ABSTRACT
Background: The SARS-COV-2 is a worldwide pandemic problem. We developed a herbal extract with potent in-vitro virucidal, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects called EGIVIR. Our aim is to assess the bioavailability and cytotoxicity of EGYVIR on different organs and biological systems in Sprague Dawley rats as a model of experimental animals.Methods: 128 rats were divided into 16 groups (8 rats each), where Egyvir was assessed in oral doses of 20, 30, and 40 mg/kg body weight, and by inhalation in 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg/kg body weight, four times/day, compared to the control groups.Results: The Egyvir had no significant effect on the blood pressure, pulse, motor activity, histological, hematological, and coagulation profiles. Also, the blood levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, blood glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphor kinase (CPK) were not significantly affected. Egyvir had no harmful effect on the kidney and liver functions, blood electrolytes levels and urinary levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride. There was no significant effect on the serum levels of interleukin-113 (IL -113), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Additionally, there was no significant change in the levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), and malonaldehyde (MDA) in comparison to the control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Egyvir is considered a safe antiviral natural drug. It could be used for the treatment of SARS-COV-2 without any adverse effects when used with the recommended doses. However, these data are a preliminary step for validation in a clinical setting.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented demand for single-use plastics such as plastic bags and surgical masks. Plastics are resistant to natural degradation and are a global environmental pollution problem, threatening the environment and human health. Finding suitable ways to convert plastic waste into valuable materials is crucial to mitigate these effects. Herein, we report a facile, single-step, and organic solvent-free hydrothermal process to convert polyethylene-based plastic bags and polypropylene-based surgical masks into carbon dots with a 96% production yield. The produced CDs are soluble in aqueous and various organic solvents, show excitation-dependent emission consistent with their size of 1-8 nm and exhibit thermal and photostability. We further show how this oxidative degradation approach can upcycle contaminated plastics with organic waste, which is a major challenge with plastic recycling. Finally, we demonstrate a potential use case of CDs as anticounterfeiting agents using fluorescent, stretchable films of CD-doped polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This synthesis method is a cost-effective, easy-to-implement, highly scalable, and contamination-resistant approach to upcycle plastic waste. © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
ABSTRACT
SARS CoV-2 gets over more than four million people all over the world. The challenges for developing vaccines in overwhelming pandemic situations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), developing and screening of unique antiviral agents are peremptorily necessitated. In this study, we aimed to identify the chemical constituents of Citrus clementine peel essential oil (CCPEO) and to investigate its activities as anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-inflammatory activities. The chemical profile of CCPEO was identified via Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC/MS). The in-vitro cell viability was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of CCPEO was determined. The antiviral effect of citrus clementine extract was determined by plaque reduction assay. A geometry-based molecular docking approach (Patchdock) was performed to create docking modifications that result in good molecular shape complementarity. The antiviral effect of CCPEO was attributed to the downregulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) released from Huh7cells, and thus attenuating the SARSCoV-2 infection-associated cytokine storm in severe cases. ©2022 National Information and Documentation Center (NIDOC)
ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a small outbreak in Wuhan rapidly progressing into the deadliest pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918. The disease was deemed trivial in children, until the reporting, few days ago, of an emerging pediatric multi-inflammatory syndrome mimicking Kawasaki disease (KD). Main body: This report reveals that coronaviridae were implicated in induction of several post-infectious vasculitides, namely, KD, AHEI, and HSP. This occurs in genetically susceptible individuals to vascular inflammation. Shared genetic susceptibilities between KD and CoV include genes encoding for CD 40, HLAB-15:03, and ACE. This leads to augmented inflammation with hypersecretion of cytokines especially IL-6. Conclusion(s): The revealed relationships between KD and CoV can help to predict the risk of KD in COVID-19 patients through screening levels of upregulated cytokines. It might also signify that classic treatment of KD with IVIG might need to be replaced with anti-cytokine therapy in COVID-19 patients. Copyright © 2020, The Author(s).