Metabolic bioprofiling of different Glycyrrhiza glabra solvent fractions for the identification of anti-adenoviral compounds using LC-HRMS/MS and in-vitro cytopathic assay coupled with chemometry.

Human adenovirus type-7 (HAdV-7) is a common pathogen that may cause significant morbidity as well as severe complications. Currently, there is no approved drug for the treatment of HAdV-7 infections and the contemporary strategy mainly rely on nonspecific antivirals. Glycyrrhiza glabra; (licorice), is a well-recognized edible plant used in food and beverages. The plant is renowned for its pharmacological and biological activities including antiviral activities against wide range of viruses. The following study reported for the first time the anti-adenoviral activity of licorice extract using in-vitro cytopathic inhibitory assay. Different solvent fractions showed promising activity with IC50 reaching 1.431 µg/ml. Certain fractions had selectivity index (SI) greater than 10 indicating their efficacy together with relatively low cytotoxic effect. Metabolic profiling using LC-HRMS/MS resulted in identification of 41 compounds from licorice fractions. Chemometric modeling using Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures (OPLS) suggested the compounds; kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, violanthin, rhamnoliquiritin, isoliquiritigenin isomer, licoagroside B and liquiritin apioside as potential markers against (HAdV-7). Finally, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside was further confirmed via in-vitro adenovirus inhibitory assay to possess strong antiviral activity with IC50 and CC50 of 54.7 ± 1.93 µM and 655.7 ± 2.22 µM, respectively.

Biologically guided isolation and ADMET profile of new factor Xa inhibitors from Glycyrrhiza glabra roots using in vitro and in silico approaches.

Selective factor Xa inhibitors effectively block coagulation cascade with a broader therapeutic window than multitargeted anticoagulants. They have evolved as a crucial part of prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases and in therapeutic protocols involved in many clinical trials in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Biologically-guided isolation of specific FXa inhibitors from licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract furnished ten flavonoids. By detailed analysis of their 1H, 13C NMR and MS data, the structures of these flavonoids were established as 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone (1), formononetin (2), 3-R-glabridin (3), isoliquiritigenin (4), liquiritin (5), naringenin 5-O-glucoside (6), 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (7), liquiritinapioside (8) and the two isomers isoliquiritigenin-4'-O-ß-d-apiosylglucoside (9) and isoliquiritigenin-4-O-ß-d-apiosylglucoside (10). All the isolated compounds were assessed for their FXa inhibitory activity using in vitro chromogenic assay for the first time. Liquirtin (5) showed the most potent inhibitory effects with an IC50 of 5.15 µM. The QikProp module was implemented to perform ADMET predictions for the screened compounds.

Validated thin-layer chromatographic method for the identification and monitoring of the effect of the extraction method on the yield and phytochemical constituents of Egyptian Withania somnifera leaves.

A sensitive, reliable, simple and rapid thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed for routine analysis of withanolide S content for the purpose of quality control assessment of chemotype III of Withania somnifera. The new method was used first to compare the accumulation of withanolide S in different parts of the plant, which was found to be the highest in the leaves extract (0.21% w/w). Second, to investigate different extraction parameters that improve the extraction efficiency of withanolides from the leaves using conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. The extraction efficiency was expressed via total withanolide content and withanolide S content.

Using a 308-nm excimer laser to treat vitiligo in Asians.

BACKGROUND: Current vitiligo therapies require many months of treatment and often result in disappointing outcomes. Treatment with a 308-nm excimer laser has shown promising results in patients with vitiligo. OBJECTIVE: This controlled prospective trial studied the effectiveness of the 308-nm excimer laser for treating vitiligo in Asians. METHODS: Thirty-four patients (14 males and 20 females) with localized vitiligo were enrolled in the study. Vitiligo patches were treated using a 308-nm excimer laser. Lesions were treated twice weekly for 13 weeks. The treatment was started with 50 to 100 mJ/cm2 (according to site) and increased by 50 mJ/cm2 in every session until erythema appeared. Patients were treated for 25 sessions, or until 100% repigmentation, whichever was achieved first. The overall response rate was assessed clinically and by comparison of photographs before and after treatment by two independent investigators. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (12 males and 17 females) completed the study. Lesions on the face responded better than elsewhere on the body. The least responsive areas were the hands and feet. The average number of treatment sessions prior to repigmentation was 11. Untreated control patches remained unchanged. In higher skin phototypes the response was more favorable. There was no significant correlation between the age of the patients and their response to treatment. CONCLUSION: The use of the 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of vitiligo is effective, relatively safe, and more convenient compared to other available modalities of treatment for stable vitiligo with small patches. However, similar to other modalities of treatment, the therapeutic effect is mainly dependent on the location of vitiligo lesions.