The antiviral activity and cytotoxicity of 15 natural phenolic compounds with previously demonstrated antifungal activity

The Use of an Antioxidant Enables Accurate Evaluation of the Interaction of Curcumin on Organic Anion-Transporting Polypeptides 4C1 by Preventing Auto-Oxidation

Flavonoids have garnered attention because of their beneficial bioactivities. However, some flavonoids reportedly interact with drugs via transporters and may induce adverse drug reactions. This study investigated the effects of food ingredients on organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) 4C1, which handles uremic toxins and some drugs, to understand the safety profile of food ingredients in renal drug excretion. Twenty-eight food ingredients, including flavonoids, were screened. We used ascorbic acid (AA) to prevent curcumin oxidative degradation in our method. Twelve compounds, including apigenin, daidzein, fisetin, genistein, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol, and ellagic acid, altered OATP4C1-mediated transport. Kaempferol and curcumin strongly inhibited OATP4C1, and the Ki values of kaempferol (AA(-)), curcumin (AA(-)), and curcumin (AA(+)) were 25.1, 52.2, and 23.5 µM, respectively. The kinetic analysis revealed that these compounds affected OATP4C1 transport in a competitive manner. Antioxidant supplementation was determined to benefit transporter interaction studies investigating the effects of curcumin because the concentration-dependent curve evidently shifted in the presence of AA. In this study, we elucidated the food-drug interaction via OATP4C1 and indicated the utility of antioxidant usage. Our findings will provide essential information regarding food-drug interactions for both clinical practice and the commercial development of supplements.

O-Glycoside quercetin derivatives: Biological activities, mechanisms of action, and structure-activity relationship for drug design, a review

Quercetin as a valuable natural flavonoid has shown extensive biological activities, including anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, anti-Alzheimer, antifungal, antiviral, antithalassemia, iron chelation, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antihypertension, and antiphospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities, by the modulation of various targets and signaling pathways that have attracted much attention. However, the low solubility and poor bioavailability of quercetin have limited its applications; therefore, the researchers have tried to design and synthesize many new derivatives of quercetin through different strategies to modify quercetin restrictions and improve its biological activities. This review categorized the O-glycoside derivatives of Quercetin into two main classes, 3-O-glycoside and other O-glycoside derivatives. Also, it studied biological activities, structure-activity relationship (SAR), and the action mechanism of O-glycoside quercetin derivatives. Overall, we summarized past and present research for discovering new potent lead compounds.

Quercetin derivatives: Drug design, development, and biological activities, a review

More studies are needed to develop new drugs for problems associated with drug resistance and unfavorable side effects. The natural flavonoid of quercetin revealed a wide range of biological activities by the modulation of various targets and signaling pathways. However, quercetin's low solubility and poor bioavailability have restricted its applicability; as a result, researchers have attempted to design and synthesize numerous novel quercetin derivatives using various methodologies in order to modify quercetin's constraints; the physico-chemical properties of quercetin's molecular scaffold make it appealing for drug development; low molecular mass and chemical groups are two of these characteristics. Therefore, the biological activities of quercetin derivatives, as well as the relationship between activity and chemical structure and their mechanism of action, were investigated. These quercetin-based molecules could be valuable in the creation and discovery of medications for a number of diseases.

Biochemical characterization and inhibition of thermolabile hemolysin from Vibrio parahaemolyticus by phenolic compounds

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), a typical microorganism inhabiting marine ecosystems, uses pathogenic virulence molecules such as hemolysins to cause bacterial infections of both human and marine animals. The thermolabile hemolysin VpTLH lyses human erythrocytes by a phospholipase B/A2 enzymatic activity in egg-yolk lecithin. However, few studies have been characterized the biochemical properties and the use of VpTLH as a molecular target for natural compounds as an alternative to control Vp infection. Here, we evaluated the biochemical and inhibition parameters of the recombinant VpTLH using enzymatic and hemolytic assays and determined the molecular interactions by in silico docking analysis. The highest enzymatic activity was at pH 8 and 50 °C, and it was inactivated by 20 min at 60 °C with Tm = 50.9 °C. Additionally, the flavonoids quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate, and morin inhibited the VpTLH activity with IC50 values of 4.5 µM, 6.3 µM, and 9.9 µM, respectively; while phenolics acids were not effective inhibitors for this enzyme. Boltzmann and Arrhenius equation analysis indicate that VpTLH is a thermolabile enzyme. The inhibition of both enzymatic and hemolytic activities by flavonoids agrees with molecular docking, suggesting that flavonoids could interact with the active site’s amino acids. Future research is necessary to evaluate the antibacterial activity of flavonoids against Vp in vivo.

Computational Approaches in Preclinical Studies on Drug Discovery and Development

Because undesirable pharmacokinetics and toxicity are significant reasons for the failure of drug development in the costly late stage, it has been widely recognized that drug ADMET properties should be considered as early as possible to reduce failure rates in the clinical phase of drug discovery. Concurrently, drug recalls have become increasingly common in recent years, prompting pharmaceutical companies to increase attention toward the safety evaluation of preclinical drugs. In vitro and in vivo drug evaluation techniques are currently more mature in preclinical applications, but these technologies are costly. In recent years, with the rapid development of computer science, in silico technology has been widely used to evaluate the relevant properties of drugs in the preclinical stage and has produced many software programs and in silico models, further promoting the study of ADMET in vitro. In this review, we first introduce the two ADMET prediction categories (molecular modeling and data modeling). Then, we perform a systematic classification and description of the databases and software commonly used for ADMET prediction. We focus on some widely studied ADMT properties as well as PBPK simulation, and we list some applications that are related to the prediction categories and web tools. Finally, we discuss challenges and limitations in the preclinical area and propose some suggestions and prospects for the future.

Dietary Polyphenol Intake in US Adults and 10-Year Trends: 2007-2016

BACKGROUND

Polyphenols are a class of phytochemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral properties. Previous research suggests that dietary polyphenol intake is protective against major chronic diseases. To our knowledge, no data on polyphenol intake for the US adult population are available.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored usual dietary polyphenol intake among US adults in 2013-2016 and examined trends in intake during 2007-2016 by demographic characteristics, and identified major dietary sources of polyphenols.

DESIGN

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a series of cross-sectional surveys representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized US population.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

This study included 9,773 adults aged 20 years and older.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Dietary and supplement data were obtained from two 24-hour dietary recalls. Polyphenol intake was estimated using the Phenol Explorer Database and adjusted for total energy intake.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED

Usual intake was estimated both overall and by demographic characteristics using the National Cancer Institute method. Trends in intake on a given day over 10 years were evaluated using regression analysis. The complex survey design was incorporated in all analyses.

RESULTS

In 2013-2016, the usual intake of dietary polyphenols was a mean (standard error) of 884.1 (20.4) mg per 1,000 kcal/d. Polyphenol intake was higher in adults 40 years and older, women, non-Hispanic White adults, and college graduates. During 2007-2016, the mean daily polyphenol intake did not change significantly over time for overall and demographic groups. Main polyphenol classes consumed were phenolic acids (mean [standard error] of 1,005.6 [34.3] mg/d) and flavonoids (mean [standard error] of 379.1 [10.7] mg/d). Foods and beverages contributed 99.8% of polyphenol intake, with coffee (39.6%), beans (9.8%), and tea (7.6%) as major dietary contributors.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study suggest that polyphenol intake is consistent with the low intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the US population, and provide more evidence of the need for increased consumption of these food groups.

Antiviral and Cytotoxic Activity of Different Plant Parts of Banana (Musa spp.)

Chikungunya and yellow fever virus cause vector-borne viral diseases in humans. There is currently no specific antiviral drug for either of these diseases. Banana plants are used in traditional medicine for treating viral diseases such as measles and chickenpox. Therefore, we tested selected banana cultivars for their antiviral but also cytotoxic properties. Different parts such as leaf, pseudostem and corm, collected separately and extracted with four different solvents (hexane, acetone, ethanol, and water), were tested for in vitro antiviral activity against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), enterovirus 71 (EV71), and yellow fever virus (YFV). Extracts prepared with acetone and ethanol from leaf parts of several cultivars exhibited strong (EC₅₀ around 10 μg/mL) anti-CHIKV activity. Interestingly, none of the banana plant extracts (concentration 1–100 µg/mL) were active against EV71. Activity against YFV was restricted to two cultivars: Namwa Khom–Pseudostem–Ethanol (5.9 ± 5.4), Namwa Khom–Corm–Ethanol (0.79 ± 0.1) and Fougamou–Corm–Acetone (2.5 ± 1.5). In most cases, the cytotoxic activity of the extracts was generally 5- to 10-fold lower than the antiviral activity, suggesting a reasonable therapeutic window.