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Biological activities of phenolic extracts from Artemisia herba-alba Asso grown in western Algeria
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to determine the phenolic compounds from Artemisia herba-alba Asso, in order to evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities, in vitro. The extraction of phenolic compounds was carried out by the maceration technique using absolute ethanol, absolute methanol, and distilled water. The quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids was performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and the aluminum trichloride method, respectively. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the extracts was carried out by the FRAP, the DPPH• radical trapping, and the neutralization of the hydrogen peroxide technique. The lipid peroxidation was assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the three extracts was tested on Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33862, Escherichia coli ATCC 2592, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 bacteria using agar diffusion and agar incorporation methods. The results showed that the methanolic extract was highly rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. Also, the reducing power CE50 = 249.88 ± 6.07 µg/ml and the inhibition capacity of the DPPH• radical CI50 = 34.71 ± 0.96 µg/ml were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Also, a highly significant inhibitory potential of lipid peroxidation was obtained with the methanolic extract (MDA = 66.97 ± 3.61 µmol/g tissue). However, a highly significant hydrogen peroxide scavenging effect was obtained from the ethanolic extract. A better antibacterial activity was obtained with the methanolic and ethanolic extracts.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.617285
Anti-fibrotic agents could be the game-changer for post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis treatment
Get PDFMore than 220 countries and territories are globally affected by the recent pandemic COVID-19 which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is possibility of third wave of this pandemic as per epidemiological and public health experts. Besides that post-COVID-19 complications are alarming matter to look upon. Post-COVID-19 complications include several symptoms like as persistent fever; cough; fatigue; headache; attention disorder; dyspnea; anosmia; ageusia; chest pain discomfort; various respiratory illness; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) etc., and here the things to worry about is the development of pulmonary fibrosis after COVID-19. In some COVID-19 patients, hyper-inflammation in the form of ‘cytokine storm’ along with dysregulated immune response, alveolar epithelial tissue injury and wound repair collectively cause this secondary pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, using anti-fibrotic agents e.g. pirfenidone, nintedanib and other natural compounds could be meaningful in these circumstances although their efficacy in treating COVID-19 is subject to more detailed laboratory research works. In this review article, we have discussed the progression of pulmonary fibrosis development which is triggered by COVID-19; probable solutions with anti-fibrotic agents including anti-fibrotic drugs, some well-known natural compounds, combined anti-fibrotic therapies; and the current challenges of this field.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.581312
Tick saliva antigen-based vaccines, disease protection and prophylaxis
Get PDFThis review emphasizes the immune responses to tick infestation and the administration of vaccine to save the life of man and his livestock. There are so many vaccines in operation in various parts of the world. These vaccines have been developed by using tick saliva toxins or recombinant antigens synthesized. This article explains the use of modern molecular tools such as genomics and proteomics in identification and search of new potent antigens which could prepare sizable defense against tick-borne pathogens. The present article also highlights explorations on salivary gland secreted molecules, genes and their expression for preparation of the highly efficacious targeted anti-tick vaccine. There is a need to search feeding inhibitors of ticks so that pathogen transmission can be blocked and easy disruption of enzootic cycle become possible. In addition, protein antigens from tick midgut must be searched to have a new multi-target vaccine to counter-attack tick infestation in various animal and human hosts.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.638693
Antidiabetic effect of oral supplementation with Caulerpa racemosa powder
Get PDFAlgae are known for their high nutritional value and the presence of bioactive compounds with anti-diabetic activity. In this study, the effects of oral supplementation with the whole powdered green alga Caulerpa racemosa was assessed on biochemical and organic parameters in rat model of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes model (DM) was induced by high fat diet (HFD) (5.75 kcal/g) combined to streptozotocin injection (35 mg/kg). The DM-C500 and DM-C1000 groups were maintained on HFD and supplemented orally during four weeks with powdered C. racemosa at 500 and 1000 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. The DM-C0 group was fed with HFD without C. racemosa supplementation. All the experimental rats were maintained on HFD during the 30 days of experiment. C. racemosa at 500 mg/kg improved fasting glycaemia and glucose tolerance. The IPGTT test revealed a decrease (p<0.05) in the fasting glycaemia recorded at the 120th min from day 0 (534 ± 38.88 mg/dL) to day 30 (326 ± 63.05 mg/dL). C. racemosa supplementation prevented liver lipid peroxidation in DM-C500 and DM-C1000 group (12.94 ± 2.20 and 10.48 ± 1.15 nmol MDA/g, respectively) compared to DM-C0 group (35.49 ± 2.30 nmol MDA/g). Caulerpa racemosa at 500 mg/kg, and relatively at 1000 mg/kg, alleviated pancreatic, liver and renal tissue damages compared to DM-C0 groups which displayed injuries in their histological sections. Caulerpa racemosa oral supplementation could represent a possible natural approach to prevent organic and metabolic disorders related to type 2 diabetes.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.656052
In silico exploration of Lycoris alkaloids as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro)
Get PDFCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic whose adverse effects have been felt all over the world. As of August 2022, reports indicated that over 500 million people in the world had been infected and the number of rising deaths from the disease were slightly above 6.4 million. New variants of the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2 are emanating now and then and some are more efficacious and harder to manage. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) has essential functions in viral gene expression and replication through proteolytic cleavage of polyproteins. Search for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors is a vital step in the treatment and management of COVID-19. In this study, we investigated whether alkaloids with antiviral and myriad other bioactivities from the genus Lycoris can act as SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors. We conducted a computer-aided drug design study through screening optimal ligands for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro from a list of over 150 Lycoris alkaloids created from online databases such as ChEMBL, PubChem, ChemSpider, and published journal papers. The In silico study involved molecular docking of Lycoris alkaloids to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro active site, absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination and toxicity (ADMET) screening and finally molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the most promising ligand-SARS-CoV-2 Mpro complexes. The study identified 3,11-dimethoxy-lycoramine, narwedine, O-demethyllycoramine and epilycoramine as drug-like and lead-like Lycoris alkaloids with favorable ADMET properties and are very likely to have an inhibition activity on SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and may become potential drug candidates.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.704180
Chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus extracts from Algeria
Get PDFThis study was conducted to examine chemical compositions, the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts from aerial parts of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp oxycedrus growing in Mascara, Algeria. The quantitative assessment indicated that methanol extract was the most concentrated in phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents (167.77±5.12 mg GAE/g DW, 90.56±2.23 mg QE/g DE and 110.21±2.38 mg CE/g DE respectively). The chromatographic analysis by HPLC showed quantitative differences in phenolic constutents, noting that Chlorogenic acid was the major compound of both extracts. Moreover, methanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity than the aqueous extract when tested by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC50 4.45±0.001 μg/mL) and phosphomolybdenum (328.52±0.071 mg of GAE/g DW) assays. Furthermore, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity showed a strong inhibition of albumin denaturation by the methanolic extract at different concentrations when compared to standard drug diclofenac sodium. These findings confirm the richness of Algerian Juniperus oxycedrus extracts in bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. These results are compatible with the use of the plant in traditional medicine.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.713528
Analysis of early onset of Alzheimer's disease genes: disease causing and risk factors
Get PDFAlzheimer's disease is on the rise around the globe and is ranked sixth in the United States as the leading cause of death. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and the main causes of dementia. It is often characterized by symptoms such as lack of memory, agitation, restlessness, changes in personality, inability to perform everyday tasks, and impairment of speech. There are two forms of Alzheimer's disease: early onset of Alzheimer's disease occurring before 65 years of age, manifesting in 5-10% of the population, and late-onset of Alzheimer's disease manifesting after 65 years of age. In this study, the role of single nucleotide polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease using genome-wide association studies was investigated. Further, mutations underlying early onset of Alzheimer's disease were analyzed and it was found that mutations in the six genes APP, PSEN1, PSEN2, MAPT, GRN and PRNP resulted in the structural and functional protein modifications. These altered amino acids in early onset of Alzheimer's disease contribute to its pathogenesis. A single change in these genes is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and might lead to early onset of Alzheimer's disease, however sporadic cases have also been identified.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.464196
Tissue culture approaches to improve nutritional quality and stress response in peanut
Get PDFPeanut, also known as groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), is an annual leguminous oil crop cultivated worldwide for food and fodder. Several stress factors critically diminish the productivity and nutritional quality of this protein-rich plant. In vitro cell and tissue culture systems have been used in many plant species to rapidly propagate large numbers of plants, create somaclonal variation, produce bioactive compounds, and enable genetic engineering. Tissue culture based mutagenesis and genetic engineering are particularly attractive for crop improvement. Tissue culture techniques have been implicated over the years to improve peanut, despite the general recalcitrant nature of this species to in vitro culture. In this manuscript, we review the progress that has been made on in vitro culture of peanut, and its application to improve nutritional quality and resistance to major biotic and abiotic stresses in peanut.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.509185
Ethnobotanical molluscicides
Get PDFMolluscan are always responsible for human threat direct or indirect ways. A large number of molluscan serve as intermediate host for fasciolosis and schistosomiasis. These both diseases has great outbreak over exploiting the human health and economy. Their prevalence has been increasing worldwide due in large part to programme of water resource development, and poor hygienic conditions. The freshwater gastropods (snails) are the intermediate host for the larval stages of these two trematodes worms where they completed asexual phases of different development stages. Large numbers of treatment are available to tackle the problem of these two neglected tropical disease (NTDs). One of the easiest methods to break the transmission of these diseases is to de-link the intermediate host from helminths life cycle by the use of molluscicides. Currently there is an increased interest to identified the plant and explore their therapeutic potential as a molluscicides. Since the biomolluscicide are the safest, eco-friendly, fast biodegradability and cost effective method for molluscan control as compared to other synthetic counterparts, that are high imported cost, toxicity in non-target biota’s, and developing resistance in molluscan. This review is generally concerned with the efforts being made to concise the resources based on the ethnobotanical molluscicides to control the pest population and provide the data source of new researcher to explore the most promising candidates of nature i.e. plant molluscicides, as they are very effective tool for integrated vector management programme yet harmless to other non-target aquatic biota’s.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.551562
Comparative antimicrobial study of Vernonia amygdalina Del. and Lawsonia inermis L. against microorganisms from aqueous milieu
Get PDFLimitations have been concurrent with the use of antibiotics in chemotherapy. Hence, antimicrobial potency of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Lawsonia inermis on some selected multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria and fungi isolated from stream were compared. The phytochemical evaluation and antimicrobial susceptibility test of MAR bacteria and fungi was achieved via CLSI reference standard of perfloxacin (10 µg) and ketoconazole (150 mg/ml) with susceptibility index (>14.00 mm and >15.00 mm, respectively) as control for bacteria and fungi respectively. Saponin and steroids were present in both V. amygdalina and L. inermis ethanol extracts but alkaloids were present in V. amygdalina and absent in L. inermis ethanol extracts. The ethanol extract of L. inermis had higher percentage recovery yield (16.13%) to that of V. amygdalina (10.78%). Synergistic effect of mixture of V. amygdalina and L. inermis ethanol extracts was displayed against Alcaligenes faecalis (29.00 mm) and P. penneri (20.00 mm). The MIC and MBC of V. amygdalina ethanol extract against A. feacalis was both 50 mg/ml. The combined mixture of V. amygdalina and L. inermis ethanol extracts showed 12.67 mm against A. fumigatus. This study revealed the antibacterial and antifungal potentials of V. amygdalina and L. inermis extracts in the treatment of related water-borne infections.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.474253