ABSTRACT
Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult. belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is remarkable for its horticultural and ornamental values, poisonous nature, and medicinal uses. In order to have understanding of cp genome characterization of highly valued medicinal plant, and the evolutionary and systematic relationships, the complete plastome / chloroplast (cp) genome of A. obesum was sequenced. The assembled cp genome of A. obesum was found to be 154,437 bp, with an overall GC content of 38.1%. A total of 127 unique coding genes were annotated including 96 protein-coding genes, 28 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. The repeat structures were found to comprise of only mononucleotide repeats. The SSR loci are compososed of only A/T bases. The phylogenetic analysis of cp genomes revealed its proximity with Nerium oleander.
ABSTRACT
Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Willd. (subfamily Detarioideae, family Fabaceae) is a perennial evergreen sacred medicinal tree classified under 'vulnerable' by the IUCN. The chloroplast (cp) genome/plastome which follows uniparental inheritance contains many useful genetic information because of its conservative rate of evolution. The assembled cp genome of S. asoca which maps as a conserved circular structure revealed extensive rearrangement in gene organization, comprising total length 160,003 bp including LSC, SSC, IRa, and IRb, and GC content was 35.26%. Herein a set of rbcL and matK gene were established using molecular phylogenetic analyses for molecular typing of S. asoca.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is unprecedented in recent memory owing to the non-stop escalation in number of infections and deaths in almost every country of the world. The lack of treatment options further worsens the scenario, thereby necessitating the exploration of already existing US FDA-approved drugs for their effectiveness against COVID-19. In the present study, we have performed virtual screening of nutraceuticals available from DrugBank against 14 SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Molecular docking identified several inhibitors, two of which, rutin and NADH, displayed strong binding affinities and inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Further normal model-based simulations were performed to gain insights into the conformational transitions in proteins induced by the drugs. The computational analysis in the present study paves the way for experimental validation and development of multi-target guided inhibitors to fight COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Gemcitabine is an anti-cancer drug with clinically uses in the treatment of various neoplasms, including breast, ovarian, non-small cell lung, pancreaticand cervical cancers, T-cell malignancies, germ cell tumours, and hepatocellular carcinomas. However, it has also been reported to have many adverse effects. Naturally occurring anti-mutagenic effects, especially those of plant origin, have recently become a subject of intensive research. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the anti-mutagenic effects of Salvia merjamie (Family: Lamiaceae) plant extracts against the mutagenic effects of gemcitabine. The anti-mutagenic properties of Salvia merjamie were tested in Inbred SWR/J male and female mice bone marrow cells. The mice were treated in four groups; a control group treated with 30 mg/kg body weight gemcitabine and three treatment groups, each with 30 mg/kg body weight gemcitabine together with, respectively, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight Salvia merjamie extract. Chromosomal aberration and mitotic index assays were performed with the results demonstrating that Salvia merjamie extract protects bone marrow cells in mice against gemcitabine induced mutagenicity. This information can be used for the development of a potential therapeutic anti-mutagenic agents.
