Volatile oils: Potential agents for the treatment of respiratory infections

Rapid characterization of non-volatile phenolic compounds reveals the reliable chemical markers for authentication of traditional Chinese medicine Xiang-ru among confusing Elsholtzia species

The aerial parts of Mosla chinensis Maxim. and Mosla chinensis cv. 'Jiangxiangru' (MCJ) are widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), known collectively as Xiang-ru. However, due to clinical effectiveness concerns and frequent misidentification, the original plants have increasingly been substituted by various species within the genera Elsholtzia and Mosla. The challenge in distinguishing between these genera arises from their similar morphological and metabolic profiles. To address this issue, our study introduced a rapid method for metabolic characterization, employing high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Through detailed biosynthetic and chemometric analyses, we pinpointed five phenolic compounds-salviaflaside, cynaroside, scutellarein-7-O-D-glucoside, rutin, and vicenin-2-among 203 identified compounds, as reliable chemical markers for distinguishing Xiang-ru from closely related Elsholtzia species. This methodology holds promise for broad application in the analysis of plant aerial parts, especially in verifying the authenticity of aromatic traditional medicinal plants. Our findings underscore the importance of non-volatile compounds as dependable chemical markers in the authentication process of aromatic traditional medicinal plants.

Analyzing the Bioactive Properties and Volatile Profiles Characteristics of Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw: Exploring its Potential for Pharmacological Applications

In this investigation, the study focused on the chemical constitution and the antioxidative as well as anti-inflammatory characteristics of oils and pulpy variants (Imatchan (IM), Harmocha (HA), and Aknari (AK)) sourced from O. dillenii. This inquiry encompassed both in vitro and in silico analyses. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to ascertain the phenolic constituents, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methodologies. were applied to discern the volatile makeup. The appraisal of antioxidant potential was conducted via the deployment of assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ferric ion chelating (FIC) techniques. The anti-inflammatory activity was examined using BSA and LOX. Molecular docking methods assessed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to HPLC findings, the most abundant compounds detected in AKO and IMO cultivars were quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucoside followed by vanillic acid, ferulic acid and tyrolsol. Concerning headspace GC-MS analysis E-11-hexadecenal and (E)-2-undecenal contribute to the major compounds detected in Opuntia HA, IM, and AK pulp and oil. The DPPH IC50 for AK, HA and IM were 38.41±1.54, 42.24±0.29 and 15.17±1.28 mg/mL, respectively. The FRAP IC50 capacity of AK, HA and IM was determined to be 30.23±0.6, 55.96±0.08 and 23.41±1.83 mg/mL, respectively. AK, HA and IM displayed significant FIC activity, with IC50 values of 42.75±0.63, 39.54±0.59 and 35.31±1.38 mg/mL, respectively. The AK, HA and IM O. dillenii oils were effective in their anti-inflammatory activity. Molecular docking of O. dillenii oils phenolic compounds was conducted to determine the possible targeted proteins by the phenolic compounds in O. dillenii's compounds. Overall, these fruits demonstrated the potential for new ingredients for culinary or pharmaceutical applications, providing value to these natural species that can flourish in arid conditions.

The Effect of Phytocompounds of Medicinal Plants on Coronavirus (2019-NCOV) Infection

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection and it can spread from animal to person, person to person through coughing or physical contact. Recent studies revealed that the genome sequence of this pandemic disease is very similar to that of SARS-CoV, thus, there are not yet effective treatments that target the 2019-nCoV virus. Medicinal plants present a potential solution to resolve the drug problem. In fact, the bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, monoterpenes, and phenylpropanoids, derived from several herbs such as Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha spicata, Nigella sativa, Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus capitatus and Zingiber officinale could be used to develop formal drugs against several diseases with no or minimal side effects. In this paper, we describe the potential antiviral properties of several medicinal plants against Coronaviridae family viruses such as SARS, MERS, and IBV. Besides, we review various species of medicinal herbs and their derived phytochemical compounds in terms of their immunomodulatory bioactivities and antiviral activity.

Coronaviruses and Nature's Pharmacy for the Relief of Coronavirus Disease 2019

Current challenges to the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 should open new prospects in the search for novel drugs from medicinal plants and other natural products. This paper provides details of natural agents that inhibit human coronavirus entry into cells, general replication, and specific chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL^pro)-mediated replication. Medicinal plants, fungi, and marine organisms as remedies for human coronaviruses in China, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Africa are described. Common species include Alnus japonica (Thunb.) Steud., Artemisia annua L., Artemisia apiacea Hance, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl, edible brown algae Ecklonia cava Kjellman, Euphorbia neriifolia L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Pelargonium sidoides DC., Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc., Sanguisorba officinalis L., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Toona sinensis (Juss.) M.Roem., and Torreya nucifera (L.) Siebold & Zucc. At least fifty natural compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, lignins, and tannins, which inhibit various strains of human coronaviruses, are presented. Given the scarcity of efficacious and safe vaccines or drugs for coronavirus disease 2019, natural products are low-hanging fruits that should be harnessed as the new global frontier against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

The Contagion of Pneumonia in Older Persons: An Application of the Bass Diffusion Model

This aims to provide an understanding of the spread of pneumonia through analysis of the interaction between infected and potentially infected. Data from 2010 to 2018 on Pneumonia morbidity among older persons age 65 and above was extracted from the Department of Health Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS) annual reports. The data were used to represent the cumulative adopters by fitting them to the Bass diffusion model using the Bass Forecasting Spreadsheet. The number of new adopters was graphed to forecast the diffusion of Pneumonia. The number of cases is expected to increase. The adoption rate in 2024 will be around 45% of the current population. Morbidity of pneumonia is expected to peak in the year 2200, 190 years after the first data. The use of the model provided an insight into the cumulative nature of pneumonia infection due to the interaction between infected and the potentially infected.