In-vitro and in silico activity of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Gaur) L. supercritical extract against the dengue-2 virus

Arid/semi-arid flora as a treasure trove of bioactives and bioenergy: the case for underutilized desert legumes towards environmental sustainability

As the spectre of climate change gains in strength with each passing moment, many of our mundane food crops like rice face the heat, leading to uncertain yields and unforeseen disease outbreaks. Subsequently, mankind is forced to look for alternative food choices that should primarily come from indigenous plants that are less demanding in terms of usage of water and application of chemical-based fertilizers/pesticides. There are plants growing in the wild in the arid and semi-arid zones of Rajasthan, India, that can come to the rescue, with an added potential for development into valuable functional foods-i.e., not only as source of carbohydrates, proteins, and micro-nutrients but also that of health benefiting nutraceuticals (like antioxidant flavonoids) and relevant enzymes. The other parts (non-edible) of these plants have often also been traditionally validated via diverse ethnomedicinal practices; these could also be useful bioenergy sources. Keeping in mind the broader aim of looking at future functional foods that are also required to be environmentally sustainable, the current report: (a) reviews the extant literature on underutilized legumes from arid/semi-arid zones, (b) discusses current status with respect to biological activities present therein, and (c) suggests pertinent research questions and solution paths in the domains of bioactives, bioenergy, and sustainable environment.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Traditional Antimalarial and Antidengue Plants: A Mechanistic Perspective

Malaria, a highly perilous infectious disease, impacted approximately 230 million individuals globally in 2019. Mosquitoes, vectors of over 10% of worldwide diseases, pose a significant public health menace. The pressing need for novel antimalarial drugs arises due to the imminent threat faced by nearly 40% of the global population and the escalating resistance of parasites to current treatments. This study comprehensively addresses prevalent parasitic and viral illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes, leading to the annual symptomatic infections of 400 million individuals, placing 100 million at constant risk of contracting these diseases. Extensive investigations underscore the pivotal role of traditional plants as rich sources for pioneering pharmaceuticals. The latter half of this century witnessed the ascent of bioactive compounds within traditional medicine, laying the foundation for modern therapeutic breakthroughs. Herbal medicine, notably influential in underdeveloped or developing nations, remains an essential healthcare resource. Traditional Indian medical systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani, with a history of successful outcomes, highlight the potential of these methodologies. Current scrutiny of Indian medicinal herbs reveals their promise as cutting-edge drug reservoirs. The propensity of plant-derived compounds to interact with biological receptors positions them as prime candidates for drug development. Yet, a comprehensive perspective is crucial. While this study underscores the promise of plant-based compounds as therapeutic agents against malaria and dengue fever, acknowledging the intricate complexities of drug development and the challenges therein are imperative. The journey from traditional remedies to contemporary medical applications is multifaceted and warrants prudent consideration. This research aspires to offer invaluable insights into the management of malaria and dengue fever. By unveiling plant-based compounds with potential antimalarial and antiviral properties, this study aims to contribute to disease control. In pursuit of this goal, a thorough understanding of the mechanistic foundations of traditional antimalarial and antidengue plants opens doors to novel therapeutic avenues.

Eugenol isolated from supercritical fluid extract of Ocimum sanctum: a potent inhibitor of DENV-2

Dengue is one of the fairly prevalent viral infections at the world level transmitted through mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). Due to various environmental factors, dengue cases surged rapidly at the global level in recent decades, with 193245 cases in 2021 and an increment of 110473 cases in 2022. There is no antidote available against dengue and other flaviviruses. In the absence of a dengue vaccine or specific antiviral, medicinal plants or their products can be the only choice for its effective management. Ocimum sanctum is known as ''The Incomparable One,'' ''Mother Medicine of Nature'' and ''Queen of Herbs'' in Ayurveda, and is considered an "elixir of life" supreme in both healthcare and spiritual terms. In present study eugenol was isolated in O.sanctum. Eugenol (1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-allylbenzene) has been substantially responsible for its therapeutic potential. High-performance thin-layer chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were applied to identify the compound. The Rf value of isolated compound was same in the chromatogram (0.69 + 0.05) with compare to standard. The safe dose of plant and eugenol were found as < 31.25 μg/ml and < 15.62 µg/ml. The anti-dengue activity was assessed in C6/36 cell lines, their effect was determined through Quantitative PCR. The NMR of the isolated eugenol showed similar properties as the commercial marker compound. The eugenol and SFE extract of O. sanctum showed the inhibition of 99.28% and completely against Dengue-2, respectively. Docking study exposed that the interaction of eugenol with NS1 and NS5 dengue protein showed the binding energy as - 5.33 and - 5.75 kcal/mol, respectively. The eugenol from the O. sanctum plant has the potential to be a good source of future treatment medications for dengue illness, as well as a valuable tool in its successful management.

Monkeypox virus is nature's wake-up call: a bird's-eye view

Several infections have emerged in humans, domestic animals, wildlife, and plant populations, causing a severe problem for humanity. Since the discovery of the Monkeypox virus (Mpox) in 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark, it has resurfaced several times, producing severe infections in humans and resulting in a significant fatality rate. Mpox is an Orthopoxvirus of the Poxviridae family. This family contains various medically important viruses. The natural reservoir of Mpox is unknown yet. Mpox might be carried by African rodents and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys). The role of monkeys has been confirmed by its various outbreaks. The infection may be transferred from unidentified wild animals to monkeys, who can then spread it to humans by crossing species barriers. In close contact, human-to-human transmission is also possible. Mpox outbreaks have been documented regularly in Central and Western Africa, but recently in 2022, it has spread to over one hundred-six countries. There is no specific treatment for it, although the smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and vaccinia immune globulin help in the effective management of Mpox. In conclusion: Monkeypox poses a severe threat to public health due to the lack of specific vaccinations and effective antivirals. Surveillance studies in affected regions can assist in the early diagnosis of disease and help to control significant outbreaks. The present review provides information on epidemiology, clinical symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and preventive measures of Mpox.

Nutraceutical and flavor profiles in underutilized desert legumes of India: gene editing strategies towards sustainable food development

Climate change has posed a challenge for food security all over the world in the form of fluctuating crop yields and novel disease outbreaks in plants. Human society's overdependence on a few food crops does not seem a wise precedence. There are numerous underutilized/orphan/neglected legumes growing in the Indian desert regions that can come to the rescue and act as balanced and sustainable sources of nutrients and health-benefitting nutraceuticals. However, challenges such as low plant yield, unidentified metabolic pathways and off-flavor in the food products derived from them prevent the realization of their full potential. Conventional breeding techniques are too slow to achieve the desired modifications and cater to the sharply rising demand for functional foods. The novel gene editing tools like CRISPR-Cas provide more precise tool to manipulate the target genes with or without introduction of foreign DNA and therefore, have better chances to be accepted by governments and societies. The current article reports some of the relevant 'gene editing' success stories with respect to nutraceutical and flavor profiles in the popular legumes. It highlights gaps and future potential, along with areas requiring caution, in underutilized edible legumes of the Indian (semi) arid regions like Prosopis cineraria, Acacia senegal and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba.

Investigating the antioxidant activity enhancer effect of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba seed extract on phenolic phytochemicals

INTRODUCTION

Phenolic phytochemicals are known for antioxidant-mediated pharmacological effects in various diseases (diabetes, cancer, CVDs, obesity, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders). However, individual compounds may not exert the same biological potency as in combination with other phytochemicals. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar), an underutilized semi-arid legume which has been used as a traditional food in Rajasthan (India), is also a source of the important industrial product guar gum. However, studies on its biological activity, like antioxidant, are limited.

METHODS

We tested the effect of C. tetragonoloba seed extract to enhance the antioxidant activity of well-known dietary flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, and catechin) and non-flavonoid phenolics (caffeic acid, ellagic acid, taxifolin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and chlorogenic acid) using DPPH radical scavenging assay. The most synergistic combination was further validated for its cytoprotective and anti-lipid peroxidative effects in in vitro cell culture system, at different concentrations of the extract. LC-MS analysis of purified guar extract was also performed.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In most cases, we observed synergy at lower concentrations of the seed extract (0.5-1 mg/ml). The extract concentration of 0.5 mg/ml enhanced the antioxidant activity of Epigallocatechin gallate (20 µg/ml) by 2.07-folds, implicating its potential to act as an antioxidant activity enhancer. This synergistic seed extract-EGCG combination diminished the oxidative stress nearly by double-fold when compared with individual phytochemical treatments in in vitro cell culture. LC-MS analysis of the purified guar extract revealed some previously unreported metabolites, including catechin hydrate, myricetin-3-galactoside, gossypetin-8-glucoside, and puerarin (daidzein-8-C-glucoside) which possibly explains its antioxidant enhancer effect. The outcomes of this study could be used for development of effective nutraceutical/dietary supplements.

Extraction and Optimization of Active Metabolites From Cluster Bean: An In Vitro Biological and Phytochemical Investigation

The current study aimed to explore active metabolites of locally recognized and high yielding cultivar cluster bean (BR-99) with a wide range of adaptability having antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic potential. Six solvents were used (crude methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous) with escalating polarity for colorimetric determination of antioxidants such as total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), and free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Moreover, an antidiabetic and anticancer study was conducted by α-amylase inhibition and MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay. Biological investigations were carried out against the most commonly found infectious microbial strains. The significant results (P ≤ .001) of each activity were seen among six tested solvent extracts. The ethyl acetate and methanol extract have more antioxidant potential with the highest TPC (16.38 ± .13 mg GAE/g) and TFC (8.15 ± .24 mg CE/g), respectively. Similarly, methanol extract presented the highest free radical scavenging activity (46.31 ± .91%), followed by ethyl acetate, butanol, chloroform, aqueous, and n-hexane extract. However, the maximum α-amylase inhibition (62.54 ± 1.47%) and anticancer activity against human lung cancer cells were congregated (78.31 ± 1.46%) in butanol and chloroform, respectively. A positive correlation was seen between TPC with TFC (R²= .8356), FRSA (R²= .8381), and anti-diabetic activity (R²= .8082), which highlights the phenolic contents as strong anti-oxidant agents especially flavonoids. Each extract of cluster bean (BR-99) showed significant antimicrobial activities for all tested bacterial strains except B. cereus and E. coli. The profound results of maximum antibacterial activity were witnessed by chloroform extract while ethyl acetate extracts showed great antifungal potential against all tested fungal strains. The HPLC quantitative analysis results of cluster bean (BR-99) revealed the presence of active phytochemicals such as gallic acid, HB acid, vanillic acid, kaempferol, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, coumarins, quercetin, rutin, p-coumaric acid, and catechin, and the variation in both phytochemical and biological spectrums envisioned the cluster bean (BR-99) used in future as a cheap, safer, and potent source of bioactive drugs.

Phytochemical Investigation and Determination of Antibacterial Activity of Solvent Leave Extracts of Carissa spinarum

Background

Among many traditionally used medicinal plants, Carissa spinarum (Agam) is a well-known indigenous plant in Ethiopia. It is used in its raw form to treat different diseases in different parts of the country. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate extraction, isolation, and determination of the antibacterial properties of the solvent leaf extract of Carissa spinarum.

Methods

In this study, 800 g of powdered leaves of Carissa spinarum were macerated with 2500 mL of methanol and yielded 58 g (7.25%, w/w) of gummy material. The extract was then further partitioned by using ethyl acetate and chloroform. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening test. The antibacterial activity of the three solvent leaf extracts of Carissa spinarum were evaluated using disc diffusion method. The methanol extract was subjected to column chromatography silica gel (60-200 mesh) by mixing methanol:petroleum ether (4:1). Then fractions were collected and investigated by TLC and finally identified using spectroscopy.

Results

The three extracts (methanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform) of Carissa spinarum were presented to antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method against four bacterial species using gentamycin and ampicillin discs as positive controls and DMSO as a negative control. All extracts had a relatively antibacterial effect with different extent zones of inhibition. However, the methanol extract showed superior antibacterial activity compared with DMSO and ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. These could due to variation of the phytoconstituents. The most probable structure of the compound isolated was 5-(2',3',4',6'-tetrahydroxy-5'-methoxycyclohexyloxy)-2,3,4 trihydroxypentanoic acid.

Conclusion

Data obtained from this study collectively indicated that the three solvent extracts of Carissa spinarum have a promising antimicrobial activity which supports the traditional claim of the plant for treatment of infection.

The Cat Que Virus: a resurfacing orthobunyavirus could lead to epidemics

The newly emerging and re-emerging of viral contagion in the present scenario are of more extensive health concern. After a long calm of many years, an unexpected eruption of the Cat Que Virus in China is a source of our concern. Cat Que Virus is an Arbovirus and belongs to the Simbu serogroup of the Orthobunyavirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family. The Simbu serogroup is an extremely diverse group of Arbovirus. The arboviruses are causing the infection in multiple hosts including humans and various livestock. They can cause mild to life-threatening infections. Arboviruses expand their spectrum and are more observable in recent times. Human actions have the most significant geophysical impact on the environment. Changes in rainfall patterns, floods, and the risk of extreme weather events are all consequences of climate change. These events may be connected to the extension of permissive vectors, geographic ranges, and therefore provide more chance of growth and spread of potential vector. Arboviruses are responsible for the health hazard to millions of people globally. It is critical to concentrate research and surveillance on these emerging and re-emerging viruses, particularly arthropod-borne viral infections. The appropriate research and surveillance on them will help us for the development of effective control and treatment strategies and also reduce health problems. The present review summarizes the current broad outline of discovery, evolution and dispersal of this unknown virus.

Ayurveda Rasayana as antivirals and immunomodulators: potential applications in COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization with rapid spread across 216 countries. COVID-19 pandemic has left its imprints on various health systems globally and caused immense social and economic disruptions. The scientific community across the globe is in a quest for digging the effective treatment for COVID-19 and exploring potential leads from traditional systems of healthcare across the world too. Ayurveda (Indian traditional system of medicine) has a comprehensive aspect of immunity through Rasayana which is a rejuvenation therapy. Here we attempt to generate the potential leads based on the classical text from Ayurveda in general and Rasayana in particular to develop effective antiviral and/or immunomodulator for potential or adjunct therapy in SARS-CoV-2. The Rasayana acts not only by resisting body to restrain or withstand the strength, severity or progression of a disease but also by promoting power of the body to prevent the manifestation of a disease. These Rasayana herbs are common in practice as immunomodulator, antiviral and protectives. The studies on Rasayana can provide an insight into the future course of research for the plausible development of effective management of COVID-19 by the utilization and development of various traditional systems of healthcare. Keeping in view the current pandemic situation, there is an urgent need of developing potential medicines. This study proposes certain prominent medicinal plants which may be further studied for drug development process and also in clinical setup under repurposing of these herbs.

Anti-dengue activity of super critical extract and isolated oleanolic acid of Leucas cephalotes using in vitro and in silico approach

Backgrounds

Leucas cephalotes is a common ethnomedicinal plant widely used by traditional healers for the treatment of Malaria and other types of fever. Oleanolic acid and its derivatives have been reported for various types of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, anti-HIV and anti-HCV activity.

Methods

L.cephalotes plant extracts were prepared by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method and oleanolic acid was isolated by preparatory thin-layer chromatography. The compound was identified and characterize by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Fourier transform infra-Red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The structure of the compound was elucidated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR) and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹CNMR) and the purity checked by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The MTT assay was used to determine the toxicity of plant extract and oleanolic acid using a microplate reader at 595 nm. The anti-dengue activity of plant extract and oleanolic acid was tested in vitro and in silico using real-time RT-PCR.

Results

The optimum yield of the extract was obtained at 40 °C temperature and 15Mpa pressure. The maximum non-toxic dose (MNTD) of plant extract and oleanolic acid were found as 46.87 μg/ml and 93.75 μg/ml, respectively in C6/36 cell lines. UV spectrophotometer curve of the isolated compound was overlapped with standard oleanolic acid at 232 nm. Superimposed FT-IR structure of the isolated compound was indicated the same spectra at 3433, 2939, 2871, 1690, 1500,1463, 1387, 1250, 1209, 1137 and 656 position as per marker compound. HPTLC analysis showed the retention factor of L. cephalotes extract was 0.19 + 0.06 as similar to the standard oleanolic acid chromatogram. The NMR structure of the isolated compound was identified as similar to the marker oleanolic acid structure. DSC analysis revealed the purity of isolated oleanolic acid was 98.27% with a melting point of 311.16 °C. Real-time RT PCR results revealed that L. cephalotes supercritical extract and isolated oleanolic acid showed 100 and 99.17% inhibition against the dengue − 2 virus when treated with MNTD value of plant extract (46.87 μg/ml) and the test compound (93.75 μg/ml), respectively. The molecular study demonstrated the binding energy of oleanolic acid with NS1and NS5 (non-structural protein) were − 9.42 & -8.32Kcal/mol, respectively.

Conclusions

The SFE extract L. cephalotes and its active compound, oleanolic acid inhibiting the activity of dengue-2 serotype in the in vitro and in silico assays. Thus, the L.cephalotes plant could be an excellent source for drug design for the treatment of dengue infection.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03402-2.

In-vitro and in-silico evaluation of the anti-chikungunya potential of Psidium guajava leaf extract and their synthesized silver nanoparticles

Chikungunya is a notorious viral infection, which affects a large segment of world populations in absence of vaccines and antivirals. The current study evaluates of anti-chikungunya activities of Psidium guajava leaves extract and their green synthesized silver nanoparticles. Green synthesized nanoparticles were well characterized for their size and stability by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their functional groups were analyzed by FTIR. Maximum non-toxic doses (MNTD) of extracts and nanoparticles were analysed by using Vero cell-lines. Anti-chikungunya activities of extracts and nano-particles were determined on Vero cells and their effects on cell viability were measured by MTT assay. The P. guajava nano-particles and extracts revealed the anti-chikungunya activities in the Vero cell. The cells viability was increased by 40% and 60% as compared to the virus control, when these cells were treated with MNTD of P. guajava nano-particles and extracts, respectively. To know the reason for antiviral activity, molecular docking of phytochemicals was done against a replication essential cysteine protease (nsP2) of Chikungunya. It was found that phytochemicals; Longifollen and Quercetin showed the minimum binding energy with nsP2. P. guajava extracts can be exploited to develop an effective anti-chikungunya agent. In the absence of CHIKV vaccines and antivirals, P. guajava may be used to develop rapid, responsive, specific, and cost-effective anti-chikungunya agents.