Scrutinizing the Feasibility of Nonionic Surfactants to Form Isotropic Bicelles of Curcumin: a Potential Antiviral Candidate Against COVID-19

Recent advances in COVID-19-induced liver injury: causes, diagnosis, and management

Since the start of the pandemic, considerable advancements have been made in our understanding of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the associated COVID-19 on the hepatic system. There is a broad range of clinical symptoms for COVID-19. It affects multiple systems and has a dominant lung illness depending on complications. The progression of COVID-19 in people with pre-existing chronic liver disease (CLD) has also been studied in large multinational groups. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a higher risk of hepatic decompensation and death in patients with cirrhosis. In this review, the source, composition, mechanisms, transmission characteristics, clinical characteristics, therapy, and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 were clarified and discussed, as well as the evolution and variations of the virus. This review briefly discusses the causes and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with CLD. As part of COVID-19, In addition, we assess the potential of liver biochemistry as a diagnostic tool examine the data on direct viral infection of liver cells, and investigate potential pathways driving SARS-CoV-2-related liver damage. Finally, we explore how the pandemic has had a significant impact on patient behaviors and hepatology services, which may increase the prevalence and severity of liver disease in the future. The topics encompassed in this review encompass the intricate relationships between SARS-CoV-2, liver health, and broader health management strategies, providing valuable insights for both current clinical practice and future research directions.

A novel mucoadhesive paliperidone-nanoemulsion developed using the ultrasonication method in the treatment of schizophrenia

Aim: To develop paliperidone mucoadhesive-nanoemulsion (PLP-NE) to enhance brain bioavailability. To evaluate comparative effects of PLP-NE and CS-PLP-NE in the treatment of schizophrenia, followed by a toxicity study of opt-NE. Material and methods: Oil: oleic acid, surfactant: Tween-80, and co-surfactant: Labrasol were chosen based on the solubility and maximum nanoemulsion area. The ultrasonication technique was applied with the aqueous micro titration method for the development of PLP-NE. The optimization of the method for the excellent PLP-NE was performed using a central composite design based on a five-factor and four-level. Oil (% v/v), S mix (v/v%), ultrasonication intensity in percentage, ultrasonication time in minutes, and temperature (°C) were optimized and used to the independent variables. Results: The parameters i.e., oil (5%), S mix (10%), ultrasonication time (5.0 min), ultrasonication intensity (25%), and temperature (38 °C) were optimized and used as independent and dependent variables for the development of novel PLP-NE. Based on experimental data, the dependent variables, i.e., globule size (53.90 ± 4.01 nm), % transmittance (92.56% ± 1.06%), PDI (0.218 ± 0.007), and zeta potential (-11.60 ± 0.031 mV), were determined. The smooth near about spherical shaped of PLP-NE globules with, refractive index i.e., 1.62 ± 0.021, viscosity: 39 ± 6 cp with the pH: 7.40 ± 0.089, and content of drug (97.98 ± 0.39%) for optimized-PLP-NE. The optimized PLP-NE with oleic acid, Tween-80, and Labrasol was used to improve brain bioavailability with good permeation via the intranasal route. CS-PLP-NE yielded good mucoadhesive property results compared to paliperidone-nanoemulsion, and PLP-S containing a 0.751 minutes retention time with their deuterated-IS (0.806 min) and m/z of 427.2/207.2 with IS (m/z: 431.2/211.2) for PLP and PLP-IS. A calibration curve was plotted with a linear range of 1-2000 ng mL-1 with inter- and intraday accuracy (97.03-99.31%) and precision (1.69-50.05%). The results of AUC(0-24) and C max for PLP were found to be highly significant (p < 0.001) as an improvement of brain bioavailability in rats via intranasal delivery of CS-PLP-NE. Furthermore, the locomotion test, social interaction, and forced swimming test (forced swimming, climbing, and immobility) of a mucoadhesive CS-PLP-NE (intranasally) provided highly significant results with the improvement of behavioral analysis when compared to the PLP-NE and PLP-S studies. Conclusion: CS-PLP-NE (i.n.) showed highly significant results, i.e., p < 0.001 for the improvement of bioavailability of the brain in the treatment of schizophrenia. Optimized-mucoadhesive-CS-based-PLP-NE is safe and shows no toxicity.

Curcumin as a natural potential drug candidate against important zoonotic viruses and prions: A narrative review

Zoonotic diseases are major public health concerns and undeniable threats to human health. Among Zoonotic diseases, zoonotic viruses and prions are much more difficult to eradicate, as they result in higher infections and mortality rates. Several investigations have shown curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, to have wide spectrum properties such as anti-microbial, anti-vascular, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidant, and immune system modulator properties. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive review of existing in silico, in vitro, and in vivo evidence on the antiviral (54 important zoonotic viruses) and anti-prion properties of curcumin and curcuminoids in PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Database searches yielded 13,380 results, out of which 216 studies were eligible according to inclusion criteria. Of 216 studies, 135 (62.5%), 24 (11.1%), and 19 (8.8%) were conducted on the effect of curcumin and curcuminoids against SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A virus, and dengue virus, respectively. This review suggests curcumin and curcuminoids as promising therapeutic agents against a wide range of viral zoonoses by targeting different proteins and signaling pathways.

Harnessing molecular hybridization approach to discover novel quinoline EGFR-TK inhibitors for cancer treatment

Aim: Using molecular hybridization approach, novel 18 quinoline derivatives (6a-11) were designed and synthesized as EGFR-TK inhibitors. Materials & methods: The antiproliferative activity was assessed against breast (MCF-7), leukemia (HL-60) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Moreover, the most active quinoline derivatives (6d and 8b) were further investigated for their potential as EGFR-TK inhibitors. In addition, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis induction activity were conducted. Results: A considerable cytotoxic activity was attained with IC50 values spanning from 0.06 to 1.12 μM. Besides, the quinoline derivatives 6d and 8b displayed potent inhibitory activity against EFGR with IC50 values of 0.18 and 0.08 μM, respectively. Conclusion: Accordingly, the afforded quinoline derivatives can be used as promising lead anticancer candidates for future optimization.

Metabolomic analysis of black sesame seeds: Effects of processing and active compounds in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Black sesame seeds (BSS) have been recognized as a functional food due to their nutritional and therapeutic value for many years. In China, BSS is traditionally processed and consumed through two methods, namely, nine steaming nine sun-drying and stir-frying. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of these processing techniques on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of BSS. UPLC-QTOF/MS was used for untargeted metabolomics to analyze the composition changes. The results indicated that the different samples had good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but thermal treatment reduced their activities. Untargeted metabolomics identified a total of 196 metabolites. Molecular docking studies targeting proteins associated with inflammation (iNOS) demonstrated that compounds acting as inhibitors were significantly reduced under both treatments. These results indicate that both nine steaming nine sun-drying and stir-frying lead to substantial loss of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and bioactive metabolites in BSS, which provides an important reference for its rational utilization.

Biological evaluation, docking studies, and in silico ADME prediction of some pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives as potential EGFRWT and EGFRT790M inhibitors

Herein, a set of pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives were assessed for their impact on the cell cycle and apoptosis. Human breast cancer (MCF7), hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2), larynx cancer (HEP2), lung cancer (H460), colon cancers (HCT116 and Caco2), and hypopharyngeal cancer (FADU), and normal Vero cell lines were used. Compounds 8 and 14 displayed outstanding effects on the investigated cell lines and were further tested for their antioxidant activity in MCF7, H460, FADU, HEP2, HEPG2, HCT116, Caco2, and Vero cells by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde content (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) content. Besides, Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection and cell cycle DNA index using the HEPG-2 cell line were established on both compounds as well. Furthermore, compounds 8 and 14 were assessed for their EGFR kinase (Wild and T790M) inhibitory activities, revealing eligible potential. Additionally, molecular docking, ADME, and SAR studies were carried out for the investigated candidates.

Antifungal Activities of Natural Products and Their Hybrid Molecules

The increasing cases of drug resistance and high toxicity associated with the currently used antifungal agents are a worldwide public health concern. There is an urgent need to develop new antifungal drugs with unique target mechanisms. Plant-based compounds, such as carvacrol, eugenol, coumarin, cinnamaldehyde, curcumin, thymol, etc., have been explored for the development of promising antifungal agents due to their diverse biological activities, lack of toxicity, and availability. However, researchers around the world are unable to fully utilize the potential of natural products due to limitations, such as their poor bioavailability and aqueous solubility. The development of hybrid molecules containing natural products is a promising synthetic approach to overcome these limitations and control microbes' capability to develop resistance. Based on the potential advantages of hybrid compounds containing natural products to improve antifungal activity, there have been different reported synthesized hybrid compounds. This paper reviews different literature to report the potential antifungal activities of hybrid compounds containing natural products.

Novel fused imidazotriazines acting as promising top. II inhibitors and apoptotic inducers with greater selectivity against head and neck tumors: Design, synthesis, and biological assessments

Although the great effectiveness of doxorubicin (Dox) in the treatment of many types of tumors, it showed limited effectiveness against the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) subtype which is attributed to its reported multiple drug resistance (MDR). In the current study, we considered the essential pharmacophoric features of Dox as an effective Top. II inhibitor and sought to develop a novel set of imidazo[1,2-a] [1,3,5]triazin-2-amines (2a-2p) as a suggested anticancer option that could intercalate the DNA base pairs. We evaluated the % inhibition of the newly synthesized compounds on thirteen cancer cell lines and the analysis of structure-activity relationships revealed that the human head and neck cancer cell line (HNO97) was the most sensitive to their growth inhibition effect. Then, the IC50 values were recorded against the most sensitive cancer cell lines (HNO97, MDA-MB-231, and HEPG2), and compared to the normal cell line OEC (human oral epithelial cells). Compounds 2f and 2g showed very strong activities against HNO97 with IC50 values of (4 ± 1 and 3 ± 1.5 μg/mL), respectively, compared to that of Dox (9 ± 1.6 μg/mL). Next, a quantitative determination of human DNA Top. II concentrations in the most sensitive cell line (HNO97) were recorded for the most active anticancer derivatives. Again, compound 2f showed a superior Top. II inhibition with 87.86% compared to that of Dox (86.44%), while compound 2g achieved an inhibition of 81.37% which was close to the effect of Dox. To further investigate their effects on cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction in HNO97 cells, both 2f and 2g were selected for analysis. Both candidates arrested cell cycle progression at both the S and G2-M phases, as well as increased the early and late apoptosis phase ratios. Besides, both 2f and 2g were subjected to protein expression analysis of apoptosis-related genes (p53, BAX, IL-6, and BCL2). Moreover, the antioxidant effect of 2f and 2g was evaluated by measuring GSH, MDA, and NO markers in HNO97 cells. Furthermore, molecular docking for the newly designed tricyclic derivatives against both the Top. II and DNA double helix was carried out.

Morphological control and modern applications of bicelles

Bicellar systems have become popularized as their rich morphology can be applied in biochemistry, physical chemistry, and drug delivery technology. To the biochemical field, bicelles are powerful model membranes for the study of transmembrane protein behavior, membrane transport, and environmental interactions with the cell. Their morphological responses to environmental changes reveal a profound fundamental understanding of physical chemistry related to the principle of self-assembly. Recently, they have also drawn significant attention as theranostic nanocarriers in biopharmaceutical and diagnostic research due to their superior cellular uptake compared to liposomes. It is evident that applications are becoming broader, demanding to understand how the bicelle will form and behave in various environments. To consolidate current works on the bicelle's modern applications, this review will discuss various effects of composition and environmental conditions on the morphology, phase behavior, and stability. Furthermore, various applications such as payload entrapment and polymerization templating are presented to demonstrate their versatility and chemical nature.

Curcumin Transferosome-Loaded Thermosensitive Intranasal in situ Gel as Prospective Antiviral Therapy for SARS-Cov-2

Purpose

Immunomodulatory and broad-spectrum antiviral activities have motivated the evaluation of curcumin for Coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) management. Inadequate bioavailability is the main impediment to the therapeutic effects of oral Cur. This study aimed to develop an optimal curcumin transferosome-loaded thermosensitive in situ gel to improve its delivery to the lungs.

Methods

Transferosomes were developed by using 33 screening layouts. The phospholipid concentration as well as the concentration and type of surfactant were considered independent variables. The entrapment efficiency (EE%), size, surface charge, and polydispersity index (PDI) were regarded as dependent factors. A cold technique was employed to develop thermosensitive in-situ gels. Optimized transferosomes were loaded onto the selected gels. The produced gel was assessed based on shape attributes, ex vivo permeability enhancement, and the safety of the nasal mucosa. The in vitro cytotoxicity, antiviral cytopathic effect, and plaque assay (CV/CPE/Plaque activity), and in vivo performance were evaluated after intranasal administration in experimental rabbits.

Results

The optimized preparation displayed a particle size of 664.3 ± 69.3 nm, EE% of 82.8 ± 0.02%, ZP of -11.23 ± 2.5 mV, and PDI of 0.6 ± 0.03. The in vitro curcumin release from the optimized transferosomal gel was markedly improved compared with that of the free drug-loaded gel. An ex vivo permeation study revealed a significant improvement (2.58-fold) in drug permeability across nasal tissues of sheep. Histopathological screening confirmed the safety of these preparations. This formulation showed high antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 at reduced concentrations. High relative bioavailability (226.45%) was attained after the formula intranasally administered to rabbits compared to the free drug in-situ gel. The curcumin transferosome gel displayed a relatively high lung accumulation after intranasal administration.

Conclusion

This study provides a promising formulation for the antiviral treatment of COVID-19 patients, which can be evaluated further in preclinical and clinical studies.

Carvacrol-Loaded Phytosomes for Enhanced Wound Healing: Molecular Docking, Formulation, DoE-Aided Optimization, and in vitro/in vivo Evaluation

Background

Despite recent advances in wound healing products, phytochemicals have been considered promising and attractive alternatives. Carvacrol (CAR), a natural phenolic compound, has been reported to be effective in wound healing.

Purpose

This work endeavored to develop novel CAR-loaded phytosomes for the enhancement of the wound healing process.

Methods

Molecular docking was performed to compare the affinities of the different types of phospholipids to CAR. Phytosomes were prepared by three methods (thin-film hydration, cosolvency, and salting out) using Lipoid S100 and Phospholipon 90H with three levels of saturation percent (0%, 50%, and 100%), and three levels of phospholipid molar percent (66.67%, 75%, and 80%). The optimization was performed using Design Expert where particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential were chosen as dependent variables. The optimized formula (F1) was further investigated regarding entrapment efficiency, TEM, 1H-NMR, FT-IR, DSC, X-RD, in vitro release, ex vivo permeation, and stability. Furthermore, it was incorporated into a hydrogel formulation, and an in vivo study was conducted to investigate the wound-healing properties of F1.

Results

F1 was chosen as the optimized formula prepared via the thin-film hydration method with a saturation percent and a phospholipid molar percent of zero and 66.67, respectively. TEM revealed the spherical shape of phytosomal vesicles with uniform size, while the results of 1H-NMR, FT-IR, DSC, and X-RD confirmed the formation of the phytosomal complex. F1 demonstrated a higher in vitro release and a slower permeation than free CAR. The wound area of F1-treated animals showed a marked reduction associated with a high degree of collagen fiber deposition and enhanced cellular proliferation.

Conclusion

F1 can be considered as a promising remedy for the enhancement of wound healing and hence it would be hoped to undergo further investigation.

Design and Synthesis of 2-(4-Bromophenyl)Quinoline-4-Carbohydrazide Derivatives via Molecular Hybridization as Novel Microbial DNA-Gyrase Inhibitors

Microbial DNA gyrase is regarded as an outstanding microbial target. Hence, 15 new quinoline derivatives (5-14) were designed and synthesized. The antimicrobial activity of the afforded compounds was pursued via in vitro approaches. The investigated compounds displayed eligible MIC values, particularly against G-positive Staphylococcus aureus species. Consequently, an S. aureus DNA gyrase supercoiling assay was performed, using ciprofloxacin as a reference control. Obviously, compounds 6b and 10 unveiled IC₅₀ values of 33.64 and 8.45 μM, respectively. Alongside, ciprofloxacin exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 3.80 μM. Furthermore, a significant docking binding score was encountered by compound 6b (-7.73 kcal/mol), surpassing ciprofloxacin (-7.29 kcal/mol). Additionally, both compounds 6b and 10 revealed high GIT absorption without passing the blood brain barrier. Finally, the conducted structure-activity relationship study assured the usefulness of the hydrazine moiety as a molecular hybrid for activity either in cyclic or opened form.

Identification of Antimicrobial Metabolites from the Egyptian Soil-Derived Amycolatopsis keratiniphila Revealed by Untargeted Metabolomics and Molecular Docking

Actinomycetes are prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens has prompted us to search for potential natural antimicrobial agents. Herein, we report the isolation of rare actinobacteria from Egyptian soil. The strain was identified as Amycolatopsis keratiniphila DPA04 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Cultivation profiling, followed by chemical and antimicrobial evaluation of crude extracts, revealed the activity of DPA04 ISP-2 and M1 culture extracts against Gram-positive bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values ranged from 19.5 to 39 µg/mL. Chemical analysis of the crude extracts using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF) led to the identification of 45 metabolites of different chemical classes. In addition, ECO-0501 was identified in the cultures with significant antimicrobial activity. Multidrug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is reported to be related to the multidrug efflux pump (MATE). ECO-0501 and its related metabolites were subjected to molecular docking studies against the MATE receptor as a proposed mechanism of action. ECO-0501 and its derivatives (AK_1 and N-demethyl ECO-0501) had better binding scores (-12.93, -12.24, and -11.92 kcal/mol) than the co-crystallized 4HY inhibitor (-8.99 kcal/mol) making them promising candidates as MATE inhibitors. Finally, our work established that natural products from this strain could be useful therapeutic tools for controlling infectious diseases.

The Influences of Emulsification Variables on Emulsion Characteristics Prepared through the Phase Inversion Temperature Method as Engine Fuel

The effects of emulsification variables, such as surfactant type and heating/cooling emulsion processes, on the emulsification characteristics of silicone oil’s emulsions prepared by the phase inversion temperature method were investigated in this study. The water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions have been widely applied to enhance burning efficiency and reduce both pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. The silicone oil was emulsified with de-ionized water with the assistance of nonionic surfactants to form oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) value of the Span 80 and Tween 20 surfactant mixture was set equal to 10 based on their weight proportions and the respective HLB values of the two surfactants. The experimental results show that the emulsions with the Span 80/Tween 20 surfactant mixture appeared to have a higher phase inversion temperature and a larger electrical conductance. On the other hand, it has a lower emulsification stability and a narrower range of phase inversion temperature than the emulsions prepared with a Brij 30 surfactant (polyoxyethylene (4) lauryl ether). The increase in surfactant concentration from 1 wt.% to 10 wt.% decreased the electrical conductance and phase inversion temperature while increasing the suspensibility and absorbance value for the emulsions prepared with either Span 80/Tween 20 mixture or Brij 30.

Neurological damages in COVID-19 patients: Mechanisms and preventive interventions

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which led to neurological damage and increased mortality worldwide in its second and third waves. It is associated with systemic inflammation, myocardial infarction, neurological illness including ischemic strokes (e.g., cardiac and cerebral ischemia), and even death through multi-organ failure. At the early stage, the virus infects the lung epithelial cells and is slowly transmitted to the other organs including the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, kidneys, heart, and brain. The neurological effect of the virus is mainly due to hypoxia-driven reactive oxygen species (ROS) and generated cytokine storm. Internalization of SARS-CoV-2 triggers ROS production and modulation of the immunological cascade which ultimately initiates the hypercoagulable state and vascular thrombosis. Suppression of immunological machinery and inhibition of ROS play an important role in neurological disturbances. So, COVID-19 associated damage to the central nervous system, patients need special care to prevent multi-organ failure at later stages of disease progression. Here in this review, we are selectively discussing these issues and possible antioxidant-based prevention therapies for COVID-19-associated neurological damage that leads to multi-organ failure.

Metformin ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity targeting HMGB1/TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway in mice

AIMS

Oxidative stress and inflammation have been linked to doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity, while the exact molecular processes are currently under investigation. The goal of this study is to investigate Metformin's preventive role in cardiotoxicity induced by DOX.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male albino mice were divided randomly into 4 groups. Metformin (Met) 200 mg/kg orally (p.o.) was given either alone or when combined with a single DOX (15 mg/kg; i.p.). A control group of 5 mice was also provided. Met was initiated 7 days before DOX, lasting for 14 days. Besides, docking studies of Met towards HMGB1, NF-kB, and caspase 3 were performed.

KEY FINDINGS

Heart weight, cardiac troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase Myocardial Band (CK-MB) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) contents all increased significantly when comparing the DOX group to the control normal group. Conversely, there was a substantial decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH). DOX group depicts a high expression of TLR4, HMGB1, and caspase 3. Immunohistochemical staining revealed an increase in NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB expressions alongside histopathological modifications. Additionally, Met dramatically decreased cardiac weight, CK-MB, and cTnT while maintaining the tissues' histological integrity. Inflammatory biomarkers, including HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB, inflammasome, and caspase 3 were reduced after Met therapy. Furthermore, molecular docking studies suggested the antagonistic activity of Met towards HMGB1, NF-κB, and caspase 3 target receptors.

SIGNIFICANCE

According to recent evidence, Met is a desirable strategy for improving cardiac toxicity produced by DOX by inhibiting the HMGB1/NF-κB inflammatory pathway, thus preserving heart function.

Ligand-based design, synthesis, computational insights, and in vitro studies of novel N-(5-Nitrothiazol-2-yl)-carboxamido derivatives as potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic provokes scientists to make a prompt development of new effective therapeutic interventions for the battle against SARS-CoV-2. A new series of N-(5-nitrothiazol-2-yl)-carboxamido derivatives were designed and synthesised based on the structural optimisation principle of the SARS-CoV Mpro co-crystallized WR1 inhibitor. Notably, compound 3b achieved the most promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with an IC₅₀ value of 174.7 µg/mL. On the other hand, compounds 3a, 3b, and 3c showed very promising SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ values of 4.67, 5.12, and 11.90 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 3b docking score was very promising (-6.94 kcal/mol) and its binding mode was nearly similar to that of WR1. Besides, the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of compound 3b showed its great stability inside the binding pocket until around 40 ns. Finally, a very promising SAR was concluded to help to design more powerful SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors shortly.

Plant Spices as a Source of Antimicrobial Synergic Molecules to Treat Bacterial and Viral Co-Infections

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the lack of antiviral agents available for human use, while the complexity of the physiological changes caused by coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) imposed the prescription of multidrug pharmacotherapy to treat infected patients. In a significant number of cases, it was necessary to add antibiotics to the prescription to decrease the risk of co-infections, preventing the worsening of the patient's condition. However, the precautionary use of antibiotics corroborated to increase bacterial resistance. Since the development of vaccines for COVID-19, the pandemic scenario has changed, but the development of new antiviral drugs is still a major challenge. Research for new drugs with synergistic activity against virus and resistant bacteria can produce drug leads to be used in the treatment of mild cases of COVID-19 and to fight other viruses and new viral diseases. Following the repurposing approach, plant spices have been searched for antiviral lead compounds, since the toxic effects of plants that are traditionally consumed are already known, speeding up the drug discovery process. The need for effective drugs in the context of viral diseases is discussed in this review, with special focus on plant-based spices with antiviral and antibiotic activity. The activity of plants against resistant bacteria, the diversity of the components present in plant extracts and the synergistic interaction of these metabolites and industrialized antibiotics are discussed, with the aim of contributing to the development of antiviral and antibiotic drugs. A literature search was performed in electronic databases such as Science Direct; SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online); LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences); Elsevier, SpringerLink; and Google Scholar, using the descriptors: antiviral plants, antibacterial plants, coronavirus treatment, morbidities and COVID-19, bacterial resistance, resistant antibiotics, hospital-acquired infections, spices of plant origin, coronaviruses and foods, spices with antiviral effect, drug prescriptions and COVID-19, and plant synergism. Articles published in English in the period from 2020 to 2022 and relevant to the topic were used as the main inclusion criteria.

Investigating the Potential Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Anti-MERS-CoV Activities of Yellow Necklacepod among Three Selected Medicinal Plants: Extraction, Isolation, Identification, In Vitro, Modes of Action, and Molecular Docking Studies

The anti-MERS-CoV activities of three medicinal plants (Azadirachta indica, Artemisia judaica, and Sophora tomentosa) were evaluated. The highest viral inhibition percentage (96%) was recorded for S. tomentosa. Moreover, the mode of action for both S. tomentosa and A. judaica showed 99.5% and 92% inhibition, respectively, with virucidal as the main mode of action. Furthermore, the anti-MERS-CoV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities of S. tomentosa were measured. Notably, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of S. tomentosa was very high (100%) and anti-MERS-CoV inhibition was slightly lower (96%). Therefore, the phytochemical investigation of the very promising S. tomentosa L. led to the isolation and structural identification of nine compounds (1−9). Then, both the CC50 and IC50 values for the isolated compounds against SARS-CoV-2 were measured. Compound 4 (genistein 4’-methyl ether) achieved superior anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with an IC50 value of 2.13 µm. Interestingly, the mode of action of S. tomentosa against SARS-CoV-2 showed that both virucidal and adsorption mechanisms were very effective. Additionally, the IC50 values of S. tomentosa against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV were found to be 1.01 and 3.11 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, all the isolated compounds were subjected to two separate molecular docking studies against the spike (S) and main protease (Mpr°) receptors of SARS-CoV-2.

Chitosan-coated nanostructured lipid carriers for transdermal delivery of tetrahydrocurcumin for breast cancer therapy

Chitosan (Ch)-coated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have great potential for transdermal delivery with high localization of chemotherapeutics in breast cancer. This study used tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), a primary metabolite of curcumin with enhanced antioxidant and anticancer properties, as a model compound to prepare NLCs. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize THC-loaded Ch-coated NLCs (THC-Ch-NLCs) fabricated by high-shear homogenization. The optimized THC-Ch-NLCs had particle size of 244 ± 18 nm, zeta potential of -17.5 ± 0.5 mV, entrapment efficiency of 76.6 ± 0.2% and drug loading of 0.28 ± 0.01%. In vitro release study of THC-Ch-NLCs showed sustained release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with Fickian and non-Fickian diffusion at pH 7.4 and 5.5, respectively. THC-Ch-NLCs demonstrated significantly enhanced in vitro skin permeation, cell uptake, and remarkable cytotoxicity toward MD-MBA-231 breast cancer cells compared to the unencapsulated THC, suggesting Ch-NLCs as potential transdermal nanocarriers of THC for triple-negative breast cancer treatment.

Synthesis, structural characterization, DFT calculations, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations of a novel ferrocene derivative to unravel its potential antitumor activity

In this article, we describe a set of subsequent five-steps chemical reactions to synthesize a ferrocene derivative named 1-(5-(diphenylphosphaneyl)cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl)ethyl)imino)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)methanol (compound 10). Structural characterization of 10 and its intermediate products was also performed and reported to attest to their formation. A molecular docking study was performed to propose the novel synthesized ferrocene derivative (10) as a potential antitumor candidate targeting the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases interacting kinase (Mnk) 1. The computed docking score of (10) at -9.50 kcal/mol compared to the native anticancer staurosporine at -8.72 kcal/mol postulated a promising anticancer activity. Also, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for 500 ns followed by MM-GBSA-binding free energy calculations for both the docked complexes of ferrocene and staurosporine to give more deep insights into their dynamic behavior in physiological conditions. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed to unravel some of the physiochemical characteristics of the ferrocene derivative (10). The quantum mechanics calculations shed the light on some of the structural and electrochemical configurations of (10) which would open the horizon for further investigation. HighlightsThe synthesis of a ferrocene derivative named 1-(5-(diphenylphosphaneyl)cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl)ethyl)imino)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)methanol (compound 10) was described.Structural characterizations of ferrocene derivative (10) and its intermediate products were also performed.DFT calculations, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and MM-GBSA calculations were carried out.Computational studies revealed the antitumor potential of ferrocene derivative (10) through targeting and inhibiting mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases interacting kinase (Mnk) 1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A novel role of Nano selenium and sildenafil on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats by modulation of inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic pathways

AIMS

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nano selenium, sildenafil, and their combination on inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. Herein, a new anti-inflammatory pathway for sildenafil as a high-mobility group box (HMGB1) inhibitor was proposed using the molecular docking technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were divided into 7 groups: normal control, control nano selenium, control sildenafil, control diabetic, diabetic+ nano selenium, diabetic+ sildenafil, diabetic+ nano selenium+ sildenafil. The effects of drugs were evaluated by measuring serum urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), HMGB1, receptor advanced glycation end product (RAGE), malondialdehyde (MDA), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) by biochemical assays, nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-κB), toll-like receptor (TLR4) by immunohistochemistry, gene expressions of caspase 3 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) besides histopathological investigations of renal cells.

KEY FINDINGS

Results showed beneficial effects of 8 weeks of treatment by nano selenium and sildenafil supported by improvement in kidney function, histopathological changes, and reduction in all of these parameters. These results supported molecular docking that indicated sildenafil had a high binding score and interactions with the HMGB1 receptor.

SIGNIFICANCE

The current study demonstrated a renoprotective effect of nano‑selenium and sildenafil by interfering at multiple pathways, especially the HMGB1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Design, synthesis, and SAR studies of novel 4-methoxyphenyl pyrazole and pyrimidine derivatives as potential dual tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting both EGFR and VEGFR-2

Guided by the pharmacophoric features of both EGFR and VEGFR-2 antagonists, two novel series of 4-methoxyphenyl pyrazole and pyrimidine derivatives [(4a-c) and (5a-c, 6, 7a-c, 8, 9, 10, 11a,c, 12, 13a-c, 14a-c, and 15a,b)], respectively, were designed and synthesized as dual EGFR/VEGFR-2 inhibitors. Interestingly, compound 12 showed very strong antiproliferative effects towards all the five studied cell lines (HepG-2, MCF-7, MDA-231, HCT-116, and Caco-2) with IC₅₀ values of 3.74, 7.81, 4.85, 2.96, and 9.27 µM, respectively. Also, it achieved the highest inhibitory activities against both EGFR and VEGFR-2 as well (IC₅₀ = 0.071 and 0.098 µM) compared to the two reference drugs, erlotinib (IC₅₀ = 0.063 µM) and sorafenib (IC₅₀ = 0.041 µM), respectively. Moreover, four compounds (4a, 7a, 7c, and 12) were selected for further evaluation through cell cycle analysis and Annexin V-based flow cytometry assay in the HepG-2 cell line. In addition, deep computational studies including molecular docking, physicochemical properties, profiling pharmacokinetics, ADMET studies, and toxicity predictions were performed for the designed compounds to evaluate the prospective drug candidates. Finally, analyzing the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the new derivatives gives us a lot of interesting promising results which could help medicinal chemists to design more potent drug candidates soon as well.

A Systematic Review of the Global Intervention for SARS-CoV-2 Combating: From Drugs Repurposing to Molnupiravir Approval

The rising outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 continues to unfold all over the world. The development of novel effective antiviral drugs to fight against SARS-CoV-2 is a time cost. As a result, some specific FDA-approved drugs have already been repurposed and authorized for COVID-19 treatment. The repurposed drugs used were either antiviral or non-antiviral drugs. Accordingly, the present review thoroughly focuses on the repurposing efficacy of these drugs including clinical trials experienced, the combination therapies used, the novel methods followed for treatment, and their future perspective. Therefore, drug repurposing was regarded as an effective avenue for COVID-19 treatment. Recently, molnupiravir is a prodrug antiviral medication that was approved in the United Kingdom in November 2021 for the treatment of COVID-19. On the other hand, PF-07321332 is an oral antiviral drug developed by Pfizer. For the treatment of COVID-19, the PF-07321332/ritonavir combination medication is used in Phase III studies and was marketed as Paxlovid. Herein, we represented the almost history of combating COVID-19 from repurposing to the recently available oral anti-SARS-CoV-2 candidates, as a new hope to end the current pandemic.

Formulation of Chitosan-Coated Brigatinib Nanospanlastics: Optimization, Characterization, Stability Assessment and In-Vitro Cytotoxicity Activity against H-1975 Cell Lines

The purpose of the current study was to develop Brigatinib (BGT)-loaded nanospanlastics (BGT-loaded NSPs) (S1-S13) containing Span 60 with different edge activators (Tween 80 and Pluronic F127) and optimized based on the vesicle size, zeta potential (ZP), and percent entrapment efficiency (%EE) using Design-Expert® software. The optimum formula was recommended with desirability of 0.819 and composed of Span-60:Tween 80 at a ratio of 4:1 and 10 min as a sonication time (S13). It showed predicted EE% (81.58%), vesicle size (386.55 nm), and ZP (−29.51 mv). The optimized nanospanlastics (S13) was further coated with chitosan and further evaluated for Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), in vitro release, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), stability and in-vitro cytotoxicity studies against H-1975 lung cancer cell lines. The DSC and XRD revealed complete encapsulation of the drug. TEM imagery revealed spherical nanovesicles with a smooth surface. Also, the coated formula showed high stability for three months in two different conditions. Moreover, it resulted in improved and sustained drug release than free BGT suspension and exhibited Higuchi kinetic release mechanism. The cytotoxic activity of BGT-loaded SPs (S13) was enhanced three times in comparison to free the BGT drug against the H-1975 cell lines. Overall, these results confirmed that BGT-loaded SPs could be a promising nanocarrier to improve the anticancer efficacy of BGT.

Potential Valorization of Edible Nuts By-Products: Exploring the Immune-Modulatory and Antioxidants Effects of Selected Nut Shells Extracts in Relation to Their Metabolic Profiles

The immune system is a potent army that defends our body against various infections and diseases through innate and adaptive immunity. Herbal medicine is one of the essential sources for enhancing immunity because of affordability, availability, minor side effects, and consumers’ preferences. Hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, and peanuts are among the most widespread edible nuts that are rich in phenolics, fats, fibers, vitamins, proteins, and minerals. The potential of nut shells in phytoremediation has attracted increasing attention as a sustainable solution for waste recycling. Here, we determined the in vitro immune-modulatory activity as well as the metabolite profile of the four nut shell extracts. The addition of the extracts to LPS-stimulated macrophages, especially peanut and walnut shells, has downregulated the gene expression of AP-1, TNF-α, IL-8, iNOS, and COX-2 expression levels. Significant antioxidant capabilities and immune-modulatory effects have been traced for peanut shells. UPLC-MS metabolic profiling of the four nut shell extracts allowed the detection of a relatively high level of phenolic compounds in peanut shells. Intriguingly, a significant correlation between the antioxidant capacity and the total phenolic content was found, indicating the contribution of the phenolic compounds to the antioxidant properties and hence the immune-modulatory activity. Furthermore, molecular docking and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies revealed kaempferol rutinoside and proanthocyanidin A5’ as potential iNOS inhibitors.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and SAR studies of novel cyclopentaquinoline derivatives as DNA intercalators, topoisomerase II inhibitors, and apoptotic inducers

Novel cyclopentaquinoline derivatives as promising DNA intercalators, topoisomerase II inhibitors, and apoptotic inducers.