Cathodic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of the Antitumor Drug Rutin in Pharmaceuticals, Human Urine, and Blood Serum

In-Silico approach for identification of effective and stable inhibitors for COVID-19 main protease (Mpro) from flavonoid based phytochemical constituents of Calendula officinalis

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 is putting the world towards a great threat. A recent study revealed COVID-19 main protease (Mpro) is responsible for the proteolytic mutation of this virus and is essential for its life cycle. Thus inhibition of this protease will eventually lead to the destruction of this virus. In-Silico Molecular docking was performed with the Native ligand and the 15 flavonoid based phytochemicals of Calendula officinals to check their binding affinity towards the COVID-19 main protease. Finally, the top 3 compounds with the highest affinity have been chosen for molecular dynamics simulation to analyses their dynamic properties and conformational flexibility or stability. In-Silico Docking showed that major phytochemicals of Calendula officinals i.e. rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D, calendoflaside, narcissin, calendulaglycoside B, calenduloside, calendoflavoside have better binding energy than the native ligand (inhibitor N3). MD simulation of 100 ns revealed that all the protease-ligand docked complexes are overall stable as compare to Mpro-native ligand (inhibitor N3) complex. Overall, rutin and caledoflaside showed better stability, compactness, and flexibility. Our in silico (Virtual molecular docking and Molecular dynamics simulation) studies pointed out that flavonoid based phytochemicals of calendula (rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D, calendoflaside) may be highly effective for inhibiting Mpro which is the main protease for SARS-CoV-2 causing the deadly disease COVID-19. Rutin is already used as a drug and the other two compounds can be made available for future use. Thus the study points a way to combat COVID-19 by the use of major flavonoid based phytochemicals of Calendula officinals. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A magnetic nanocomposite prepared from electrospun CoFe2O4 nanofibers and graphene oxide as a material for highly sensitive determination of rutin

A magnetic bar carbon paste electrode (MBCPE) modified with cobalt ferrite magnetic electrospun nanofibers (NFs) and graphene oxide (GO) is described for the electrochemical determination of rutin. The NFs were prepared by electrospinning using a solution that contains poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and Co(II) and Fe(III) nitrates as metal sources. Carbon paste was prepared by hand mixing GO, CoFe₂O₄ NFs and graphite. This paste was then packed into the end of a glass tube and a very small magnetic bar was inserted into the tube to be coated with the carbon paste to provide a magnetic field. The MBCPE was used to attract the magnetic nanofibers to the electrode surface. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques were used to study the electrochemical behavior of rutin on the modified MBCPE at pH 2.5. The electrocatalytic current, best measured at a potential of around 0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), varies with the rutin concentration in two linear ranges, viz. from 0.001-0.1 nM and from 1.0-100 nM, with a 0.94 pM detection limit. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of rutin in lemon, red apple, lime and orange juices. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of a modified magnetic bar carbon paste electrode for detection of rutin. To achieve the modified electrode, electrospun CoFe₂O₄ nanofibers, graphene oxide and a very small magnetic bar are packed into the end of a glass tube.

An electrochemical sensor for the sensitive detection of rutin based on a novel composite of activated silica gel and graphene

A novel sensor based on a silica gel–graphene composite for sensitive and selective detection of rutin.

Application of hot platinum microelectrodes for determination of flavonoids in flow injection analysis and capillary electrophoresis

The determination of quercetin and rutin by flow injection analysis (FIA) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) using electrochemical detection was described. These flavonoids were determined at normal (unheated) and hot platinum microelectrodes using cyclic voltammetry. When quercetin or rutin is reaching the platinum electrode, a change of the current in the region of the platinum oxide formation is observed. Integration of the current changes in this in this region creates analytical signals in the form of peaks. An increase of temperature to about 76°C in a small zone adjacent to the microelectrode causes an increase of the analytical signal by more than 6 times under FIA conditions. This method enables the use of hot microelectrodes as detectors in HPLC or CE. In CE the improvement of the analytical signal at hot microelectrodes is smaller than in FIA and increase only 1.3-3.4 times. Heated microelectrodes were used for analysis of the flavonoids in natural samples of the plant (extract of sea buckthorn) and a pharmaceutical preparation (Cerutin).

Utilizing of Square Wave Voltammetry to Detect Flavonoids in the Presence of Human Urine

About biological affecting of flavonoids on animal organisms is known less, thus we selected flavonoids, flavanones and flavones, and their glycosides, which were examined as potential inducers of cytochrome(s) P450 when administrated by gavages into experimental male rats. The study was focused on induction of CYP1A1, the major cytochrome P450 involved in carcinogen activation. The data obtained demonstrate the necessity of taking into account not only ability of flavonoids to bind to Ah receptor (induction factor) but also to concentrate on their distribution and metabolism (including colon microflora) in the body. After that we examined certain flavonoids as potential inducers of cytochrome P450, we wanted to suggest and optimize suitable electrochemical technique for determination of selected flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, chrysin and diosmin) in body liquids. For these purposes, we selected square wave voltannetry using carbon paste electrode. Primarily we aimed on investigation of their basic electrochemical behaviour. After that we have optimized frequency, step potential and supporting electrolyte. Based on the results obtained, we selected the most suitable conditions for determination of the flavonoids as follows: frequency 180 Hz, step potential 1.95 mV/s and phosphate buffer of pH 7 as supporting electrolyte. Detection limits (3 S/N) of the flavonoids were from units to tens of nM except diosmin, where the limit were higher than μM. In addition, we attempted to suggest a sensor for analysis of flavonoids in urine. It clearly follows from the results obtained that flavonoids can be analysed in the presence of animal urine, because urine did not influence much the signals of flavonoids (recoveries of the signals were about 90 %).