Therapeutic activities and biological effects of curcumin, as a natural multi-target compound, on human health: A minireview

Background and aims: Curcumin or diferuloylmethane is derived from ferulic acid. This herbal compound has a particular chemical structure and various biological/medical properties. The functional groups in the curcumin structure and its analogs are involved in the formation of specific biological activities. This natural compound has high bioactivity, as well as the potential to treat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Considering the spread of infectious diseases and cancers in recent years, as well as an increase in drug resistance and side effects, providing effective and available treatments is necessary. Methods: This review explained the chemical structure of curcumin and covered its biological properties, including anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities. Scientific databases were studied to gather the required information. Results: Curcumin affected several molecular pathways, including activating transcription factors, cell growth factors, anti-inflammatory agents, protein kinases, cytokines, and apoptotic pathway factors. Thus, it had beneficial therapeutic effects on health. Conclusion: By targeting a wide range of molecular mechanisms, curcumin has the potential to treat various diseases. Knowledge of curcumin’s pharmacological/biological activities and its action mechanisms can enhance the applications of curcumin as a potentially bioactive and therapeutic compound. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences is the property of Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Analysis and comparison of physiochemical properties, mutations and glycosylation patterns between RNA polymerase and membrane protein of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 is a member of ß-genus of the coronavirus subfamily, alongside the virus that causes SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). As implied by their names, SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV genome sequences have close kinship (about 79% genomic sequence similarity). In the current research, sequence-based physiochemical properties of RNA polymerase and membrane glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV were compared. In addition, impacts of substitution mutations on stability and glycosylation patterns of these proteins were studied. In comparison of physiochemical features of membrane and RNA polymerase proteins, only instability index of membrane protein was difference between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Mutation analysis showed increase in stability of RNA polymerase and decrease in stability of membrane protein in SARS-CoV-2. Glycosylation pattern analysis showed glycosylation enhancement in both membrane and RNA polymerase proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to SARS-CoV. In conclusion, more glycosylation and stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase could be one of the reasons of high pathogenicity property and host immune system evasion of SARS-CoV-2.

In-silico comparison of post-translational modifications of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins

Background and aims: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a newly discovered coronavirus which causes an infectious disease. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) broke out in 2003 and 2012, respectively. These viruses have some structural proteins, including spike (S), membrane (M), envelope (E), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. These proteins assist the virus in infecting cells through interaction with cell receptors, penetration into the cell, and proliferation. These coronavirus proteins are modified by post-translational modifications (PTMs) which activate various functional and interactional activities of proteins. This study aimed to investigate the PTMs in SARS-CoV/CoV-2, as well as to examine the effect of these PTMs on the pathogenicity of these two viruses. Methods: In this study, PTMs sites were detected by different bioinformatics tools. Evaluation and comparison of PTMs were performed and their roles in structural proteins activities of SARS-CoV/CoV-2 coronaviruses were examined in order to gain a richer understanding of these modifications’ relationships with the protein activities. Results: The PTMs sum and percentages of four structural proteins of SARS-CoV/CoV-2 were evaluated, with a focus on their effects on viral replication and pathogenesis in order to develop a method for treating these diseases. According to our study results, some of the PTMs in SARS-CoV/CoV-2 were different from each other. Conclusion: It was concluded that SARS-CoV-2 had more pathogenicity than SARS-CoV. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences is the property of Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

In silico design of quadruplex aptamers against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Nucleic acid aptamers are short sequences of nucleic acid ligands that bind to a specific target molecule. Aptamers are experimentally nominated using the well-designed SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) method. Here, we designed a new method for diagnosis and blocking SARS-CoV-2 based on G-quadruplex aptamer. This aptamer was developed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) region of the spike protein. In the current study, ten quadruplex DNA aptamers entitled AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4, AP5, AP6, AP7, AP8, AP9, and AP10 were designed in silico and had high HADDOCK scores. One quadruplex aptamer sequence (AP1) was selected based on the interaction with RBD of SARS-CoV-2. Results showed that AP1 aptamer could be used as an agent in the diagnosis and therapy of SARS-CoV-2, although more works are still needed.