ABSTRACT
With Covid-19, a significant proportion of the population who are already vaccinated have tested positive. Therefore, there is a need for better medicines that act against the virus rigorously without causing any side effects. We aim to achieve the same through molecular docking and further simulations for bioactive phytochemicals of ayurvedic medicinal plants. The target for this study has been considered the NSP3 protein of the viral RNA that actively takes part in both replication and immune evasion pathways of the virus. Ligand libraries consisting of bioactive phytochemicals of aswasgandha and analogues of curcumin and piperine are curated. The libraries, along with the NSP3 protein moiety are docked onto two active sites. With the best-scored complexes further taken up for molecular dynamics simulation, the study resulted in favourable outcomes for three such ligands (compound ID 5469426, 69501714, ZINC000003874317). © 2023 Bharati Vidyapeeth, New Delhi.
ABSTRACT
South Africa, a country considered affluent in nature, ranks third in global biodiversity and encompasses approximately 9% of higher plants on planet Earth. Many indigenous plants have been utilised as herbal medicine, proving successful in treating numerous ailments. From the common cold to pandemic maladies such as COVID-19 in the 21st century and the treatment of incurable diseases, South African inhabitants have found great promise in the healing properties of these plants. Phytomedicine is a rapidly evolving topic, with in-depth bioactive composition analysis, identifying therapeutic action mechanisms, and disease prevention. While we are now poised to take advantage of nature's medicine cabinet with greater scientific vigour, it remains critical that these practises are done with caution. Overharvesting significantly impacts biodiversity and cultivation practices amidst the beautiful nature of these nutraceuticals. This book chapter focuses on the therapeutic potential of commonly used South African medicinal plants, their ethnopharmacological properties, and how we can conserve this treasure cove we call home for future generations. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), named by WHO, is a real public health disaster of the third millennium. This highly contagious viral disease has infected the world population and is now a global pandemic. This acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has severe complica-tions like pneumonitis, respiratory failure, shock, multiorgan failure, and death. Well-defined FDA-approved synthetic is not yet available. Case management strategies like lockdown, use of masks and sanitizers, social distancing, and repurposing of antiviral drugs were initially undertaken to cope with this pandemic. Different broad-spectrum antiviral drugs are being repurposed as one of the treatment modalities. The global vaccination programme with the newly launched COVID-19 vac-cines, Covishield, covaxin, sputnik V, etc., is an ongoing process. Simultaneously, significant research is being carried out in search of natural antivirals and evaluating the potency of food bioac-tives to aid naturistic protection against the coronavirus. This mini-review has compiled the latest updates on the screening and evidence-based mechanistic evaluation of phytochemicals and food bioactives as non-pharmacological adjuvant aid in COVID pandemics.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Various infections such as bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infectious diseases are playing a pivotal role in causing minor complications to serious threat to mankind. Especially viral infections like HIV, malaria, dengue, hepatitis, and COVID-19 are very dangerous and difficult to treat. Nature has long been seen with materials that can be used to combat illnesses and treat diseases. The need of the hour is to explore new medications and novel targets to treat infected people from natural sources. Bioactives and plant extracts obtained from natural products are enriched with a lot of potential antiviral medication candidates. Furthermore, phytomedicines and phytotherapy are gaining attention as they are economical and safe alternatives to other treatments. The current chapter deals with the utility of natural products in infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, dengue, hepatitis, and COVID-19. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of novel coro-navirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a major cause of atypical pneumonia worldwide. Elderly individuals and those with underlying illnesses, such as cardio-vascular and pulmonary diseases, are at a high risk of experiencing severe symptoms and have high mortality rates. There is therefore a major need to develop additional vaccines, effective treatments, and complementary drugs to control this infection. Lactoferrin (LF), a naturally-occurring glycoprotein, is bioactive against viruses and other pathogens. LF has a unique immunomodulatory function and is indispensable for immunity in infants. It is thought to contribute to biological defense in individuals across all generations, not only infants. LF inhibits viral adhesion to host cell surfaces through ionic binding to glycosaminoglycans and/or specific binding to viral structures. Purified LF is cost-effective and orally available as a dietary sup-plement. Here, we review studies on the protective role of LF against common viral infections. Based on this review, we propose that LF can be a possible prophy-lactic or therapeutic agent for COVID-19 disease. © Fuji Technology Press Ltd.
ABSTRACT
The rural communities of the sub-Sahara regions in Africa are rich in diverse indigenous culinary knowledge and foods, food crops, and condiments such as roots/tubers, cereal, legumes/pulses, locust beans, and green leafy vegetables. These food crops are rich in micronutrients and phytochemicals, which have the potentials to address hidden hunger as well as promote health when consumed. Some examples of these are fermented foods such as ogi and plants such as Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Zingiber officinales (garlic), Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle), and condiments. Food crops from West Africa contain numerous bioactive substances such as saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, and monoterpenoid chemicals among others. These bioresources have proven biological and pharmacological activities due to diverse mechanisms of action such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antioxidant activities which made them suitable as candidates for nutraceuticals and pharma foods. This review seeks to explore the different processes such as fermentation applied during food preparation and food crops of West-African origin with health-promoting benefits. The different bioactive compounds present in such food or food crops are discussed extensively as well as the diverse application, especially regarding respiratory diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The plants and herbs summarized here are more easily accessible and affordable by therapists and others having a passion for promising medicinal properties of African-origin plants.The mechanisms and unique metabolic potentials of African food crops discussed in this article will promote their applicability as a template molecule for novel drug discoveries in treatment strategies for emerging diseases. This compilation of antiviral plants will help clinicians and researchers bring new preventive strategies in combating COVID-19 like viral diseases, ultimately saving millions of affected people.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Fabaceae , Hibiscus , Humans , Health Promotion , Crops, Agricultural , Africa, Western , Vegetables , Africa , Antioxidants/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Aspergillus species consists of a group of opportunistic fungi that is virulent when the immunity of the host is compromised. Among the various species, Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent species. However, the prevalence of fungal infections caused by non-fumigatus Aspergillus has been increasing. Polyenes, echinocandins and azoles are the three main classes of antifungal agents being used for the treatment of aspergillosis. Nevertheless, the incidence of resistance towards these three classes has been rising over the years among several Aspergillus spp. The side effects associated with these conventional antifungal agents have also limited their usage. This urges the need for the discovery of a safe and effective antifungal agent, which presents a major challenge in medicine today. Plants present a rich source of bioactive molecules which have been proven effective against a wide range of infections and conditions. Therefore, this present review intends to examine the current literature available regarding the efficacy and mechanism of action of plant extracts and their compounds against Aspergillus spp. In addition, novel drug delivery systems of plant extracts against Aspergillus spp. were also included in this review.
ABSTRACT
South Africa, a country considered affluent in nature, ranks third in global biodiversity and encompasses approximately 9% of higher plants on planet Earth. Many indigenous plants have been utilised as herbal medicine, proving successful in treating numerous ailments. From the common cold to pandemic maladies such as COVID-19 in the 21st century and the treatment of incurable diseases, South African inhabitants have found great promise in the healing properties of these plants. Phytomedicine is a rapidly evolving topic, with in-depth bioactive composition analysis, identifying therapeutic action mechanisms, and disease prevention. While we are now poised to take advantage of nature's medicine cabinet with greater scientific vigour, it remains critical that these practises are done with caution. Overharvesting significantly impacts biodiversity and cultivation practices amidst the beautiful nature of these nutraceuticals. This book chapter focuses on the therapeutic potential of commonly used South African medicinal plants, their ethnopharmacological properties, and how we can conserve this treasure cove we call home for future generations.
ABSTRACT
The medicinal characteristics of garlic’s (Allium sativum L.) dynamically bioactive constituents such as alliin, allicin, ajoene, S-allyl-cysteine, S-trityl-L-cysteine, diallyl sulfide, and S-allylmercaptocysteine, have gained a lot of scientific attention from a large number of investigators who have occupied the related pre-clinical and clinical studies, as well as in the industrial sector. The outcomes from basic investigations demonstrated that, depending on the type of food processing, the presence of bioactive compounds in the matrix of garlic have a coherent and direct relation with the appearance/development of health-promoting effects in the host. Besides, it can be acknowledged that at present spectroscopic and chemometric techniques are powerful tools to detect fraud, prevent criminal activities of fraudsters, and ensure food chain safety, and future studies should lead to further progress, such as portable and hand-held spectroscopy devices for rapid on-site analysis, in this field. There have been also many issues on the effects of processing on garlic’s bioactive compounds, potential toxicities, pharmacokinetics, and safety profile of these elements that should be studied to validate the health advantages of garlic in humans. In this review, the outcomes of recent experimental and clinical reports are reviewed and metabolism pathway, bioavailability, biological/therapeutically effects, food-related applicability, methods of adulteration detection, potential toxicities, and safety profile of garlic’s derived bio-compounds are discussed. © 2022 Taylor & Francis.
ABSTRACT
Poor nutrition predisposes to infection, and various food compounds, such as micronutrients, are key elements of immune competence. A large number of scientific publications have suggested a role of phytochemicals, food bioactives and nutrition in combating the current coronavirus pandemic. Various dietary components and specific food supplements have been proposed to be helpful in the prevention or therapy of COVID-19. While findings in preclinical models suggest that food bioactives and micronutrients may potentially augment viral defense, evidence supporting antiviral and immunomodulatory efficacy of these compounds in the prevention or management of COVID-19 is non-existent. Large-scale epidemiological and well-designed clinical studies investigating dosage and combinations of food compounds in different age groups and populations are needed before any recommendations can be made. Both malnutrition and overnutrition can adversely affect the immune system. Malnutrition at population level appears to be associated with elevated rates of fatal outcomes of COVID-19. Obesity and non-communicable diseases have been found to be a prognostic risk factor associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. A focus on obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases should be a key element of public health. This approach would be more effective than the far less promising search for food bioactives with potential immune-supportive efficacy. © 2019 The Authors
ABSTRACT
Satureja genus belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and they are used in food products and by pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The chemical composition of Satureja is responsible for its pharmacological and phytochemical properties. Among the various biological activities, notably antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal, Satureja also has a potential antiviral activity. The existence of a microbiota modulation potential by Satureja in farming animals has also been reported. Viral pathologies are one of the main causes of disease in the world. It is commonly known that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the fight and progression of viral infection. Previous studies conducted on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have proved an imbalance in the intestinal and pulmonary microbiota via gut-lung axis. Knowing the properties of Satureja and its traditional use, one can suggest the possibility of using it as dietary supplement to modulate immune system in order to prevent and fight viral infections. The objective of this review is to reveal the potential impact of medicinal plants such as Satureja genus as a food supplement, on immune enhancing during SARS-CoV-2 infection and their relationships with the intestinal microbiota.
ABSTRACT
Historically, humans are aware of the positive potential of different herbs and spices to prevent pathogenic and spoilage microflora. Herbal foods are valued for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, nutritional, and medicinal properties. Due to the current corona pandemic, people worldwide have become more conscious about their health. Herbs and spices have been found to be beneficial to one's health. Milk is a highly perishable commodity. Many dairy products deteriorate within days of their production. To ensure that processed dairy products remain safe and uncontaminated, the use of the natural preservative is necessary;therefore, herbs and spices added in dairy products can give value-added products with prolonged shelf life. © 2022 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is a high-value medicinal plant of the family Solanaceae. Besides the drier parts of India, it also grows up to a height of 1700 m in Himalayan region (mainly Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir). It possesses a wide array of health benefits due to the presence of several bioactive metabolites in it, mainly belonging to a class called as Withanolides (a group of steroidal lactones with a basic C-28 framework) and have been repeatedly found effective against some of the important human ailments. With the growing market of herbal drugs and increase in the market demand of Ashwagandha, the major challenges in this crop (low seed viability, losses due to pest/diseases, quality maintenance of herbal products, etc.) need to be addressed in a systematic manner. Several efforts have been made to explore the variability (morphological, genetic, and chemotypic) in its germplasm and also to identify the key genes of the withanolide biosynthetic pathway. Many attempts have also been made to increase the production of bioactives in W. somnifera both under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Keeping this in mind, this chapter has been structured to discuss the major challenges and major crop improvement/breeding objectives in this crop. Further, we have tried to highlight the OMICS (proteomic, transcriptomic, genomic, and metabolomic) studies made in this plant which will help in designing suitable strategies for the improvement of this medicinal plant crop. Various biotechnological intervention (tissue culture, genetic transformation, etc.) tried in this crop for its improvement has also been discussed, which will provide a holistic view of the crop improvement efforts made in this important medicinal plant species. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is an endothelial disease. All the major comorbidities that increase the risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 including old age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease, compromised immune system, coronary artery disease or heart failure are associated with dysfunctional endothelium. Genetics and environmental factors (epigenetics) are major risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Individuals with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and poor COVID-19 outcomes and higher risk of mortality. Old age is a non-modifiable risk factor. All other risk factors are modifiable. This review also identifies dietary risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Potential dietary preventions that address endothelial dysfunction and its sequelae may have an important role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection severity and are key factors for future research to address. This review presents some dietary bioactives with demonstrated efficacy against dysfunctional endothelial cells. This review also covers dietary bioactives with efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dietary bioactive compounds that prevent endothelial dysfunction and its sequelae, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, will result in more effective prevention of SARS-CoV-2 variant infection severity and are key factors for future food research to address.
Subject(s)
Endothelium/drug effects , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Functional Food/analysis , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/virology , Endothelium/metabolism , Flavonoids/metabolism , Flavonoids/therapeutic use , Humans , Polysaccharides/pharmacology , Polysaccharides/therapeutic use , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Stilbenes/pharmacology , Stilbenes/therapeutic use , Terpenes/pharmacology , Terpenes/therapeutic use , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (M-Pro) is recognized as an important therapeutic target protein in the drug development for COVID-19. To date, clinical trials of many vaccine and other viral protease inhibitors (PI) are currently under investigation. Undoubtedly, there are chances of possible side effects and ineffectiveness. Thus, the search for natural bio-active molecules is of great interest that will exert antiviral activity as well as have least chances of toxicity. Fungi are considered as bio-enriched source of producing antiviral compounds. This study is focused on identifying potential fungal derived antiviral molecules with good binding affinity against SARS-CoV-2 M-Pro using molecular docking. Semicochliodinol B was identified as the best lead molecule with higher binding affinity (-8.9kcal/mol) as compared to the co-crystalized ligand (-8.5kcal/mol). The results of molecular docking confirm the hydrogen bond interaction of Semicochliodinol B with Glu166 and Asn142 as well as hydrophobic interactions with 20 amino acid residues of SARS-CoV-2 M-Pro. Semicochliodinol B also exhibited good binding affinity against SARS-CoV M-Pro and Middle east respiratory syndrome-related corona virus (MERS-CoV M-Pro), suggesting its broad-spectrum activity. Druglikeness, Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and toxicity studies also directed that Semicochliodinol B may become a promising drug candidate and thus it can be further investigated as a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 M-Pro. Virtual screening was done on fungal-derived antivirals to identify SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Semicochliodinol B was identified as a promising lead candidate considering binding affinity and interactions obtained in molecular docking. Broad spectrum antiviral activity of Semicochliodinol B is reported. ADME and toxicity study suggested druglikeness of selected lead Semicochliodinol B.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan is not as disastrous as it is in other Western countries, possibly because of certain lifestyle factors. One such factor might be the seaweed-rich diet commonly consumed in Japan. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell surface and downregulates ACE2, likely elevating the ratio of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) to ACE2. The overreaction of the immune system, combined with the cytokine storm and ACE dominance, is purported to cause the condition of COVID-19 patients to deteriorate rapidly. Dietary seaweeds contain numerous components, including ACE inhibitory peptides, soluble dietary fibers (eg, fucoidan, porphyran), omega-3 fatty acids, fucoxanthin, fucosterol, vitamins D3 and B12, and phlorotannins. These components exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects directly as well as indirectly through prebiotic effects. It is possible that ACE inhibitory components could minimize the ACE dominance caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, dietary seaweeds might confer protection against COVID-19 through multiple mechanisms. Overconsumption of seaweeds should be avoided, however, as seaweeds contain high levels of iodine.