest half inhibitory concentration) in the DPPH (57.86 ± 0.72 μg/mL), reducing power assay (45.20 ± 0.72 μg/mL), FRAP (73.12 ± 0.23 μM Fe equivalent), BSA (56.76 ± 0.25 μg/mL), and EAA (EAA59.84 ± 0.13 μg/mL). Following that, the anticancer potential was investigated further using the MTT assay on the HeLa cell line, MTT assay revealed that BF-II possesses significantly higher anticancer potential. Furthermore, the dominant crude ethanolic extract and fraction were further investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and high-performance thin layer chromatography techniques from the selected plant. Overall, the study suggests that the n-butanol fraction of A. venustum possesses significantly higher therapeutic value but is still not explored to the extent of its potential.