Mechanism-based Suppression of Cancer by Targeting DNA-Replicating Enzymes.

The human genetic structure undergoes continuous wear and tear process due to the mere presence of extrinsic as well as intrinsic factors. In normal physiological cells, DNA damage initiates various checkpoints that may activate the repair system or induce apoptosis that helps maintain cellular integrity. While in cancerous cells, due to alterations in signaling pathways and defective checkpoints, there exists a marked deviation of error-free DNA repairing/synthesis. Currently, cancer therapy targeting the DNA damage response shows significant therapeutic potential by tailoring the therapy from non-specific to tumor-specific activity. Recently, numerous drugs that target the DNA replicating enzymes have been approved or some are under clinical trial. Drugs like PARP and PARG inhibitors showed sweeping effects against cancer cells. This review highlights the mechanistic study of different drug categories that target DNA replication and thus depicts the futuristic approach of targeted therapy.

Promising Repurposed Antiviral Molecules to Combat SARS-CoV-2: A Review.

COVID-19, an extremely transmissible and pathogenic viral disease, triggered a global pandemic that claimed lives worldwide. To date, there is no clear and fully effective treatment for COVID-19 disease. Nevertheless, the urgency to discover treatments that can turn the tide has led to the development of a variety of preclinical drugs that are potential candidates for probative results. Although most of these supplementary drugs are constantly being tested in clinical trials against COVID-19, recognized organizations have aimed to outline the prospects in which their use could be considered. A narrative assessment of current articles on COVID-19 disease and its therapeutic regulation was performed. This review outlines the use of various potential treatments against SARS-CoV-2, categorized as fusion inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors, which include antiviral drugs such as Umifenovir, Baricitinib, Camostatmesylate, Nafamostatmesylate, Kaletra, Paxlovide, Darunavir, Atazanavir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir, Favipiravir, and Ribavirin. To understand the virology of SARS-CoV-2, potential therapeutic approaches for the treatment of COVID-19 disease, synthetic methods of potent drug candidates, and their mechanisms of action have been addressed in this review. It intends to help readers approach the accessible statistics on the helpful treatment strategies for COVID-19 disease and to serve as a valuable resource for future research in this area.

Novel Approaches for the Application of Herbs for Skin Care.

Skin is the largest non-parenchymal organ of the human body. It constitutes a natural barrier against pathogens and harmful environmental exposures and contributes to the human body's homeostasis. Conditions affecting the skin range from infections and injury to autoimmune diseases and cancer. Herbs have been used to treat dermatological conditions for a long time. Traditional approaches to delivering herbs to the skin include ointments, gels, creams, and lotions. However, poor lipophilicity or hydrophilicity in most herbal preparations results in limited bioavailability and poor penetration, restricting their effectiveness. Nanotechnology-based approaches have major potential, showing more promising results in enhancing transdermal penetration than traditional approaches. This review article summarizes such advances and sheds light on future directions in using nanotechnology-based strategies.

Bacterial Nanocellulose based Wound Dressings: Current and Future Prospects.

Although there are many treatment options available for wound and burns dressings, improvements in technology are still required. Bacterial cellulose is a polymer derived from the microbiological world and has shown some promising properties that recommend it as a wound healing therapeutic. Moreover, bacterial cellulose can be nanosized to form Bacterial Nanocellulose (BNC), enhancing its properties. Most importantly, in addition to its inherent antibacterial properties, BNC can be used to deliver drugs. This article presents a birds-eye view of the preparation method and applications of BNC-based wound dressings.

Rosmarinic acid attenuates inflammation in experimentally induced arthritis in Wistar rats, using Freund's complete adjuvant.

AIM: The purpose of our investigation is to evaluate the anti-arthritic potential of isolated rosmarinic acid from the rind of Punica granatum. METHOD: Rosmarinic acid was isolated by bioactivity-guided isolation from butanolic fraction of Punica granatum and acute toxicity of rosmarinic acid was carried out. The experiment was conducted at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritic rats. Various parameters, that is arthritic score, paw volume, thickness of paw, hematological, antioxidant and inflammatory parameters such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also estimated. RESULTS: Rosmarinic acid significantly decreased the arthritic score, paw volume, joint diameter, white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It also significantly increased body weight, hemoglobin and red blood cells. The significantly decreased levels of TNF-α were observed in treated groups as compared to arthritic control rats (P < 0.001). At the same time antioxidant parameters (like GSH and SOD) were increased significantly while levels of MDA were significantly decreased (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The outcome of the present research concludes that rosmarinic acid showed significant anti-arthritic potential in FCA-induced arthritis in Wistar rats. This study represented the therapeutic role of rosmarinic acid from Punica granatum for the management of arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis and related inflammatory complications with negligible side effects which was still far from complete mitigation with available conventional medicines.

Evaluation of Antiarthritic Activity of Butanol Fraction of Punica granatum Linn. Rind Extract Against Freund's Complete Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats.

Available conventional drugs produce several side effects; thus, a potent herbal drug is urgently required for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. The present investigation was performed to evaluate the antiarthritic activity of butanol fraction of Punica granatum Linn. rind methanolic extract (PGBF) against Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritis in rats. An acute toxicity study of butanol fraction was conducted, accompanied by a study of its antiarthritic activity. Chromatography (thin layer chromatography and high-performance thin layer chromatography) analyses were also conducted. Phytochemical screening of the fraction was performed to confirm the presence of phytoconstituents. For antiarthritic activity, the active butanol fraction was administered at doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg body weight. The antiarthritic activity was evaluated by using biophysical paramaters (arthritic score, body weight, paw volume and joint diameter) and hematological parameters [red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)]. Dexamethasone (5 mg/kg) was selected as the standard. Phytochemical screening of butanol fraction showed the presence of steroids, tannins, flavonoids, irioid glycosides, and phenolic compounds. Acute toxicity studies suggested that butanolic fraction was safe up to a dose of 500 mg/kg. The data regarding biophysical and hematological parameters clearly indicated that the butanol fraction at a 75 mg/kg dose showed a more significant effect (**P<0.01 and ***P<0.001) than the 50 mg/kg dose. The antiarthritic potential of a butanol fraction of Punica granatum Linn. rind extract may be due to the presence of active phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, irioid glycosides, and phenolic compounds. Future studies will provide a new approach in relation to the antiarthritic activity of Punica granatum Linn., and the isolation of its active compound may eventually lead to the development of a new category of the antiarthritic agent.