In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Study of Cucurbita moschata Flower Extract: A Promising Source of Natural Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antibacterial Agents.

For thousands of years, medicinal plants have played a pivotal role in maintaining human health and improving the quality of human life. This study was designed to analyze the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial potentials of a hydro-methanolic extract of Cucurbita moschata flowers, along with qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening. The anti-inflammatory effect was tested using the in vitro membrane stabilizing method for human red blood cells (HRBC), the analgesic effect was tested using the in vivo acetic acid-induced writing method, and the antibacterial effect was tested using the disc diffusion method. In silico ADME/T and molecular docking studies were performed to assess the potential of the stated phytochemicals against Cyclooxygenase-II enzyme. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and carbohydrates. The flower extract demonstrated the maximum protection of human red blood cells at 1000 µg/mL, with a 65.73% reduction in hemolysis in a hypotonic solution. The extract also showed significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent analgesic effects at oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg on the tested animals. Furthermore, the flower extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity due to the disc diffusion method, which was compared with standard ciprofloxacin. In silico testing revealed that 42 phytochemicals exhibited notable pharmacokinetic properties and passed drug likeness screening tests. Among the six best-selected compounds, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methanamine showed the highest binding affinity (-10.1) with significant non-bonding interactions with the target enzyme. In conclusion, the hydro-methanolic extract of Cucurbita moschata was found to be rich in various phytochemicals that may be associated with therapeutic potential, and this study supports the traditional use of Cucurbita moschata flowers in the management of inflammation and painful conditions.

Ganoderma applanatum mushroom provides new insights into the management of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic degeneration: A comprehensive analysis.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and hepatoprotective effects of methanol and aqueous extracts of Ganoderma applanatum (MEGA, AEGA) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The antidiabetic study was implemented by the induction of alloxan to the rats. The analysis of the hypolipidemic and liver-protective effects of fungus extracts was studied by estimating the lipid profile and the liver marker enzymes. Besides, in silico screening of the compounds of Ganoderma applanatum has been incorporated thus to check the binding affinity of compounds and enzymes affinity. The Discovery Studio 2020, UCSF Chimera, and PyRx AutoDock Vina have been used to implement the docking analysis. Nine days of oral feeding of MEGA and AEGA of Ganoderma applanatum resulted in a significant (p < .001) reduction in blood glucose, lipid profile, and liver marker enzymes. Besides, Myrocin C scored the highest score in the docking study. The biological and computational approaches suggested the MEGA and AEGA could be a potential source for antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and hepatoprotective effects.

CNS anti-depressant, anxiolytic and analgesic effects of Ganoderma applanatum (mushroom) along with ligand-receptor binding screening provide new insights: Multi-disciplinary approaches.

This research was designed to evaluate the CNS depressant, anxiolytic, and analgesic action of aqueous and ethanol extract of Ganoderma applanatum, a valuable medicinal fungus used in multiple disorders belongs to Ganodermataceae family. Two extracts of G. applanatum were prepared using distilled water and ethanol as solvents and named AEGA and EEGA. Open field method, rotarod method, tail suspension method, and hole cross method were utilized for the CNS depressant action. In contrast, elevated plus-maze test and hole board method were utilized for the anxiolytic action. For determining the analgesic potential, acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate method, and tail immersion test were used. Besides, molecular docking has been implemented by using Discovery studio 2020, UCSF Chimera and PyRx autodock vina. At both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) of AEGA and EEGA showed significant CNS depressant effect (p < 0.05 to 0.001) against all four tests used for CNS depressant activity. Both doses of AEGA and EEGA exhibited important anxiolytic activity effect (p < 0.05 to 0.001)against the EPM and hole board test. Both doses of AEGA and EEGA also exhibited a potential analgesic effect (p < 0.05 to 0.001) against all three tests used for analgesic action. In addition, in the molecular docking the compounds obtained the scores of -5.2 to -12.8 kcal/mol. Ganoapplanin, sphaeropsidin D and cytosporone C showed the best binding affinity to the selected recptors. It can be concluded that AEGA and EEGA have potential CNS depressant, anxiolytic, and analgesic action, which can be used as a natural antidepressant, anxiolytic, and analgesic source.