In silico docking based screening of constituents from Persian shallot as modulators of human glucokinase

Purpose

Small molecule glucokinase (GK) modulators not only decrease fasting and basal plasma sugar contents but also progress glucose tolerance. The hydro-ethanolic extract of the Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium Boiss.) decreased blood glucose, improved plasma insulin and amplified GK action. The present study was proposed to screen phytoconstituents from Persian shallot as human GK activators using in silico docking studies.

Methods

A total of 91 phytoconstituents reported in Persian shallot (A. hirtifolium Boiss.) were assessed in silico for the prediction of drug-like properties and molecular docking investigations were carried out with human GK using AutoDock vina with the aim of exploring the binding interactions between the phytoconstituents and GK enzyme followed by in silico prediction of toxicity.

Results

Almost all the phytoconstituents tested showed good pharmacokinetic parameters for oral bioavailability and drug-likeness. In the docking analysis, cinnamic acid, methyl 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoate, quercetin, kaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 4)-glucopyranoside, 5-hydroxy-methyl furfural, ethyl N-(O-anisyl) formimidate, 2-pyridinethione and ascorbic acid showed appreciable hydrogen bond and hydrophobic type interactions with the allosteric site residues of the GK enzyme.

Conclusion

These screened phytoconstituents may serve as promising hit molecules for further development of clinically beneficial and safe allosteric activators of the human GK enzyme.

Therapeutic and Health Promoting Potential of Bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia: A Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND

Bakuchiol, is a principal bioactive component present in seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. It is one of the important monoterpene phenols and has been reported to possess extensive pharmacological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and hepatoprotective. Bakuchiol also plays a significant role in mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE

With an aim to explore the pharmacological potential of plant Psoralea corylifolia and its bioactive constituent, Bakuchiol; which may act as a lead to develop new molecular entities as drugs.

METHODS

A substantial literature survey was performed by scientific search engines like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, etc., and were reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty.

RESULTS

The study concludes that both Psoralea and bakuchiol possess innumerable pharmacological potentials to treat multiple disorders.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, the promising pharmacological activities of bakuchiol may open new probes for therapeutic invention in the management of numerous ailments. Thus, the present review gives the erudition of bakuchiol as a potential bioactive molecule which paves the way for further work in exploring its potential.

Bakuchiol: A Potential Anticancer Compound from Psoralea corylifolia Linn

BACKGROUND

Bakuchiol is a monoterpene phenol isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifoliaLinn. It is used traditionally in Indian and Chinese medicine and has been reported to possess extensive pharmacological potential against a variety of ailments. A recent study enumerates the anticancer potential of bakuchiol.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present review study is to explore the anticancer potential of bakuchiol which provides insight into the design and develop novel molecular entities against various disorders.

METHODS

Current prose and patents emphasizing the anticancer potential of bakuchiol have been identified and reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty. An extensive literature survey was performed and compiled via the search engine, PubMed, Science Direct, and from many reputed foundations..

RESULTS

The study's findings suggested and verified the anticancer potential that Psoralea and bakuchiol against a variety of cancer. Both Psoralea and bakuchiol also portrayed synergistic or potentiating effects when given in combination with other anticancer drugs or natural compounds.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, the promising anticancer potential of bakuchiol may open new probes for therapeutic invention in various types of tumors. Thus, the present review gives the erudition of bakuchiol and Psoralea as anticancer which paves the way for further work in exploring their potential.

Natural products: A lead for drug discovery and development

Natural products are used since ancient times in folklore for the treatment of various ailments. Plant-derived products have been recognized for many years as a source of therapeutic agents and structural diversity. A literature survey has been carried out to determine the utility of natural molecules and their modified analogs or derivatives as pharmacological active entities. This review presents a study on the importance of natural products in terms of drug discovery and development. It describes how the natural components can be utilized after small modifications in new perspectives. Various new modifications in structure offer a unique opportunity to establish a new molecular entity with better pharmacological potential. It was concluded that in this current era, new attempts are taken to utilize the compounds derived from natural sources as novel drug candidates, with a focus to find and discover new effective molecules that were referred to as "new entities of natural product drug discovery."

Emerging role of terpenoids for the treatment of cancer: A review

AIM

Terpenes are natural compounds found in several organisms belonging to the animal and plant kingdom, therefore, constitute the largest class of natural products and were a rich reservoir of candidate compounds for drug discovery. The review aims to focus on that the extensive is still needed to explore the anti-cancer components from natural products may led to the development of variety of derived terpenoidal moieties.

METHOD

Literature survey has been carried out to determine the overwelhming potential of terpenoids.

RESULT

The present article provides an overview of development of isoprene unit and the generation of the various types of terpenes which exhibits pharmacological potential. The anti-cancer activity of terpenoids appears promising and will potentially open more opportunities for cancer therapy. However, current studies are restricted to descriptive findings and some of them lack mechanistic insights and systematic structure--activity relationship studies. Future efforts into the systematic identification of the targets of terpenoids are believed to increase chances of gaining breakthrough insights in the field.

CONCLUSION

There is still hope that new therapeutic options for the control of cancer and any other painful syndromes will be developed from terpenes, which were proved to be great candidates for cancer therapeutics.

Effect of mass on convective heat transfer coefficient during open sun drying of groundnut

In this work, an attempt is made to study the effect of mass on convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) for open sun drying (OSD) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Experiments were conducted during the month of May, 2016 in the climatic condition of Rohtak, India (28°54'0″N 76°34'0″E). Groundnut samples of 130 and 198 g were dried under OSD condition till almost no variation in its mass was recorded. Hourly data of the mass evaporated, groundnut temperature, relative humidity and ambient temperature were recorded. The experimental data obtained were used to determine the constants 'C' and 'n' in the Nusselt number expression using linear regression method. CHTC increased with the increase in mass of groundnuts. The experimental errors in terms of percent uncertainty were found to vary from 44.29 to 48.77%.

Piperine and Its Various Physicochemical and Biological Aspects: A Review

Piper nigrumL. is examined as the king of species worldwide by virtue of its principle piperine. In Ayurveda, since from the ancient times, it is known as “Yogvahi”. It is one of the important alkaloids of Pepper fruits (Family Piperaceae) and has been found to have numerous medicinal properties such as antioxidant, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, antithyroid, antitumor, antiasthmatic activity and also have significant role as fertility enhancer. The present review discusses the biosynthetic pathway, extraction process, chemistry and various analytical methods of piperine. It also describes the structural modification of piperine and its various effects on biological system. The utility of piperine as a bioenhancer for certain antibacterial- antibiotics and a potent inhibitor of drug metabolism are also discussed. Thus, review provides knowledgeable erudition on the piperine which paves way for further work.

An update on Anti-inflammatory Compounds: A Review

Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. Also, it has been reported to be associated with the onset of various cancers. An effective anti-inflammatory drug should be able to inhibit the development of inflammation without interfering in normal homeostasis. Current approaches to overcome the inflammation include the use of immune selective anti-inflammatory derivatives, selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist, resolvins and protectins and TNF inhibitors. A number of herbal drugs have been identified in the past that can target inflammatory cytokines. This review mainly focuses on the newer molecules to combat the inflammation and also emphasise on various studies carried out in the past. Thus, the high prevalence of inflammation obliges the development of new drugs; therefore, a safe and efficient drug molecule to confer protection against inflammation is urgently needed.

Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguchi) - folklore to modern evidence: review

Psoralea corylifolia is an important medicinal plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. The plant extracts have been reported to possess antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and immunomodulatory activity. A wide range of chemical compounds including psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol, psoralidin, bakuchalcone, bavachinin, flavones, volatile oils, lipids etc. are found in different parts of the plant. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its botany, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology along with special emphasis given on pharmacological activities of plant P. corylifolia.