Study of kaempferol in the treatment of COVID-19 combined with Chikungunya co-infection by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology

Vanilla from Brazilian Atlantic Forest: In vitro and in silico toxicity assessment and high-resolution metabolomic analysis of Vanilla spp. ethanolic extracts

The natural vanilla market, which generates millions annually, is predominantly dependent on Vanilla planifolia, a species characterized by low genetic variability and susceptibility to pathogens. There is an increasing demand for natural vanilla, prized for its complex, authentic, and superior quality compared to artificial counterparts. Therefore, there is a necessity for innovative production alternatives to ensure a consistent and stable supply of vanilla flavors. In this context, vanilla crop wild relatives (WRs) emerge as promising natural sources of the spice. However, these novel species must undergo toxicity assessments to evaluate potential risks and ensure safety for consumption. This study aimed to assess the non-mutagenic and non-carcinogenic properties of ethanolic extracts from V. bahiana, V. chamissonis, V. cribbiana, and V. planifolia through integrated metabolomic profiling, in vitro toxicity assays, and in silico analyses. The integrated approach of metabolomics, in vitro assays, and in silico analyses has highlighted the need for further safety assessments of Vanilla cribbiana ethanolic extract. While the extracts of V. bahiana, V. chamissonis, and V. planifolia generally demonstrated non-mutagenic properties in the Ames assay, V. cribbiana exhibited mutagenicity at high concentrations (5000 μg/plate) in the TA98 strain without metabolic activation. This finding, coupled with the dose-dependent cytotoxicity observed in WST-1 (Water Soluble Tetrazolium) assays, a colorimetric method that assesses the viability of cells exposed to a test substance, underscores the importance of concentration in the safety evaluation of these extracts. Kaempferol and pyrogallol, identified with higher intensity in V. cribbiana, are potential candidates for in vitro mutagenicity. Although the results are not conclusive, they suggest the safety of these extracts at low concentrations. This study emphasizes the value of an integrated approach in providing a nuanced understanding of the safety profiles of natural products, advocating for cautious use and further research into V. cribbiana mutagenicity.

Systematic Review of Naturally Derived Substances That Act as Inhibitors of the Nicotine Metabolizing Enzyme Cytochrome P450 2A6

Tobacco smoking has been highlighted as a major health challenge in modern societies. Despite not causing death directly, smoking has been associated with several health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and several cancer types. Moreover, exposure to nicotine during pregnancy has been associated with adverse neurological disorders in babies. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is the most common strategy employed for smoking cessation, but despite its widespread use, NRT presents with low success and adherence rates. This is attributed partially to the rate of nicotine metabolism by cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) in each individual. Nicotine addiction is correlated with the high rate of its metabolism, and thus, novel strategies need to be implemented in NRT protocols. Naturally derived products are a cost-efficient and rich source for potential inhibitors, with the main advantages being their abundance and ease of isolation. This systematic review aims to summarize the natural products that have been identified as CYP2A6 inhibitors, validated through in vitro and/or in vivo assays, and could be implemented as nicotine metabolism inhibitors. The scope is to present the different compounds and highlight their possible implementation in NRT strategies. Additionally, this information would provide valuable insight regarding CYP2A6 inhibitors, that can be utilized in drug development via the use of in silico methodologies and machine-learning models to identify new potential lead compounds for optimization and implementation in NRT regimes.

Inhibitory effect of food-functioned phytochemicals on dysregulated inflammatory pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2: a mechanistic review

Inflammatory cascades of the dysregulated inflammatory pathways in COVID-19 can cause excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines leading to cytokine storm syndrome (CSS). The molecular cascades involved in the pathways may be targeted for discovery of new anti-inflammatory agents. Many plant extracts have been used clinically in the management of COVID-19, however, their immunosuppressive activities were mainly investigated based on in silico activity. Dietary flavonoids of the extracts such as quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, naringenin, isorhamnetin, baicalein, wogonin, and rutin were commonly identified as responsible for their inhibitory effects. The present review critically analyzes the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of phytochemicals, including dietary compounds against cytokine storm (CS) and hyperinflammation via inhibition of the altered inflammatory pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2, published since the emergence of COVID-19 in December 2019. Only a few phytochemicals, mainly dietary compounds such as nanocurcumin, melatonin, quercetin, 6-shagoal, kaempferol, resveratrol, andrographolide, and colchicine have been investigated either in in silico or preliminary clinical studies to evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects against COVID-19. Sufficient pre-clinical studies on safety and efficacy of anti-inflammatory effects of the phytochemicals must be performed prior to proper clinical studies to develop them into therapeutic adjuvants in the prevention and treatmemt of COVID-19 symptoms.

Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols from Geranium sanguineum L. in Viral Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2

The existing literature supports the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral capacities of the polyphenol extracts derived from Geranium sanguineum L. These extracts exhibit potential in hindering viral replication by inhibiting enzymes like DNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase. The antiviral properties of G. sanguineum L. seem to complement its immunomodulatory effects, contributing to infection resolution. While preclinical studies on G. sanguineum L. suggest its potential effectiveness against COVID-19, there is still a lack of clinical evidence. Therefore, the polyphenols extracted from this herb warrant further investigation as a potential alternative for preventing and treating COVID-19 infections.

Bioinformatics and system biology approach to identify the influences of SARS-CoV-2 on metabolic unhealthy obese patients

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) has posed a significant challenge to individuals' health. Increasing evidence shows that patients with metabolic unhealthy obesity (MUO) and COVID-19 have severer complications and higher mortality rate. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between MUO and COVID-19 are poorly understood. Methods: We sought to reveal the relationship between MUO and COVID-19 using bioinformatics and systems biology analysis approaches. Here, two datasets (GSE196822 and GSE152991) were employed to extract differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to identify common hub genes, shared pathways, transcriptional regulatory networks, gene-disease relationship and candidate drugs. Results: Based on the identified 65 common DEGs, the complement-related pathways and neutrophil degranulation-related functions are found to be mainly affected. The hub genes, which included SPI1, CD163, C1QB, SIGLEC1, C1QA, ITGAM, CD14, FCGR1A, VSIG4 and C1QC, were identified. From the interaction network analysis, 65 transcription factors (TFs) were found to be the regulatory signals. Some infections, inflammation and liver diseases were found to be most coordinated with the hub genes. Importantly, Paricalcitol, 3,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl, PD 98059, Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Dexamethasone and Tretinoin HL60 UP have shown possibility as therapeutic agents against COVID-19 and MUO. Conclusion: This study provides new clues and references to treat both COVID-19 and MUO.

Cheminformatics and systems pharmacology approaches to unveil the potential plant bioactives to combat COVID-19

COVID-19 was a global pandemic in the year 2020. Several treatment options failed to cure the disease. Thus, plant-based medicines are becoming a trend nowadays due to their less side effects. Bioactive chemicals from natural sources have been utilised for centuries as treatment options for a variety of ailments. To find out the potent bioactive compounds to counteract COVID-19, we use systems pharmacology and cheminformatics. They use the definitive data and predict the possible outcomes. In this study, we collected a total of 72 phytocompounds from the medicinally important plants such as Garcinia mangostana and Cinnamomum verum, of which 13 potential phytocompounds were identified to be active against the COVID-19 infection based on Swiss Target Prediction and compound target network analysis. These phytocompounds were annotated to identify the specific human receptor that targets COVID-19-specific genes such as MAPK8, MAPK14, ACE, CYP3A4, TLR4 and TYK2. Among these, compounds such as smeathxanthone A, demethylcalabaxanthone, mangostanol, trapezifolixanthone from Garcinia mangostana and camphene from C. verum were putatively target various COVID-19-related genes. Molecular docking results showed that smeathxanthone A and demethylcalabaxanthone exhibit increased binding efficiency towards the COVID-19-related receptor proteins. These compounds also showed efficient putative pharmacoactive properties than the commercial drugs ((R)-remdesivir, favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine) used to cure COVID-19. In conclusion, our study highlights the use of cheminformatics approach to unravel the potent and novel phytocompounds against COVID-19. These phytocompounds may be safer to use, more efficient and less harmful. This study highlights the value of natural products in the search for new drugs and identifies candidates with great promise.