Prevalence of Using Medicinal and Edible Plants During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Taif-Saudi Arabia

In early January 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the agent responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recently, a high percentage of patients show a high interest in natural medicines. This is mainly due to the general feeling that natural medicines are safer than synthetic drugs. This study is designed to measure the prevalence of medical and edible plants during the (COVID-19) pandemic in Taif-Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data was collected online using a Google forms survey. The online questionnaire was distributed to participants aged 18 years or older, living in Taif city. The data were analyzed by using IBM-SPSS version 25. In this study, we collected data from 325 participants where 76.9% of the participants were females. Considering the use of plants, 25.7% of the participants reported using Cinnamon while 20% of the participants reported using Star anise. Among the users of plants, family and friends were the main advisors of using these plants at 44.62% followed by social media at 23.69%. Moreover, 62.4 % of the participants reported using plants to protect against COVID-19 while 37.5 % reported using plants in relieving the symptoms of COVID-19. There is a significant increase in the trend of using herbs and natural products among Saudi populations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cinnamon, Star Anise, and pomegranate were the main reported plants to be used by the participants.

Bioactive compounds of cinnamon and their effect on decreasing metabolic syndrome: systematic review / Compuestos bioactivos de canela y su efecto en la disminución del síndrome metabólico: revisión sistemática

Introducción. El síndrome metabólico (SM) aumenta el ingreso hospitalario y el riesgo de desarrollar COVID-19, los fármacos utilizados para su tratamiento ocasionan efectos secundarios por lo que se ha optado por la búsqueda de alternativas terapéuticas a base de compuestos bioactivos contenidos en plantas medicinales. La canela se utiliza como agente terapéutico debido a sus propiedades comprobadas con diversos mecanismos de acción reportados en el tratamiento de varias patologías. Objetivo. Documentar los estudios in vitro, in vivo, estudios clínicos y los mecanismos de acción reportados del efecto de la administración de extractos y polvo de canela en las comorbilidades relacionadas con el SM. Materiales y métodos. Revisión sistemàtica de artículos en bases de datos electrónicas, incluyendo estudios de canela en polvo, extractos acuosos, de acetato de etilo y metanol de la corteza de canela, período de 5 años, excluyendo todo artículo relacionado a su efecto antimicrobiano, antifúngico y aceite de canela. Resultados. Las evidencias de los principales compuestos bioactivos contenidos en la canela validan su potencial en el tratamiento de enfermedades relacionadas al SM, con limitados estudios que indagan en los mecanismos de acción correspondientes a sus actividades biológicas. Conclusiones. Las evidencias de las investigaciones validan su potencial en el tratamiento de estas patologías, debido a sus principales compuestos bioactivos: cinamaldehído, transcinamaldehído, ácido cinámico, eugenol y, antioxidantes del tipo proantocianidinas A y flavonoides, los cuales participan en diversos mecanismos de acción que activan e inhiben enzimas, con efecto hipoglucemiante (quinasa y fosfatasa), antiobesogénico (UPC1), antiinflamatorio (NOS y COX), hipolipemiante (HMG-CoA) y antihipertensivo (ECA)(AU)

Introduction. Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases hospital admission and the risk of developing COVID-19. Due to the side effects caused by the drugs used for its treatment, the search for therapeutic alternatives based on bioactive compounds contained in medicinal plants has been chosen. Cinnamon is used as a therapeutic agent due to its proven properties with various mechanisms of action reported in the treatment of various pathologies. Objective. To document the in vitro and in vivo studies, clinical studies and the mechanisms of action reported on the effect of the administration of cinnamon extracts and powder on comorbidities related to MS. Materials and methods. Systematic review of articles in electronic databases, including studies of cinnamon powder, aqueous extracts, ethyl acetate and methanol from cinnamon bark, over a period of 5 years, excluding all those articles related to its antimicrobial, antifungal and antimicrobial effect. cinnamon oil. Results. The evidence of the main bioactive compounds contained in cinnamon validates its potential in the treatment of diseases related to MS, with limited studies that investigate the mechanisms of action corresponding to its biological activities. Conclusions. Research evidence validates its potential in the treatment of these pathologies, due to its main bioactive compounds: cinnamaldehyde, transcinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, eugenol, and antioxidants of the proanthocyanidin A type and flavonoids, which participate in various mechanisms of action that activate and they inhibit enzymes, with hypoglycemic (kinase and phosphatase), antiobesogenic (UPC1), anti-inflammatory (NOS and COX), lipid-lowering (HMG-CoA) and antihypertensive (ACE) effects(AU)

Traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of patients infected with new coronavirus

The purposes of this review was in the direction of epidemiology, causative agents, symptoms, vaccine research probabilities and COVID-19 infection novel Corona viruses that was investigated in China. The COVID-19 has surrounded viruses along with a practical sensation one stranded RNA genome and a nucleocapsid of helical uniformity. The COVID-19 is an enormous family of viruses that are prevalent in a public and large number of species of animals including hens, camels, bats, cat, and cattle. Human corona viruses can cause gentle disorder identical to a common cough, cold, while others reason more acute disease MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Thus spreading the COVID-19 should be closely investigated to recognize the growth of particularly virulent strains in society at an early stage and to simplify the evolution of enough preventive and therapeutic measurements.Copyright © 2021, Health Biotechnology and Biopharma. All rights reserved.

Self-medication Practices for COVID-19 Prevention: A Study among Medical Students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the interest in self-care strategies, including self-medication. Medical students, as future health practitioners, learn more about medications than other students. This study aimed to describe self-medication practices for preventing COVID-19 among medical students at Universitas Islam Indonesia. This observational study used a cross-sectional design and was undertaken in November- December 2020. The study sample included 336 undergraduate medical students determined using a consecutive sampling technique based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using an online questionnaire about self-medication practices in the preceding 3 months. Among a total of 336 students, 137 (41%) reported using self-medication intending to prevent COVID-19, and 126 (92%) of these 137 took preventive supplements, mainly vitamins C, D, and E, and omega-3. Seven students reported the use of zinc, mainly in combination with other vitamins. Students who practiced self-medication lived closer to people confirmed with COVID-19, washed their hands more often, and desinfected their belongings more frequently than their counterparts (p<0.05). The mean duration for consuming vitamins was 11-16 days. Forty students (29%) used herbal medicine to prevent COVID-19;ginger, turmeric, honey, black seed, cutcherry, and Curcuma were the most often consumed herbal remedies. Fourteen students (10%) reported taking over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms related to COVID-19, including antipyretic, analgesic, antiseptic, antihistamine, decongestant, antitussive, and expectorant medications. Most respondents (82%) purchased their medications at pharmacies, and 11 (9%) obtained them from online shops. These findings show the high rate of self-medication using vitamins and herbal remedies for COVID-19 prevention among university medical students. Further studies are needed to explore students' knowledge about the risks of self-medication including the use of herbal medicines.Copyright © 2022 Marmara University Press.

In silico-based studies on phytochemicals from native Indian plants as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2

This study aims to analyze the AntiCovid effect of Phytocompounds extracted from Native Indian Plant species by computational methods such as Molecular Docking. Through this study keeping the Indian Heritage alive we characterized the ability of these phytochemicals as inhibiting agents of the Main Protease enzyme of this Virus. The lack of any effective treatment and the reoccurrence of cases despite Vaccination necessitates the quick provision of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. Natural substances are getting a lot of attention for SARS-CoV-2 therapy as they have proven antimicrobial activities and are a key source for numerous antiviral drugs. Despite the fact that this virus has several identified target receptors, Main Protease (Mpro) is crucial for viral replication. In this study, 26 phytochemicals from 10 native Indian plant species were studied. Our docking studies demonstrated that compounds Quercetin, Withaferin A, Sominone, and Nimbin were likely to be more favorable than the natural inhibitor N3, with binding energies of-8.42, -9.21, -9.95, and -8.88 kcal/mol, respectively. These four candidate natural compounds were further examined for their bioavailability scores through ADMET analysis to prove the safety of these compounds as well as their drug likeliness. Through the results it was indicated that these natural phytochemicals have a significant potential of inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme and might be utilized to treat SARS-CoV-2 and manage public health, subject to in vitro validation in the future.

Bioactive Compositions of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) Extracts and Their Capacities in Suppressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Binding to ACE2, Inhibiting ACE2, and Scavenging Free Radicals.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) bark and its extracts are popular ingredients added to food and supplement products. It has various health effects, including potentially reducing the risk of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). In our study, the bioactives in cinnamon water and ethanol extracts were chemically identified, and their potential in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding, reducing ACE2 availability, and scavenging free radicals was investigated. Twenty-seven and twenty-three compounds were tentatively identified in cinnamon water and ethanol extracts, respectively. Seven compounds, including saccharumoside C, two emodin-glucuronide isomers, two physcion-glucuronide isomers, and two type-A proanthocyanidin hexamers, were first reported in cinnamon. Cinnamon water and ethanol extracts suppressed the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to ACE2 and inhibited ACE2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Cinnamon ethanol extract had total phenolic content of 36.67 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and free radical scavenging activities against HO• and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS•+) of 1688.85 and 882.88 µmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g, which were significantly higher than those of the water extract at 24.12 mg GAE/g and 583.12 and 210.36 µmol TE/g. The free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) of cinnamon ethanol extract was lower than that of the water extract. The present study provides new evidence that cinnamon reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 development.

Bio-guided chemical characterization and nano-formulation studies of selected edible volatile oils with potentials antibacterial and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities.

The recent pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has opened the door to potential threats of the respiratory system. The discovery of drugs from natural sources is one of the most important strategies for treating the upper respiratory tract. In this study, we investigated the selected formulated EOs activities against Gram-negative (E. coli, K. pneumonia, and P. aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (S. aureus, E. fecalis) bacteria and against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the mode of action investigated as anti-SARS-CoV-2. Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Syzygium aromaticum EOs were the most promising antibacterial oils. C. zeylanicum EO showed MIC values of 1, 1, 2, ≤0.5, and 8 µg/mL against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. fecalis, respectively, while S. aromaticum EO showed MIC values of 8, 4, 32, 8, 32 µg/mL against the same organisms. The cytotoxic activity of the oil samples was tested in VERO-E6 cells using (MTT) assay and showed that the safest oil was F. vulgare, then L. nobilis, C. carvi, S. aromaticum, and E. globulus. The most potent antiviral EOs were C. zeylanicum oil and S. aromaticum, with IC50 value of 15.16 and 96.5 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the safety index of S. aromaticum EO (26.3) was greater than the oil of C. zeylanicum (7.25). The mechanism by which C. zeylanicum oil exerts its antiviral activity may involve both the virucidal effect and its impact on viral reproduction. The nano-emulsion dosage form of the potent EOs was prepared and re-examined against the same bacterial and viral strains. Finally, the chemical characterization of these promising essential oils was analyzed and identified using the GC-MS approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the in vitro investigation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of these selected essential oils, along with a proposed mechanism for the potent oil's activity.

Use of Medicinal Plants and Its Association with Health Literacy in the General Population of Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemy: a Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Background and objectives: During health crises like COVID-19, people with different health conditions turn to traditional/herbal remedies, which can affect their health status. This study aimed to determine medicinal plant consumption and its association with health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Method(s): This web-based cross-sectional study involved 1242 Iranians aged 18 to 65. Data were collected using the Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire (IHLQ), COVID-19-related variables, and a socio-demographic information questionnaire, analyzed by simple and multiple logistic regression analyses using SPSS 16.0. Result(s): It was found that 51.4% (n=638) of participants had used medicinal plants and herbal products, with a mean Health Literacy (HL) score of 76.16. Thyme (50.6%), ginger (34.9%), and cinnamon (24.4%) were the most commonly used plants;the most popular methods were infusion (78.3%) and decoction (32.2%). According to the adjusted analysis, the use of medicinal plants was significantly associated with being older (odds ratio (OR)=1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.14-3.00), having contact with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 cases (OR=1.94, 95% CI:1.39-2.71), and having family members, friends, and/or relatives infected with COVID-19 (OR=1.37, 95% CI:1.00-1.88). Also, people who consulted with a physician or pharmacist before using medicinal plants had statistically higher mean HL scores than those who did not (p<0.001), as do those who consider potential interactions with other medications or medicinal plants (p<0.001). Conclusion(s): Considering that at least half of the people used medicinal plants during the COVID-19 outbreak, providing accurate information by regulatory organizations on medicinal plants, their potential side effects, and interactions, especially during times of crisis, seems to be urgent. Copyright © 2023, Iranian Society of Pharmacognosy. All rights reserved.

Role of Functional Food Additives in Regulating the Immune Response to COVID-19

Background: Food additives act as preventive measures and promote a healthy immune response against pathogenic diseases. There are several functional food additives with antiviral potential that are part of our daily food supplements, which can be exploited to improve the immunity of the human being during the pandemic of COVID-19. Scope and Approach: For this study, an extensive database search using the scientific databases and Google Scholar, as well as commercial search engines, such as Google and Google Patent, was con-ducted to explore commercial and patentable applications. Key Finding: Food additives, such as Phyllanthus emblica, Long pepper, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Cardamom, Ginger, Garlic, Holy Basil, and Liquorice, are used in traditional cultures as preventive treatments. The phytocompounds extracted from these food additives are immune modulators against various pathogenic inflammations. Enhancing the immune response and boosting health are the benefits of these food additives. Conclusion(s): The research literature and reputable sources online confirm that functional food additives in a regular diet may help cure COVID-19 disease. It is necessary to conduct scientific research to determine the effectiveness of food additives. Future Direction: The majority of diseases are caused by metabolic disorders. It is clear that diet plays a major role in controlling the inflammation associated with diseases and metabolic disorders. There is still a lack of phytochemical screening of compounds in food additives and their interaction with me-tabolism. This effort will help the science community to think outside of the box of medicine. Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.

Buriti oil and natural surfactant improve the properties of cassava starch and carboxymethylcellulose films

Due to the environmental problem related to the disposal of non-biodegradable packaging and its aggravation during the COVID-19 pandemic, buriti oil (BO) and Yucca schidigera (YS) surfactant were added to the cassava starch and carboxymethyl-cellulose films to create a new emulsified biofilm with better properties. The influence of BO and YS on mechanical and barrier properties was evaluated. All properties differed significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the base film. Incorporation of BO and YS increased tensile strength by 1.100% and opacity by 375% and reduced elongation. In addition, the two variables generated a reduction in water vapour permeability (similar to 47%) and water solubility (similar to 70%), making the films less hydrophilic. Both attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were able to generate important correlations, observing the effects of BO and YS on the uniformity and cohesion of the structures of the emulsified films. Overall, the emulsified films showed great potential for application as primary and/or secondary packaging.

Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in exhaled air by antiseptic chewing gum: a pilot trial.

PURPOSE: The dominant route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, through respiratory transmission by aerosols or droplets which can be measured by viral load in exhaled air. Several natural substances have shown antiviral activity. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of a chewing gum containing natural antiseptic ingredients (cinnamon-, peppermint- and lemon-oil, quercetin, spermidine, ginger and ginseng) on viral load in exhalative air in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Nine patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled and exhaled forcefully into a special mouthpiece at different time points before and after chewing the antiseptic gum. The mouthpiece contained a filter paper serving for extraction of coronaviruses following real-time PCR to quantify the viral load. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cycle threshold (Ct) values of all patients increased after chewing the gum. The mean difference between the Ct values at baseline (before chewing the antiseptic gum) and time point 30 min (15 min after chewing) was 3.8 ± 2.6; (93% viral load reduction; p = 0.002). Time point 15 min (2.7 ± 1.7 (83% viral load reduction; p = 0.003)), 60 min (3.0 ± 3.4 (88% viral load reduction; p = 0.028)), 90 min (3.7 ± 1.8 (92% viral load reduction; p = 0.004)) and 120 min (3.0 ± 3.7 (91% viral load reduction; p = 0.05)) showed similar results. The antiseptic chewing gum demonstrated a significant potential to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load in exhalative air and, in this way, reduce further spread and infection risk. Larger placebo-controlled clinical trials are required to confirm these findings further.

Etiology-Specific Olfactory Phenotypes for COVID-19 and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Introduction: Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom associated with COVID-19 infection. While often transient, nearly 1 in 8 patients experience persistent dysfunction after initial infection resolution. Given the known association between impaired olfaction and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), this persistent COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction may impede early detection of cognitive decline. Method(s): Patients with confirmed COVID-19-associated hyposmia (n=73), MCI (n=58), and normal controls (n=86) were prospectively enrolled. Demographic data were collected alongside formal olfactory testing via AROMA (Affordable Rapid Olfaction Measurement Assay) at time of initial enrollment. MCI was assessed via MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Multivariate logistic regressions were utilized to evaluate for associations between variables and etiology of olfactory dysfunction. Result(s): After controlling for age and gender, when compared against normal controls, the inability to smell licorice, cinnamon, and lemon at the lowest 3 concentrations increased odds of COVID-19 hyposmia by 10.8 (95% CI, 4.6-25.6), 5.7 (95% CI, 2.7-11.7), and 5.3 (95% CI, 2.6-10.8), respectively. While the inability to smell coffee (9.9 odds ratio [OR];95% CI, 2.02-48.1), eucalyptus (6.7 OR;95% CI, 2.2-20.0), and rose (4.0 OR;95% CI, 1.7-9.7) were associated with MCI, decreased ability to smell licorice, cinnamon, and lemon were not. When combined into a composite score and compared against controls, decreased detection of licorice, cinnamon, and lemon was associated with a 16.5 OR (95% CI, 6.6-41.3) for COVID-19 hyposmia. This composite score was not significantly associated with MCI (1.2 OR;95% CI, 0.6-2.2) and, as such, performed well at discriminating between COVID-19 and MCI patients (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve=0.76). Conclusion(s): Distinct patterns of impaired olfaction were noted for COVID-19. We show that this etiology-specific phenotype has good discriminative performance when differentiating from MCI-associated hyposmia, which may allow for continued utilization of olfactory screening for MCI even among those with previous COVID-19 infection.

Disparities in Olfactory Dysfunction in African American Individuals During COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: COVID-19 is known to cause olfactory dysfunction (OD). African American individuals have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce health disparities related to OD, it is important to have accurate objective testing, especially for African American individuals, who have a higher disease burden. Our objective is to examine olfactory performance in African American and White study participants by comparing individual scent scores to assess potential cultural appropriateness of scent selection. Method(s): This was a cross-sectional study of healthy participants from June 2021 to April 2022. Two smelling tests were used: Affordable Rapid Olfactory Measurement Array (AROMA) and Sniffin' Sticks (SST-12). Pearson correlation and chi2 tests were used to detect statistical differences. African American and White participants without sinonasal disease aged 18+ were recruited from outpatient clinics at Kansas University Medical Center and the community. The main outcome for our study is olfactory performance on smelling tests. Result(s): Of the 102 participants, 46 were African American and 56 were White. AROMA and SST-12 scores were significantly correlated in African American (P<.01) and White (P<.01) participants. African American participants scored significantly lower than their White counterparts on both tests (P<.01). AROMA, mean scores were 64.2 and 75.5 for African American and White participants, respectively. SST-12 mean scores were 84.2 and 89.9 for African American and White participants, respectively. On SST-12, 60.9% of African American and 30.4% of White participants were hyposmic, (P<.05). For 6 AROMA scents (licorice, orange, lavender, cinnamon, clove, and rosemary) and 1 SST-12 scent (pineapple) African American participants scored significantly lower than White participants (P<.05). Conclusion(s): When compared with White participants, African American participants performed worse on both smelling tests and a greater proportion were considered hyposmic. African American participants performed significantly worse than their White counterparts on several scents, raising the issue of cultural appropriateness of scents used in olfactory testing.

RACIAL DISPARITIES IN PULMONARY EMBOLISM RISK FACTORS AND MORTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES: 1999-2020

SESSION TITLE: Racial Disparities in Pulmonary Embolism Risk Factors and Mortality in the SESSION TYPE: Original Investigations PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm PURPOSE: Racial disparities in pulmonary embolism (PE) related mortality rates have been reported for decades in the United States (US). The risk factors contributing to the observed disparity remain unclear. Our objective is to examine recent PE-related mortality trends and PE risk factors by race. We hypothesize racial disparity gap in PE-related mortality and risk factors has persisted and might have widened with the COVID 19 pandemic. METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research for both underlying cause of death (UCOD) and multiple causes of death (MCOD) in the US between the years 1999-2020 was used for this study. Non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) decedents aged 25 years and older with an ICD-10 code for PE (I26) were included. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were computed by race for age groups, year, Health & Human Services (HHS) regions, and urbanization and PE risk factors. Risk factors examined were trauma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, sepsis, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and COVD-19 among PE decedents. RESULTS: Between the years 1999-2020, PE was the UCOD in 168,540 decedents, with 137,128 (81.4%) NHWs and 31,412 (18.6%) NHBs. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) decreased from 1999(5.3;95% CI, 5.2 - 5.4) to 2009(3.6;95% CI, 3.5 - 3.7), and then increased from 2010(3.8;95% (3.7 - 3.8) to 2020(4.2;95% CI, 4.1 - 4.3).There was a steep rise in the overall AAMR for 2020 (4.2;95% CI, 4.1 - 4.3) compared to the year prior 2019 (3.9;95% CI, 3.8 - 4.0) with highest annual % change among NHBs when compared to NHWs (NHB men (13%), NHB women (15%), NHW men (8.3%), NHW women (6%).) NHB men (AAMR 7.2;95% CI, 7.1-7.4) and NHB women (AAMR 6.6;95% CI, 6.5-6.7) had 2-fold higher AAMR compared to NHW men (AAMR 3.8;95% CI, 3.8-3-9) and NHW women (AAMR 3.7;95% CI, 3.7-3.7). Similar trends were also noted in geographical regions. The highest AAMRs were in HHS regions 3, 4, 5,6, 7, and 8. Within these HHS regions, NHBs and NHWs who resided in small metro and non-metropolitan areas had the highest AAMRs. However, NHB-NHW disparity in AAMR was seen in all 10 HHS regions and Urbanization. When risk factors such as trauma, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, sepsis, and chronic lower respiratory diseases were each mentioned as MCOD with PE decedents, rates varied by risk factor but NHBs had consistently higher AAMR than NHWs. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that PE-related mortality has increased over the past decade and racial disparities persisted and varied by gender, region, urbanization, and risk factors. The decades-long disparity observed in PE-related mortality may be narrowed by allocating resources to the management of common comorbidities. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Racial disparity in PE-related mortality is related to comorbidities listed in MCOD data. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Isaac Ikwu No relevant relationships by Alem Mehari No relevant relationships by Lamiaa Rougui

Evaluation of essential oil extracted from ginger, cinnamon and lemon for therapeutic and biological activities

Essential oil extracted from plants has many applications in the field of medicine, cosmetic and pharmaceuticals due to cost effectiveness and therapeutic effects associated. In this article, we have compiled discussion on the essential oil extracted from ginger, cinnamon, and lemon leaves. Essential oils are rich source of antioxidant compounds like cinnamaldehyde, zingiberene and limonene. This review article covers the literature related to antioxidant and biological activities of essential oils extracted from ginger, cinnamon and lemon. In addition, applications of the essential oils in the field of medical, pharmacology, cosmetic etc, have been discussed. Role of essential oils, for anti-cancer, anti-hypertension, reduction of heart diseases and maintaining of blood circulation and digestion due to presence of antioxidant components, has been discussed. Literature has also supported Covid-19 preventive effects of essential oils. Keeping in view the positive effects on health, essential oils can be used as supplements. Furthermore, essential oils must be further investigated for their biological activities followed by development of essential oil based drugs and pharmaceutics.

Structural interactions of phytoconstituent(s) from cinnamon, bay leaf, oregano, and parsley with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein: A comparative assessment for development of potential antiviral nutraceuticals.

SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for causing 6,218,308 deaths globally till date and has garnered worldwide attention. The lack of effective preventive and therapeutic drugs against SARS-CoV-2 has further worsened the scenario and has bolstered research in the area. The N-terminal and C-terminal RNA binding domains (NTD and CTD) of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein represent attractive therapeutic drug targets. Naturally occurring compounds are an excellent source of novel drug candidates due to their structural diversity and safety. Ten major bioactive compounds were identified in ethanolic extract (s) of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Origanum vulgare, and Petroselinum crispum using HPLC and their cytotoxic potential was determined against cancer and normal cell lines by MTT assay to ascertain their biological activity in vitro. To evaluate their antiviral potential, the binding efficacy to NTD and CTD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was determined using in silico biology tools. In silico assessment of the phytocomponents revealed that most of the phytoconstituents displayed a druglike character with no predicted toxicity. Binding affinities were in the order apigenin > catechin > apiin toward SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid NTD. Toward nucleocapsid CTD, the affinity decreased as apigenin > cinnamic acid > catechin. Remdesivir displayed lesser affinity with NTD and CTD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid proteins than any of the studied phytoconstituents. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results revealed that throughout the 100 ns simulation, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein NTD-apigenin complex displayed greater stability than SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein NTD-cinnamic acid complex. Hence, apigenin, catechin, apiin and cinnamic acid might prove as effective prophylactic and therapeutic candidates against SARS-CoV-2, if examined further in vitro and in vivo. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Ten major bioactive compounds were identified in the extract(s) of four medicinally important plants viz. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Origanum vulgare and Petroselinum crispum using HPLC and their biological activity was also evaluated against cancer and normal cell lines. Interestingly, while all extract(s) wielded significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells, no significant toxicity was found against normal cells. The outcome of the results prompted evaluation of the antiviral potential of the ten bioactive compounds using in silico biology tools. The present study emphasizes on the application of computational approaches to understand the binding interaction and efficacy of the ten bioactive compounds from the above plants with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein N-terminal and C-terminal RNA binding domains in preventing and/or treating COVID-19 using in silico tools. Druglikeness and toxicity profiles of the compounds were carried out to check the therapeutic application of the components. Additionally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to check the stability of ligand-protein complexes. The results provided useful insights into the structural binding interaction(s) that can be exploited for the further development of potential antiviral agents targeting SARS-CoV-2 especially since no specific therapy is still available to combat the rapidly evolving virus and the existing treatment is more or less symptomatic which makes search for novel antiviral agents all the more necessary and crucial.

Preparation and evaluation of novel functional fermented dairy products containing propolis and cinnamon.

Novel functional food products might be an easy accessible and eligible approach to help reduce the risk of severe viral infections including SARS-CoV-2. Hence a product containing probiotics, propolis and cinnamon was developed and interferences of the ingredients were characterized. Yogurts were prepared using starter cultures with propolis (0.03%) and cinnamon in various concentrations (0.3%, 1%, and 2.5%). Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were used as microorganisms for yogurt production. Chemical analysis revealed a decline of fat matter in the presence of propolis and/or cinnamon. Propolis had statistically significant suppressive effects on Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis as well as on Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus numbers (p < 0.05). These effects were diminished in the presence of increasing cinnamon concentrations. For Lactobacillus acidophilus a statistically significant reducing effect on the number of colonies was observed in all products investigated. Nevertheless all samples met the standard of recommended level of ≥ 106 viable cells/g of a product. Propolis showed an inverse effect on Streptococcus thermophilus by increasing its colony numbers in yogurts. The probiotic yogurt samples containing propolis (0.03%) and cinnamon (2.5%) gained the highest number of points in the sensory evaluation compared to control.

Lipid Lowering Effects of Herbal Supplements: A Review

As cardiovascular diseases are still a major cause of death in most countries, it is still relevant to look into treatment of such diseases. Dyslipidemia is one of the important identified risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. As this is largely driven by lifestyle and diet, it may be difficult to control it with lifestyle modifications alone. Currently, Statins remains to be the mainstay therapy for dyslipidemia but this is also met by problems within certain patient population. The drug may be contraindicated in certain patient groups;some patients tend to not respond to Statins;while certain patients may not tolerate the adverse events. This study looked into available literature on studies done on dyslipidemia using plant-based formulations using randomized clinical trial. Based on the review conducted, there are several plant-based formations with potential to be similar in efficacy to Statins. Some of the plants used are abundant or may be easily sourced. With the increasing popularity of food supplements or nutraceuticals, exploration on the potential of plant-based products is attractive. Despite the promising results of some studies, these will need further investigations and targeting a larger population size. Formulation options may need to be explored also focused on its stability. © RJPT All right reserved.

Potential immunomodulatory and antiviral food effect in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Up to date drug-based treatments for COVID-19 have not been approved. The most effective way to face this public health problem is prevention with adequate nutrition, hygiene, and protection measures. Food has historically been used by people to improve their nutrition and complement the treatment or prevention of diseases. The various bioactive compounds of some foods are known, which in experimental studies demonstrated their antiviral and immunomodulatory action.