A novel herbometallic nanodrug has the potential for antibacterial and anticancer activity through oxidative damage

Quercetin: a silent retarder of fatty acid oxidation in breast cancer metastasis through steering of mitochondrial CPT1

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence confirmed that the maximum energy in metastatic breast cancer progression is supplied by fatty acid oxidation (FAO) governed by a rate-limiting enzyme, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1). Therefore, the active limitation of FAO could be an emerging aspect to inhibit breast cancer progression. Herein, for the first time, we have introduced quercetin (QT) from a non-dietary source (Mikania micrantha Kunth) to limit the FAO in triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) through an active targeting of CPT1.

METHODS

Molecular quantification of QT was confirmed through high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Computational docking analyses predicted the binding affinity of QT to CPT1. Cell-based seahorse energy efflux investigated the mitochondrial respiration rate, glycolytic function and ATP production rate. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) investigated the FAO-associated gene expression. Matrigel cell invasion and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses investigated anti-metastatic and apoptotic cell death induction activities, respectively. In vivo antitumor activities were checked using the female breast cancer mice (BALB/c) model.

RESULTS

QT resulted in a significant reduction in the intracellular mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic function, limiting extensive ATP production. In turn, QT elevated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depleted antioxidant levels to induce anti-metastatic and cell apoptosis activities. qRT-PCR resulted in active healing of altered FAO-associated gene expression which was well predicted through the successful in silico molecular binding potentiality of QT to CPT1. Subsequently, QT has shown excellent in vivo antitumor activities through the altered lipid profile and oxidative stress-healing capabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

All the obtained data significantly grounded the fact that QT could be a promising metabolism-targeted breast cancer therapeutic.

Mechanistic Insights from the Review and Evaluation of Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines for the Prevention and Management of COVID-19 Patients

Introduction

The need for specific therapeutics against infectious diseases is made very important at this moment by the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-COV-2. Vaccines containing live attenuated or heat-inactivated pathogens elicit robust immune responses, but their safety is sometimes not assured. Subunit vaccines consisting of the most potent antigenic protein or carbohydrates of the pathogen are safer but often induce a weak immune response. Traditional Ayurveda medicines have a long history of safety and may act as immuno-modulators or vaccine adjuvants. They can reduce the amount of vaccine booster doses required to elicit an immune response against any pathogen. The main objective of this review is a mechanistic evaluation of the antiviral potential of Ayurveda herbal compositions for their ability to increase cytokine expression and enhance NK cell activity, activate CD4/ CD8 + T cells, and increase the formation of IL-2 and IFNγ against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

Various peer-reviewed publications, books, monographs, and reputed search engines were reviewed in depth. Information available from the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia and in recent in silico analyses were compared in order to understand the mechanism of action of herbal components against SARS-CoV-2.

Results

It was found in various molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies that many bioactive natural components of Ayurvedic medicines could prevent viral entry or multiplication within a human host.

Conclusion

Ayurvedic herbal medicines can be used either independently as therapeutics or as a complement to the modern-day recombinant vaccines with immediate effect. Ayurveda-based adjuvant therapy can also efficiently manage the secondary symptoms of COVID 19 patients.

COVID-19 rhapsody: Rage towards advanced diagnostics and therapeutic strategy

The deadly global outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has forged an unrivaled threat to human civilization. Contemplating its profuse impact, initial risk management and therapies are needed, as well as rapid detection strategies alongside treatments with existing drugs or traditional treatments to provide better clinical support for critical patients. Conventional detection techniques have been considered but do not sufficiently meet the current challenges of effective COVID-19 diagnosis. Therefore, several modern techniques including point-of-care diagnosis with a biosensor, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated proteins that function as nuclease (Cas) technology, next-generation sequencing, serological, digital, and imaging approaches have delivered improved and noteworthy success compared to that using traditional strategies. Conventional drug treatment, plasma therapy, and vaccine development are also ongoing. However, alternative medicines including Ayurveda, herbal drugs, homeopathy, and Unani have also been enlisted as prominent treatment strategies for developing herd immunity and physical defenses against COVID-19. All considered, this review can help develop rapid and simplified diagnostic strategies, as well as advanced evidence-based modern therapeutic approaches that will aid in combating the global pandemic.

Manikya Bhasma is a nanomedicine to affect cancer cell viability through induction of apoptosis

Background

Ayurveda is an ancient medicine system practiced in the Indian sub-continent. Ayurvedic Bhasma is incinerated herbo-metallic/mineral preparations that consist of the particles in the range of nano/micrometers with therapeutic effects against different diseases. Manikya Bhasma (MB) is composed of purified ruby, orpiment, and purified arsenic sulfide.

Objective

This study was conducted to identify the potential of MB as a nanomedicine that can be used for the treatment of cancer.

Materials and methods

Biophysical characterization to determine the morphology and composition of bhasma particles was done using several techniques such as DLS, FTIR, FETEM, FESEM, EDX, and XRD. Cell viability assays were conducted to identify the cytotoxic effect of MB against different cancer cell lines and also to determine the mode of death caused by MB.

Results

The biophysical characterization of MB indicates that it is crystalline with a particle size of 70 nm. MB exhibits anticancer activity against MDAMB-231, HeLa, HCT-116, DLD-1, MG-63 cancer cells with an IC₅₀ in the range of 105–155 μg/mL. MB induces oxidative stress in cancer cells, which in turn affects their cell-cycle with an accumulation of cells in the G1-phase. Also, apoptosis induced by MB involves loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of Cyt c, activation of caspases, and DNA degradation.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the dual potential of MB as a nano-carrier to deliver the drugs and exerting cytotoxic effects against cancer cells.

Herbometallic nano-drug inducing metastatic growth inhibition in breast cancer through intracellular energy depletion

Cancer cells need extensive energy supply for their uncontrolled cell division and metastasis which is exclusively dependent on neighboring cells, especially adipocytes. Herein, we have introduced a novel herbometallic nano-drug, Heerak Bhasma nanoparticle (HBNP) from natural resources showing high potential in the reduction of energy supply thereby promoting cell death in breast cancer cells. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectra (ICP-OES), atomic absorption spectra (AAS), Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the physicochemical properties of HBNP. The differential light scattering (DLS) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analyzed the cell-permeable size of HBNP, whereas, cell viability assay confirmed the non-toxic effect. Seahorse energy efflux assay, apoptotic cell quantification, ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, in vivo oxidative stress etc. were measured using standard protocol. The notable changes in cancer energy metabolism investigated by cellular Mito and Glyco-stress analyses confirmed the HBNP induced intracellular energy depletion. Also, a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequently, extensive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generations were observed in presence of HBNP followed by the induction of cell apoptosis. The cell invasion and wound healing assay followed by reduced expression both protein (MMP 2, MMP 9) and cytokine (IL6, IL10) had signified the effectiveness of HBNP against cancer metastasis. In addition, HBNP also showed an excellent antitumor activity in vivo followed by developing healing characteristics due to oxidative stress. All these findings strongly suggest that HBNP has the potential to be the new cancer therapeutic. A schematic phenomenon represents the overall HBNP mediated anticancer activity via limitation of both fatty acid uptake and energy metabolism.