Botanicals against some important nematodal diseases: Ascariasis and hookworm infections.

Ascariasis and intestinal parasitic nematodes are the leading cause of mass mortality infecting many people across the globe. In light of the various deleterious side effects of modern chemical-based allopathic drugs, our preferences have currently shifted towards the use of traditional plant-based drugs or botanicals for treating diseases. The defensive propensities in the botanicals against parasites have probably evolved during their co-habitation with parasites, humans and plants in nature and hence their combative interference in one another's defensive mechanisms has occurred naturally ultimately being very effective in treating diseases. This article broadly outlines the utility of plant-based compounds or botanicals prepared from various medicinal herbs that have the potential to be developed as effective therapies against the important parasites causing ascariasis and intestinal hookworm infections leading to ascariasis & infections and thereby human mortality, wherein allopathic treatments are less effective and causes enormous side-effects.

In silico analysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory compounds obtained from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the major reasons for deaths globally. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates body hypertension and fluid balance which causes CVD. Angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE I) is the central Zn-metallopeptidase component of the RAAS playing a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. The available drugs to treat CVD have many side effects, and thus, there is a need to explore phytocompounds and peptides to be utilized as alternative therapies. Soybean is a unique legume cum oilseed crop with an enriched source of proteins. Soybean extracts serve as a primary ingredient in many drug formulations against diabetes, obesity, and spinal cord-related disorders. Soy proteins and their products act against ACE I which may provide a new scope for the identification of potential scaffolds that can help in the design of safer and natural cardiovascular therapies. In this study, the molecular basis for selective inhibition of 34 soy phytomolecules (especially of beta-sitosterol, soyasaponin I, soyasaponin II, soyasaponin II methyl ester, dehydrosoyasaponin I, and phytic acid) was evaluated using in silico molecular docking approaches and dynamic simulations. Our results indicate that amongst the compounds, beta-sitosterol exhibited a potential inhibitory action against ACE I.

Novel development of Lecanicillium lecanii-based granules as a platform against malarial vector Anopheles culicifacies.

Mosquitoes are infectious vectors for a wide range of pathogens and parasites thereby transmitting several diseases including malaria, dengue, Zika, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya which pose a major public health concern. Mostly synthetic insecticides are usually applied as a primary control strategy to manage vector-borne diseases. However excessive and non-judicious usage of such chemically derived insecticides has led to serious environmental and health issues owing to their biomagnification ability and increased toxicity towards non-target organisms. In this context, many such bioactive compounds originating from entomopathogenic microbes serve as an alternative strategy and environmentally benign tool for vector control. In the present paper, the entomopathogenic fungus, Lecanicillium lecanii (LL) was processed to make the granules. Developed 4% LL granules have been characterized using the technique of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The developed formulation was also subjected to an accelerated temperature study at 40 °C and was found to be stable for 3 months. Further, GCMS of the L. lecanii was also performed to screen the potential biomolecules present. The developed formulation was found to be lethal against Anopheles culicifacies with an LC50 value of 11.836 µg/mL. The findings from SEM and histopathology also substantiated the mortality effects. Further, the SEM EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) studies revealed that the treated larvae have lower nitrogen content which is correlated to a lower level of chitin whereas the control ones has higher chitin content and healthy membranes. The developed LL granule formulation exhibited high toxicity against Anopheles mosquitoes. The granule formulations can be used as an effective biocontrol strategy against malaria-causing mosquitoes.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides and isoflavonoids from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].

Angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE I) is a zinc-containing metallopeptidase involved in the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) that helps in the regulation of hypertension and maintains fluid balance otherwise, which results in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). One of the leading reasons of global deaths is due to CVDs. RAAS also plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis of the CV system. The commercial drugs available to treat CVDs possess several fatal side effects. Hence, phytochemicals like peptides having plant-based origin should be explored and utilized as alternative therapies. Soybean is an important leguminous crop that simultaneously possesses medicinal properties. Soybean extracts are used in many drug formulations for treating diabetes and other disorders and ailments. Soy proteins and its edible products such as tofu have shown potential inhibitory activity against ACE. Thus, this review briefly describes various soy proteins and products that can be used to inhibit ACE thereby providing new scope for the identification of potential candidates that can help in the design of safer and natural treatments for CVDs.

Harnessing heterosis and male sterility in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]: A critical revisit.

Soybean is a predominantly self-pollinated crop. It is also one of the important oilseed legumes. Soybean is an excellent crop having industrial, traditional, culinary, feeding, and cultural roles. Genetic diversity in breeding programs is of prime importance as it ensures the success of any breeding by enhancing the outcomes and results of the plants. The phenomenon wherein the progeny exhibits greater biomass (yield) and a faster rate of development and fertility than its parents is referred to as heterosis. As of now, heterosis is mainly limited to the trait of seed yield and is considered the basis for the development of better (superior) varieties. Male sterility (MS) is extensively used for the production of seeds and the improvement of crops coupled with the traditional breeding programs and molecular technology. Therefore, deployment of MS and heterosis in breeding soybean could yield better outcomes. This review aims to focus on two aspects, namely, MS and heterosis in soybean with its scope for crop improvement.