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Dinu M, Tatu AL, Cocoș DI, Nwabudike LC, Chirilov AM, Stefan CS, Earar K, Dumitriu Buzia O. Natural Sources of Therapeutic Agents Used in Skin Conditions. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:492. [PMID: 38672762 PMCID: PMC11051086 DOI: 10.3390/life14040492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Skin conditions are numerous and often have a major impact on patients' quality of life, and effective and safe treatment is very important. The conventional drugs used for skin diseases are usually corticosteroids and antimicrobial products that can induce various side effects, especially with long-term use, which is why researchers are studying alternatives, especially biologically active natural products. Three products caught our attention: bee venom (BV), due to reported experimental results showing anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimycotic, and anticancer effects, Ficus carica (FC) due to its demonstrated antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory action, and finally Geranium essential oil (GEO), with proven antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Following a review of the literature, we produced this paper, which presents a review of the potential therapeutic applications of the three products in combating various skin conditions and for skin care, because BV, FC, and GEO have common pharmacological actions (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant). We also focused on studying the safety of the topical use of BV, FC, and GEO, and new approaches to this. This paper presents the use of these natural therapeutic agents to treat patients with conditions such as vitiligo, melasma, and melanoma, as well as their use in treating dermatological conditions in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Dinu
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Alin Laurențiu Tatu
- Clinical Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania;
- Dermatology Department, “Sf. Cuvioasa Parascheva” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, 800179 Galati, Romania
- Multidisciplinary Integrative Center for Dermatologic Interface Research MIC-DIR, 800010 Galati, Romania
| | - Dorin Ioan Cocoș
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | | | - Ana Maria Chirilov
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Claudia Simona Stefan
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Kamel Earar
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Olimpia Dumitriu Buzia
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
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Jeon E, Kim MK, Park Y. Efficacy of the bee-venom antimicrobial peptide Osmin against sensitive and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107054. [PMID: 38072166 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.107054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae strains causes severe problems in the treatment of bacterial infections owing to limited treatment options. Especially, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is rapidly spreading worldwide and is emerging as a new cause of drug-resistant healthcare-associated infections. CRKP also has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most pressing antibiotic resistance threats. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are drawing considerable attention as ideal antibiotic alternative candidates to combat MDR bacterial infections. In a previous study, Osmin is composed of 17 amino acids and is isolated from solitary bee (Osmia rufa) venom. Herein, we evaluated the potential of Osmin to be used against drug-resistant K. pneumoniae as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. Osmin exhibited significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity and lower toxicity than melittin, a well-known bee venom peptide. Additionally, we confirmed that it possesses a bactericidal mechanism that rapidly destroys bacterial membranes. Osmin was relatively more stable than melittin under the influence of various environmental factors and unlike conventional antibiotics, it exhibited a low bacterial resistance risk. During in vivo tests, Osmin reduced bacterial growth and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related genes in mice with CRKP-induced sepsis. Overall, our results indicate a high potential for Osmin to be used as a valuable therapeutic agent against drug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunyeong Jeon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kyung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonkyung Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Proteineous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Zhang HQ, Sun C, Xu N, Liu W. The current landscape of the antimicrobial peptide melittin and its therapeutic potential. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1326033. [PMID: 38318188 PMCID: PMC10838977 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1326033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Melittin, a main component of bee venom, is a cationic amphiphilic peptide with a linear α-helix structure. It has been reported that melittin can exert pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. In particular, melittin may be beneficial for the treatment of diseases for which no specific clinical therapeutic agents exist. Melittin can effectively enhance the therapeutic properties of some first-line drugs. Elucidating the mechanism underlying melittin-mediated biological function can provide valuable insights for the application of melittin in disease intervention. However, in melittin, the positively charged amino acids enables it to directly punching holes in cell membranes. The hemolysis in red cells and the cytotoxicity triggered by melittin limit its applications. Melittin-based nanomodification, immuno-conjugation, structural regulation and gene technology strategies have been demonstrated to enhance the specificity, reduce the cytotoxicity and limit the off-target cytolysis of melittin, which suggests the potential of melittin to be used clinically. This article summarizes research progress on antiviral, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties of melittin, and discusses the strategies of melittin-modification for its future potential clinical applications in preventing drug resistance, enhancing the selectivity to target cells and alleviating cytotoxic effects to normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Qian Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chengbiao Sun
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Na Xu
- Academic Affairs Office, Jilin Medical University, Jilin, Jilin, China
| | - Wensen Liu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Goswami S, Chowdhury JP. Antiviral attributes of bee venom as a possible therapeutic approach against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Future Virol 2023:10.2217/fvl-2023-0127. [PMID: 37970095 PMCID: PMC10630947 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2023-0127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented scale of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has driven considerable investigation into novel antiviral treatments since effective vaccination strategies cannot completely eradicate the virus. Apitherapy describes the medicinal use of bee venom, which may be an effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Bee venom contains chemicals that are antimicrobial and stimulate the immune system to counteract viral load. The present review focuses on the use of bee venom as a possible treatment for COVID-19 and reviews studies on the pharmacodynamics of bee venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumik Goswami
- Department of Zoology, Sunbeam Women's College, Varuna, Varanasi, 221002, India
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Małek A, Strzemski M, Kurzepa J, Kurzepa J. Can Bee Venom Be Used as Anticancer Agent in Modern Medicine? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3714. [PMID: 37509375 PMCID: PMC10378503 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bee venom in its composition contains many biologically active peptides and enzymes that are effective in the fight against diseases of various etiologies. The history of the use of bee venom for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years. There are many reports in the literature on the pharmacological properties of bee venom and/or its main components, e.g., anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial or neuroprotective properties. In addition, both crude venom and melittin exhibit cytotoxic activity against a wide range of tumor cells, with significant anti-metastatic activity in pre-clinical studies. Due to the constantly increasing incidence of cancer, the development of new therapeutic strategies in oncology is a particular challenge for modern medicine. A review paper discusses the various properties of bee venom with an emphasis on its anticancer properties. For this purpose, the PubMed database was searched, and publications related to "bee", "venom", "cancer" from the last 10 years were selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Małek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Maciej Strzemski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kurzepa
- 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jacek Kurzepa
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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6
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Jęczmyk A, Uglis J, Zawadka J, Pietrzak-Zawadka J, Wojcieszak-Zbierska MM, Kozera-Kowalska M. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Tourist Travel Risk Perception and Travel Behaviour: A Case Study of Poland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5545. [PMID: 37107828 PMCID: PMC10139158 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This article aims to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the perception of the risk of travel and travel behaviour by Poles. The study was conducted using the survey method and the CAWI technique and was carried out in January 2021. The final research sample consisted of 509 respondents. Tourism has always been exposed to various threats: natural disasters, terrorism, etc. In such cases, tourists choose a different, safe direction. However, in 2020, tourism found itself facing a crisis that brought it to a complete stop worldwide. The spread of the COVID-19 virus and safety concerns, as well as global travel restrictions, led to a change in travel during this time. The results show that the respondents resigned especially from going abroad for security reasons, choosing to rather stay in the country and other places that, from their point of view, were safer places to rest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jęczmyk
- Department of Law and Enterprise Management in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Jarosław Uglis
- Department of Law and Enterprise Management in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Jan Zawadka
- Department of Tourism, Social Communication and Counselling, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Pietrzak-Zawadka
- Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Kozera-Kowalska
- Department of Law and Enterprise Management in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
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Alkazmi L, Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, Alexiou A, Papadakis M, Saad HM, Batiha GES. The potential role of scavenger receptor B type I (SR-BI) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e786. [PMID: 37102664 PMCID: PMC10103078 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Scavenger receptor type B I (SR-BI), the major receptor for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) mediates the delivery of cholesterol ester and cholesterol from HDL to the cell membrane. SR-BI is implicated as a receptor for entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SR-BI is colocalized with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) increasing the binding and affinity of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 with subsequent viral internalization. SR-BI regulates lymphocyte proliferation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from activated macrophages and lymphocytes. SR-BI is reduced during COVID-19 due to consumption by SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19-associated inflammatory changes and high angiotensin II (AngII) might be possible causes of repression of SR-BI in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In conclusion, the downregulation of SR-BI in COVID-19 could be due to direct invasion by SARS-CoV-2 or through upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory signaling pathways, and high circulating AngII. Reduction of SR-BI in COVID-19 look like ACE2 may provoke COVID-19 severity through exaggeration of the immune response. Further studies are invoked to clarify the potential role of SR-BI in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 that could be protective rather than detrimental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luay Alkazmi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hayder M Al-Kuraishy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali I Al-Gareeb
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, New South Wales, Australia
- AFNP Med, Wien, Austria
| | - Marios Papadakis
- Department of Surgery II, University Hospital Witten-Herdecke, University of Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Hebatallah M Saad
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Matrouh University, Matrouh, Egypt
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
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Oliveira I, Ferreira I, Jacob B, Cardenas K, Cerni F, Baia-da-Silva D, Arantes E, Monteiro W, Pucca M. Harnessing the Power of Venomous Animal-Derived Toxins against COVID-19. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:159. [PMID: 36828473 PMCID: PMC9967918 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal-derived venoms are complex mixtures of toxins triggering important biological effects during envenomings. Although venom-derived toxins are known for their potential of causing harm to victims, toxins can also act as pharmacological agents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was observed an increase in in-depth studies on antiviral agents, and since, to date, there has been no completely effective drug against the global disease. This review explores the crosstalk of animal toxins and COVID-19, aiming to map potential therapeutic agents derived from venoms (e.g., bees, snakes, scorpions, etc.) targeting COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Oliveira
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ferreira
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Jacob
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Kiara Cardenas
- Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil
| | - Felipe Cerni
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil
| | - Djane Baia-da-Silva
- Institute of Clinical Research Carlos Borborema, Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation, Manaus 69850-000, AM, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, AM, Brazil
- Department of Collective Health, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus 69077-000, AM, Brazil
- Leônidas and Maria Deane Institute, Fiocruz Amazônia, Manaus 69057-070, AM, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Nilton Lins University, Manaus 69058-040, AM, Brazil
| | - Eliane Arantes
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Wuelton Monteiro
- Institute of Clinical Research Carlos Borborema, Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation, Manaus 69850-000, AM, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, AM, Brazil
| | - Manuela Pucca
- Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, AM, Brazil
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Therapeutic Use of Bee Venom and Potential Applications in Veterinary Medicine. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10020119. [PMID: 36851423 PMCID: PMC9965945 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Apitherapy is a branch of alternative medicine that consists of the treatment of diseases through products collected, processed, and secreted by bees, specifically pollen, propolis, honey, royal jelly, and bee venom. In traditional medicine, the virtues of honey and propolis have been well-known for centuries. The same, however, cannot be said for venom. The use of bee venom is particularly relevant for many therapeutic aspects. In recent decades, scientific studies have confirmed and enabled us to understand its properties. Bee venom has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, central nervous system inhibiting, radioprotective, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, among others. Numerous studies have often been summarised in reviews of the scientific literature that have focused on the results obtained with mouse models and their subsequent transposition to the human patient. In contrast, few reviews of scientific work on the use of bee venom in veterinary medicine exist. This review aims to take stock of the research achievements in this particular discipline, with a view to a recapitulation and stabilisation in the different research fields.
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Yesiloglu O, Sonmez A, Avci BS, Sumbul HE, Avci A. Transient ischemic liver injury and respiratory failure in a COVID-19-positive patient after multiple bee stings. Turk J Emerg Med 2023; 23:57-60. [PMID: 36818943 PMCID: PMC9930383 DOI: 10.4103/2452-2473.366488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a patient with multiple bee stings who developed lung and liver injuries and subsequently tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A 65-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department after being stung by more than 100 honeybees. His physical examination revealed pustular lesions distributed across his chest, arms, back, legs, and head, marking the sting zones. While the patient had no history of liver disease, initial laboratory test results showed elevated liver enzyme levels. A chest computer tomography scan was ordered, revealing bilateral ground-glass opacities suggesting COVID-19. His condition worsened over the course of the following day, and when he was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), his SpO2 decreased to 83% despite oxygen support with a mask. The second polymerase chain reaction test taken in the ICU was positive for COVID-19 infection. After stung with multiple bees, the patient developed acute liver injury and suffered from concomitant COVID-19-related respiratory insufficency, and he was treated accordingly. Starting on the 5th day, the patient's liver markers began to improve, and on the 13th day, he was discharged with normal vital signs and liver enzyme values. There seem to be varying outcomes across different studies with regard to the relationship between bee stings and COVID-19. Further research is needed to explore the possibility of this complementary treatment with bee venom in the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onder Yesiloglu
- Emergency Medicine Clinic, Gaziantep 25 Aralik State Hospital, Adana, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Sonmez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Science University, Adana City Research and Training Hospital, Adana, Turkey
| | - Begum Seyda Avci
- Department of Internal Medicine, Health Science University, Adana City Research and Training Hospital, Adana, Turkey
| | - Hilmi Erdem Sumbul
- Department of Internal Medicine, Health Science University, Adana City Research and Training Hospital, Adana, Turkey
| | - Akkan Avci
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Science University, Adana City Research and Training Hospital, Adana, Turkey,Address for correspondence: Dr. Akkan Avci, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana City Research and Training Hospital, Health Science University, Adana, Turkey. E-mail:
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Ullah A, Aldakheel FM, Anjum SI, Raza G, Khan SA, Tlak Gajger I. Pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of honey bee venom. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:96-109. [PMID: 36685303 PMCID: PMC9845117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee venom (BV) is a valuable product, and has a wide range of biological effects, and its use is rapidly increasing in apitherapy. Therefore, the current study, we reviewed the existing knowledge about BV composition and its numerous pharmacological properties for future research and use. Honey bee venom or apitoxin is produced in the venom gland in the honey bee abdomen. Adult bees use it as a primary colony defense mechanism. It is composed of many biologically active substances including peptides, enzymes, amines, amino acids, phospholipids, minerals, carbohydrates as well as some volatile components. Melittin and phospholipase A2 are the most important components of BV, having anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis, anti-nociceptive and other curative potentials. Therefore, in medicine, BV has been used for centuries against different diseases like arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, and various inflammatory infections. Nowadays, BV or its components separately, are used for the treatment of various diseases in different countries as a natural medicine with limited side effects. Consequently, scientists as well as several pharmaceutical companies are trying to get a new understanding about BV, its substances and its activity for more effective use of this natural remedy in modern medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Mohammed Aldakheel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia,Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Ishtiaq Anjum
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan,Corresponding author.
| | - Ghulam Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Baltistan, Skardu, Pakistan
| | - Saeed Ahmad Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ivana Tlak Gajger
- Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Shi P, Xie S, Yang J, Zhang Y, Han S, Su S, Yao H. Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of bee venom and its main components: Recent progress and perspective. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1001553. [PMID: 36238572 PMCID: PMC9553197 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1001553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee venom (BV), a type of defensive venom, has been confirmed to have favorable activities, such as anti-tumor, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-infectivity effects, etc. This study reviewed the recent progress on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of BV and its main components against cancer, neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, pain, microbial diseases, liver, kidney, lung and muscle injury, and other diseases in literature during the years 2018-2021. The related target proteins of BV and its main components against the diseases include Akt, mTOR, JNK, Wnt-5α, HIF-1α, NF-κB, JAK2, Nrf2, BDNF, Smad2/3, AMPK, and so on, which are referring to PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1α, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, Nrf2/HO-1, TrkB/CREB/BDNF, TGF-β/Smad2/3, and AMPK signaling pathways, etc. Further, with the reported targets, the potential effects and mechanisms on diseases were bioinformatically predicted via Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, disease ontology semantic and enrichment (DOSE) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses. This review provides new insights into the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of BV and its main components on diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiying Shi
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Bee Products, College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Natural Biotoxins, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shihui Xie
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Bee Products, College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiali Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Bee Products, College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Bee Products, College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuo Han
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Bee Products, College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Songkun Su
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Bee Products, College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hong Yao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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13
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Akbarzadeh-Khiavi M, Torabi M, Olfati AH, Rahbarnia L, Safary A. Bio-nano scale modifications of melittin for improving therapeutic efficacy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:895-909. [PMID: 35687355 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2088277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Melittin (MLT), a natural membrane-active component, is the most prominent cytolytic peptide from bee venom. Remarkable biological properties of MLT, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-protozoan, and antiarthritic activities, make it an up-and-coming therapeutic candidate for a wide variety of human diseases. Therapeutic applications of MLT may be hindered due to low stability, high toxicity, and weak tissue penetration. Different bio-nano scale modifications hold promise for improving its functionality and therapeutic efficacy. AREAS COVERED In the current review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive insight into strategies used for MLT conjugations and modifications, cellular delivery of modified forms, and their clinical perspectives by reviewing the published literature on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. We also emphasized the MLT structure modifications, mechanism of action, and cellular toxicity. EXPERT OPINION Developing new analogs and conjugates of MLT as a natural drug with improved functions and fewer side effects is crucial for the clinical translation of this approach worldwide, especially where the chemicals and synthetic drugs are more expensive or unavailable in the healthcare system. MLT-nanoconjugation may be one of the best-optimized strategies for improving peptide delivery, increasing its therapeutic efficacy, and providing minimal nonspecific cellular lytic activity. [Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Akbarzadeh-Khiavi
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mitra Torabi
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir-Hossein Olfati
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Leila Rahbarnia
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Azam Safary
- Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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14
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Schistosomicidal efficacy of bee venom-loaded pluronic F127 nanomicelles in S. mansoni infected CD1 mice. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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15
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Bahrami A, Taheri M, Arabestani MR, Soleimani M, Mohammadi M, Golabchi F, Banitorfi M, Hosseini SM, Khodabandehlou S, Nouri F. Harnessing the Natural Toxic Metabolites in COVID-19. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2022; 2022:3954944. [PMID: 35273645 PMCID: PMC8902635 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3954944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus and the cause of the recent pandemic; it is an enveloped β-coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2 appear in the Wuhan City of China for the first time and outspread worldwide quickly. Due to its person-to-person fast transmission, COVID-19 is becoming a global problem. SARS-CoV-2 enter into cells by using ACE2 receptors that are numerous in the lungs and finally can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Dry cough, sore throat, fever, body pain, headache, GIT discomfort, diarrhoea, and fatigue are some of the COVID-19 symptoms. There is no definite and certain treatment for disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 till now. Some pharmacological effects of toxins, toxoids, and venoms have been proven, and their effects on some diseases have been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the role of toxins, toxoids, and venom in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Bahrami
- Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Scienceaffs, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Arabestani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Meysam Soleimani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Scienceaffs, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mojdeh Mohammadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Golabchi
- Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Scienceaffs, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Maryam Banitorfi
- Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Scienceaffs, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyed Mostafa Hosseini
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Sodabe Khodabandehlou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Nouri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Scienceaffs, Hamadan, Iran
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16
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Enayathullah MG, Parekh Y, Banu S, Ram S, Nagaraj R, Kumar BK, Idris MM. Gramicidin S and melittin: potential anti-viral therapeutic peptides to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3446. [PMID: 35236909 PMCID: PMC8891299 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07341-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID19 pandemic has led to multipronged approaches for treatment of the disease. Since de novo discovery of drugs is time consuming, repurposing of molecules is now considered as one of the alternative strategies to treat COVID19. Antibacterial peptides are being recognized as attractive candidates for repurposing to treat viral infections. In this study, we describe the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of the well-studied antibacterial peptides gramicidin S and melittin obtained from Bacillus brevis and bee venom respectively. The EC50 values for gramicidin S and melittin were 1.571 µg and 0.656 µg respectively based on in vitro antiviral assay. Significant decrease in the viral load as compared to the untreated group with no/very less cytotoxicity was observed. Both the peptides treated to the SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells showed viral clearance from 12 h onwards with a maximal viral clearance after 24 h post infection. Proteomics analysis indicated that more than 250 proteins were differentially regulated in the gramicidin S and melittin treated SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells against control SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells after 24 and 48 h post infection. The identified proteins were found to be associated in the metabolic and mRNA processing of the Vero cells post-treatment and infection. Both these peptides could be attractive candidates for repurposing to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yash Parekh
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India
| | - Sarena Banu
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India
| | - Sushma Ram
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India
| | - Ramakrishnan Nagaraj
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India
| | - Bokara Kiran Kumar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India.
| | - Mohammed M Idris
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India.
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Bakour M, Laaroussi H, Ousaaid D, El Ghouizi A, Es-safi I, Mechchate H, Lyoussi B. New Insights into Potential Beneficial Effects of Bioactive Compounds of Bee Products in Boosting Immunity to Fight COVID-19 Pandemic: Focus on Zinc and Polyphenols. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14050942. [PMID: 35267917 PMCID: PMC8912813 DOI: 10.3390/nu14050942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Populations at risk as well as those who can develop serious complications are people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and the elderly. Severe symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with immune failure and dysfunction. The approach of strengthening immunity may be the right choice in order to save lives. This review aimed to provide an overview of current information revealing the importance of bee products in strengthening the immune system against COVID-19. We highlighted the immunomodulatory and the antiviral effects of zinc and polyphenols, which may actively contribute to improving symptoms and preventing complications caused by COVID-19 and can counteract viral infections. Thus, this review will pave the way for conducting advanced experimental research to evaluate zinc and polyphenols-rich bee products to prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryem Bakour
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez 30000, Morocco; (M.B.); (H.L.); (D.O.); (A.E.G.); (B.L.)
| | - Hassan Laaroussi
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez 30000, Morocco; (M.B.); (H.L.); (D.O.); (A.E.G.); (B.L.)
| | - Driss Ousaaid
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez 30000, Morocco; (M.B.); (H.L.); (D.O.); (A.E.G.); (B.L.)
| | - Asmae El Ghouizi
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez 30000, Morocco; (M.B.); (H.L.); (D.O.); (A.E.G.); (B.L.)
| | - Imane Es-safi
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 55, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Hamza Mechchate
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 55, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Badiaa Lyoussi
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez 30000, Morocco; (M.B.); (H.L.); (D.O.); (A.E.G.); (B.L.)
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18
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El Adham EK, Hassan AI, A Dawoud MM. Evaluating the role of propolis and bee venom on the oxidative stress induced by gamma rays in rats. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2656. [PMID: 35173181 PMCID: PMC8850618 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05979-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee products consist of many substances, which have long been known for their medicinal and health-promoting properties. This study set out to appraise the protective potential of Egyptian propolis (EP) and bee venom (BV) separately or combined against total body irradiation (TBI) induced oxidative injury in rats. Besides, we assessed the bioactive components in EP and BV using HPLC and UPLC/ ESI-MS analysis in the positive ion mode. The animals were subjected to a source of gamma ionizing radiation at a dose of 6 Gy. Propolis and BV were administered independently and in combination before 14 days of γ-irradiation. Liver and kidney functions were estimated besides, DNA damage index (8- OHdG) by ELISA. Antioxidants, including glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were detected. Gene expression technique investigated for BAX, BCL2, and in plasma also miR125b expression in serum of rats. Besides, the histopathological for the brain, liver, kidney, and heart were investigated. In addition, lipid peroxidation was investigated in plasma and in the previous organs. The present results provide opportunities to advance the use of bee products as promising medicinal sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eithar K El Adham
- Radioisotopes Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt
| | - Amal I Hassan
- Radioisotopes Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt.
| | - M M A Dawoud
- Radioisotopes Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt
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19
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Fouad S, El Gendy A, Monir R, Abdel-Wahhab KG, Shafei HF, Hegazi AG. Bee Products for Relieving Menopausal Symptoms. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.8191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An overview of honey and other bee products and their health and biological health potentials was highlighted.
AIM: The aim of the study was to help females alleviate their menopausal symptoms, when estrogen hormone levels decrease at the end of their fertility phase of life using natural bee products.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two groups of Egyptian women in the menopausal stage, suffering from different symptoms of menopause, participated as volunteers. Full clinical examination, Menopause Rating Scale, Beck anxiety score, and Beck depression score evaluations were recorded. Blood sampling and biochemical analysis were done including female sex hormones, and anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant markers. Participants consumed two tablespoon of the honey (32 ml) diluted in 250 ml of water once daily in the morning for 2 months. Control group received conventional clover honey while the other group consumed a calculated ratio of clover honey enriched with bee pollen, royal jelly, and bee gum.
RESULTS: Subjects with a mean age of 49.51 ± 0.82 years who consumed enriched clover honey had significant improvement in somatic, psychological, urogenital, and anxiety score assessment and depression score evaluation. Data from this study group showed that the women experienced the disappearance of hot flushes, night sweats, generalized body pain, and psychological symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, depression, and disturbed sleeping. As for biochemical parameters, estradiol, free testosterone, the antioxidant marker malondialdehyde (MDA), and the anti-inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) significantly improved at the end of the study. While the control group had mean age of 48.24 ± 0.74 years, they experienced significant improvement of the somatic subscale, depression score, and MDA, and there was no significant effect on urogenital symptoms, anxiety score, IL-6, or any of the female sex hormones.
CONCLUSION: Adding Bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly to the clover honey are more effective in slowing down menopausal symptoms.
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20
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Małek A, Kocot J, Mitrowska K, Posyniak A, Kurzepa J. Bee Venom Effect on Glioblastoma Cells Viability and Gelatinase Secretion. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:792970. [PMID: 35221898 PMCID: PMC8873382 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.792970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe involvement of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the pathogenesis of various kinds of cancers including glioblastoma is well documented. The evaluation of the anticancer potential of honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom (BV) consisting of the inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in a glioblastoma cell culture model was the aim of the study.Methods8-MG-BA and GAMG human primary glioblastoma cell lines vs. HT-22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells were applied for the study. The BV dose (0.5, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.5, and 5.0 μg/ml) and time-dependent (24, 48, 72 h) cytotoxicity was evaluated with the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT test). MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in the cell culture medium under different BV concentrations were determined by gelatin zymography.ResultsA dose and time-dependent BV effect on cytotoxicity of both glioblastoma cell lines and hippocampus line was observed. The weakest, but statistically important effect was exerted by BV on HT-22 cells. The greatest cytotoxic effect of BV was observed on the 8-MG-BA line, where a statistically significant reduction in viability was observed at the lowest BV dose and the shortest incubation time. The reduction of both gelatinases secretion was observed at 8-MG-BA and GAMG lines without significant effect of HT-22 cell line.ConclusionIn vitro studies indicate that BV has both cytotoxic and inhibitory effects on the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in selected lines of glioma, suggesting anticancer properties of BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Małek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
- *Correspondence: Agata Małek,
| | - Joanna Kocot
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Kamila Mitrowska
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Andrzej Posyniak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Jacek Kurzepa
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
- Jacek Kurzepa,
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21
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Ryu JM, Na HH, Park YJ, Park JS, Ahn BS, Kim KC. Sweet Bee Venom Triggers Multiple Cell Death Pathways or Spurs Acute Cell Rupture According to Its Concentration in THP-1 Monocytic Leukemia Cells. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:223. [PMID: 35205267 PMCID: PMC8872029 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sweet bee venom (sBV) contains various pharmacologically active components of bee venom (BV), but it is modified via the removal of the harmful substances found in BV. Thus, sBV has been used for pain relief in Oriental medicine but has only recently been applied for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we examined the pharmacological effects and immunomodulatory functions of sBV in THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells. Growth inhibition and cell death were observed according to the concentration of sBV. However, the rapid collapse of cell cycle distribution was shown at 20 μg/mL sBV treatment, indicating that sBV led to cell death or acute cell rupture according to concentration. sBV administration activated Caspase-9, PARP1, RIPK1, and RIPK3, suggesting that the pharmacological actions of sBV were associated with induction of apoptosis and necroptosis. On the other hand, sBV or LPS administration increased cytokine expression, including IL-1β, and showed synergistic cell death in combinatory treatment conditions. Moreover, combinatory administration of sBV and LPS induced severe damage or death during egg development. This result implies that sBV exhibits both pharmacological and toxic effects depending on its concentration. Therefore, sBV might be a promising therapeutic approach, but optimal concentration should be considered before treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Min Ryu
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (J.-M.R.); (H.-H.N.); (Y.-J.P.)
| | - Han-Heom Na
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (J.-M.R.); (H.-H.N.); (Y.-J.P.)
- Kangwon Center for System Imaging, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Yoon-Jong Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (J.-M.R.); (H.-H.N.); (Y.-J.P.)
| | - Jin-Sung Park
- AJ Research Institute for Integrative Medicine, Seoul 07525, Korea; (J.-S.P.); (B.-S.A.)
| | - Byung-Soo Ahn
- AJ Research Institute for Integrative Medicine, Seoul 07525, Korea; (J.-S.P.); (B.-S.A.)
| | - Keun-Cheol Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (J.-M.R.); (H.-H.N.); (Y.-J.P.)
- Kangwon Center for System Imaging, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
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22
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Wang A, Zheng Y, Zhu W, Yang L, Yang Y, Peng J. Melittin-Based Nano-Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010118. [PMID: 35053266 PMCID: PMC8773652 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melittin (MEL) is a 26-amino acid polypeptide with a variety of pharmacological and toxicological effects, which include strong surface activity on cell lipid membranes, hemolytic activity, and potential anti-tumor properties. However, the clinical application of melittin is restricted due to its severe hemolytic activity. Different nanocarrier systems have been developed to achieve stable loading, side effects shielding, and tumor-targeted delivery, such as liposomes, cationic polymers, lipodisks, etc. In addition, MEL can be modified on nano drugs as a non-selective cytolytic peptide to enhance cellular uptake and endosomal/lysosomal escape. In this review, we discuss recent advances in MEL’s nano-delivery systems and MEL-modified nano drug carriers for cancer therapy.
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El Mehdi I, Falcão SI, Boujraf S, Mustapha H, Campos MG, Vilas-Boas M. Analytical methods for honeybee venom characterization. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2022; 13:154-160. [PMID: 35935688 PMCID: PMC9355049 DOI: 10.4103/japtr.japtr_166_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of new drugs has benefited significantly from the development of research in venomics, increasing our understanding of the envenomation processes. It has been previously reported that honeybee venom (HBV) exhibits several pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimutagenic, radioprotective, and anticancer activity and may inclusively act as a complementary treatment for SARS-CoV-2. It composition consists mainly on melittin, phospholipase A2, and apamin but other constituents such as hyaluronidase, mast cell degranulating peptide and secapin are also relevant for its bioactivity. However, and because HBV is not officially recognized as a drug, until now, the international community did not establish quality standards for it. To uncover its exact composition, and boost the discovery of HBV-derived drugs, a significant number of techniques were developed. In this review, a relevant overview of the so far published analytical methods for HBV characterization is organized with the aim to accelerate its future standardization. The literature search was performed within PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct by selecting specific documents and exploring HBV evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iouraouine El Mehdi
- Prof. Said, Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy; Department of Biophysics and Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco,Department of Biophysics and Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco,Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Soraia I. Falcão
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Saïd Boujraf
- Prof. Said, Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy; Department of Biophysics and Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco,Department of Biophysics and Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco,Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Saïd Boujraf, Department of Biophysics and Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, BP. 1893; Km 2.200, Sidi Hrazem Road, Fez 30000, Morocco. E-mail:
| | - Harandou Mustapha
- Prof. Said, Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy; Department of Biophysics and Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
| | - Maria G. Campos
- Observatory of Drug-Herb Interactions, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Health Sciences Campus, Azinhaga de Santa Comba,Coimbra Chemistry Centre (CQC, FCT Unit 313) (FCTUC), Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Vilas-Boas
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
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24
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Richardson-Boedler C. Dengue Shock Syndrome: Its Similarity with Anaphylaxis and with the Homeopathic Medicine Apis mellifica (European Honeybee). HOMEOPATHY 2021; 111:226-231. [PMID: 34749419 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1734027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Dengue, with four viral serotypes, causes epidemics in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Allopathic antiviral therapies and a vaccine of general use are lacking. The homeopathic medicine Apis mellifica, advised in anaphylaxis from honeybee sting, is proposed to address the life-threatening dengue shock syndrome, which develops from dengue hemorrhagic fever and has features of anaphylaxis. In both dengue and anaphylaxis, immunoglobulin E activates, and released vasoactive mediators (importantly histamine, tryptase and platelet-activating factor) cause, a vascular permeability enabling shock. In dengue, another mechanism, namely antibody-dependent enhancement, due to secondary infection with a heterologous dengue serotype, is associated with release of vasoactive mediators. The homeopathic medicine Apis mellifica indicates plasma leak, shock, and the serous effusion that is noted in dengue patients, and is a suggested prophylactic and therapeutic medicine for dengue shock syndrome.
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Saied EM, El-Maradny YA, Osman AA, Darwish AMG, Abo Nahas HH, Niedbała G, Piekutowska M, Abdel-Rahman MA, Balbool BA, Abdel-Azeem AM. A Comprehensive Review about the Molecular Structure of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Insights into Natural Products against COVID-19. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1759. [PMID: 34834174 PMCID: PMC8624722 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, the world suffered from the emergence of COVID-19 infection, one of the most difficult pandemics in recent history. Millions of confirmed deaths from this pandemic have been reported worldwide. This disaster was caused by SARS-CoV-2, which is the last discovered member of the family of Coronaviridae. Various studies have shown that natural compounds have effective antiviral properties against coronaviruses by inhibiting multiple viral targets, including spike proteins and viral enzymes. This review presents the classification and a detailed explanation of the SARS-CoV-2 molecular characteristics and structure-function relationships. We present all currently available crystal structures of different SARS-CoV-2 proteins and emphasized on the crystal structure of different virus proteins and the binding modes of their ligands. This review also discusses the various therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 treatment and available vaccinations. In addition, we highlight and compare the existing data about natural compounds extracted from algae, fungi, plants, and scorpion venom that were used as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, we discuss the repurposing of select approved therapeutic agents that have been used in the treatment of other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essa M. Saied
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
- Institute for Chemistry, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yousra A. El-Maradny
- Microbiology Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt;
| | - Alaa A. Osman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, New Giza University, Newgiza, km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo 12256, Egypt;
| | - Amira M. G. Darwish
- Food Technology Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute (ALCRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA City), Alexandria 21934, Egypt;
| | - Hebatallah H. Abo Nahas
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (H.H.A.N.); (M.A.A.-R.)
| | - Gniewko Niedbała
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Piekutowska
- Department of Geoecology and Geoinformation, Institute of Biology and Earth Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Partyzantów 27, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
| | - Mohamed A. Abdel-Rahman
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (H.H.A.N.); (M.A.A.-R.)
| | - Bassem A. Balbool
- Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, Giza 12585, Egypt;
| | - Ahmed M. Abdel-Azeem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
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26
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Zhu Z, Wang M, Lin W, Cai Q, Zhang L, Chen D, Liu F, Xiong X, Chu J, Peng J, Chen K. Cardiac biomarkers, cardiac injury, and comorbidities associated with severe illness and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A systematic review and meta-analysis. IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE 2021; 9:1071-1100. [PMID: 34405950 PMCID: PMC8427124 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Aims To explore the correlation between cardiac‐related comorbidities, cardiac biomarkers, acute myocardial injury, and severity level, outcomes in COVID‐19 patients. Method Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, Cochrane Library databases, medRxiv, and Sinomed were reviewed systemically. Various types of clinical research reporting cardiac‐related comorbidities, cardiac biomarkers including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin I (TnI), high sensitivity troponin I (hs‐TnI), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase–MB (CK‐MB), myoglobin (Myo), N‐terminal pro‐b‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and acute cardiac injury grouped by severity of COVID‐19 were included. Outcome measures were events and total sample size for comorbidities, acute cardiac injury, and laboratory parameters of these biomarkers. The study was performed with Stata version 15.1. Results Seventy studies, with a total of 15,354 cases were identified. The results showed that COVID‐19's severity was related to cardiovascular disease. Similar odds ratios (ORs) were achieved in hypertension except for severe versus critical group (OR = 1.406; 95% CI, 0.942–2.097; p = .095). The relative risk (RR) of acute cardiac injury is 7.01 (95% CI, 5.64–8.71) in non‐survivor cases. When compared with the different severity of cardiac biomarkers, the pool OR of CK, CK‐MB, TnI, Myo and LDH were 2.683 (95% CI, 0.83–8.671; p = .106; I2 = 0%), 2.263 (95% CI, 0.939–5.457; p = .069), 1.242 (95% CI, 0.628–2.457; p = .534), 1.756 (95% CI, 0.608–5.071; p = .298; I2 = 42.3%), 1.387 (95% CI, 0.707–2.721; p = .341; I2 = 0%) in the critical versus severe group, whose trends were not similar to other groups. The standard mean differences (SMD) of CK and TnI in the critical versus severe group were 0.09 (95% CI, −0.33 to 0.50; p = .685; I2 = 65.2%), 0.478 (95% CI, −0.183 to 1.138; p = .156; I2 = 76.7%), which means no difference was observed in the serum level of these indicators. Conclusion Most of the findings clearly indicate that hypertension, cardiovascular disease, acute cardiac injury, and related laboratory indicators are associated with the severity of COVID‐19. What is now needed are cross‐national prospectively designed observational or clinical trials that will help improve the certainty of the available evidence and treatment decisions for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengchuan Zhu
- Peking University Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Medical School (Xiyuan), Beijing, China
| | - Miaoran Wang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Qiaoyan Cai
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Chen Keji Academic Thought Heritage Studio, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Chen Keji Academic Thought Heritage Studio, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Daxin Chen
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Chen Keji Academic Thought Heritage Studio, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoman Xiong
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jianfeng Chu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Chen Keji Academic Thought Heritage Studio, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Peng
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Chen Keji Academic Thought Heritage Studio, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Keji Chen
- Peking University Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Medical School (Xiyuan), Beijing, China.,Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, China
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27
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Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic, which caused by the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2), puts the entire world in an unprecedented crisis, leaving behind huge human losses and serious socio-economical damages. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 varies from asymptomatic to multi-organ manifestations. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic inflammatory condition, which associated with metabolic and vascular abnormalities, increases the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, severity and mortality. Due to global prevalence, DM effect on COVID-19 outcomes as well as the potential mechanisms by which DM modulates the host-viral interactions and host-immune responses are discussed in this review. This review also highlights the effects of anti-diabetic drugs on treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vice versa.
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28
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Koneru G, Batiha GES, Algammal AM, Mabrok M, Magdy S, Sayed S, AbuElmagd ME, Elnemr R, Saad MM, Abd Ellah NH, Hosni A, Muhammad K, Hetta HF. BCG Vaccine-Induced Trained Immunity and COVID-19: Protective or Bystander? Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:1169-1184. [PMID: 33790587 PMCID: PMC8001200 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s300162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In late 2019, a new virulent coronavirus (CoV) emerged in Wuhan, China and was named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus spread rapidly, causing the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, associated with induction of non-specific cross-protection against unrelated infections. This protection is a memory-like response in innate immune cells (trained immunity), which is caused by epigenetic reprogramming via histone modification in the regulatory elements of specific genes in monocytes. COVID-19 related epidemiological studies showed an inverse relationship between national BCG vaccination policies and COVID-19 incidence and death, suggesting that BCG may induce trained immunity that could confer some protection against SARS-CoV-2. As this pandemic has put most of Earth's population under quarantine, repurposing of the old, well-characterized BCG may ensure some protection against COVID-19. This review focuses on BCG-related cross-protection and acquisition of trained immunity, as well as the correlation between BCG vaccination and COVID-19 incidence and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopala Koneru
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutger New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicines, Damanhour University, Damanhur, 22511, Egypt
| | - Abdelazeem M Algammal
- Department of Bacteriology, Immunology, and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Mabrok
- Department of Fish Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
- Fish Infectious Diseases Research Unit (FID RU), Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Sara Magdy
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Shrouk Sayed
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Mai E AbuElmagd
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Reham Elnemr
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Saad
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Noura H Abd Ellah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
| | - Amal Hosni
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Khalid Muhammad
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Helal F Hetta
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
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29
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Al-Rabia MW, Alhakamy NA, Ahmed OAA, Eljaaly K, Alaofi AL, Mostafa A, Asfour HZ, Aldarmahi AA, Darwish KM, Ibrahim TS, Fahmy UA. Repurposing of Sitagliptin- Melittin Optimized Nanoformula against SARS-CoV-2: Antiviral Screening and Molecular Docking Studies. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:307. [PMID: 33652894 PMCID: PMC8025909 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13030307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in China has become an urgent health and economic challenge. The objective of the current work was to evaluate the efficacy of the combined complex of Sitagliptin (SIT) with melittin (MEL) against SARS-CoV-2 virus. SIT-MEL nano-conjugates were optimized by a full three-factor bi-level (23) factorial design. In addition, SIT concentration (mM, X1), MEL concentration (mM, X2), and pH (X3) were selected as the critical factors. Particle size (nm, Y1) and zeta potential (mV, Y2) were assessed as responses. Characterization of the optimized formula for Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) was carried out. The optimized formula showed particle size and zeta potential values of 77.42 nm and 27.67 mV, respectively. When compared with SIT and MEL, the combination of SIT-MEL complex has shown anti-viral potential against isolate of SARS-CoV-2 with IC50 values of 8.439 μM with significant improvement (p < 0.001). In addition, the complex showed IC50 in vitro 3CL-protease inhibition with IC50 7.216 µM. Molecular docking has revealed that formula components have good predicted pocket accommodation of the SARS-CoV-2 3-CL protease. An optimized formulation of SIT-MEL could guarantee both enhanced delivery to the target cells and the enhanced cellular uptake with promising activities against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed W. Al-Rabia
- Department of Medical microbiology and parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.W.A.-R.); (H.Z.A.)
| | - Nabil A. Alhakamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (O.A.A.A.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Mohamed Saeed Tamer Chair for Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama A. A. Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (O.A.A.A.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Mohamed Saeed Tamer Chair for Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Eljaaly
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
- Pharmacy Practice and Science Department, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Ahmed L. Alaofi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmed Mostafa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt;
| | - Hani Z. Asfour
- Department of Medical microbiology and parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.W.A.-R.); (H.Z.A.)
| | - Ahmed A. Aldarmahi
- College of Sciences and Health Professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah 21582, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Khaled M. Darwish
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
| | - Tarek S. Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmaceutical chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Usama A. Fahmy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (O.A.A.A.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Mohamed Saeed Tamer Chair for Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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