Comparing the effect of acupressure and ginger on chemotherapy gastrointestinal side-effects in children with leukemia

The biosocial data of 90 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, were collected along with assessment of gastrointestinal side-effects of chemotherapy using visual analogue scale. Ginger lozenges has more effect than acupressure in alleviating nausea and vomiting. Acupressure alleviate the nausea best in the group aged 13-15 years. Ginger helped more the other two groups (7-12 years, 69 % of the group didn't suffer from nausea), versus 50 % aged 13-15). Both acupressure and ginger affected girls more than boys in alleviating nausea. The acupressure effect on vomiting incidence didn't differ in both males and males, whilst ginger helped the males more.

EVALUATION OF CITRIC ACID AND CLOVE OIL AS SAFE ANTI-VIRULENCE AND RESISTANCE-MODIFYING AGENTS AGAINST PROBLEMATIC KLEBSIELLA CLINICAL ISOLATES IN EGYPT

Klebsiella species are regarded as terrifying pathogens that threaten different healthcare systems. These pathogens possess a variety of virulence factors which markedly account for their pathogenicity. Three virulence factors (capsule formation, hypermucoviscosity and biofilm formation) were screened, phenotypically and genotypically, among selected Egyptian Klebsiella clinical isolates. Two safe edible agents, clove oil and citric acid, were tested for their effect on bacterial capsules using the Anthony capsular staining method and the transmission electron microscopy. The antibiotic-resistance modifying activity of both agents was studied against selected troublesome isolates showing resistance to amikacin, meropenem and cefotaxime. Molecular docking of citric acid and eugenol with NDM-1, as well as the docking of citric acid with AAC(6′)-Ib and CTX-M-15 were carried out to explain the resistance modifying activity of the tested agents. Capsule formation was the most prominent virulence factor that was detected in all isolates. Both citric acid and clove oil could effectively reduce the size of the formed bacterial capsules. Citric acid showed promising synergistic effects when combined with the studied antibiotics against all the tested isolates. However, clove oil showed a synergistic effect only against 50% of the tested isolates when combined with meropenem. Relying on their binding efficiency mode obtained from molecular docking studies, the tested agents were recognized as promising inhibitors of the studied enzymes. In conclusion, both citric acid and clove oil are auspicious anti-virulence and resistance-modifying agents that can be combined with conventional antibiotics to combat virulent and multidrug resistant Klebsiella isolates.

Biologically guided isolation and ADMET profile of new factor Xa inhibitors from Glycyrrhiza glabra roots using in vitro and in silico approaches

Selective factor Xa inhibitors effectively block coagulation cascade with a broader therapeutic window than multitargeted anticoagulants. They have evolved as a crucial part of prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases and in therapeutic protocols involved in many clinical trials in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Biologically-guided isolation of specific FXa inhibitors from licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract furnished ten flavonoids. By detailed analysis of their 1H, 13C NMR and MS data, the structures of these flavonoids were established as 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone (1), formononetin (2), 3-R-glabridin (3), isoliquiritigenin (4), liquiritin (5), naringenin 5-O-glucoside (6), 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (7), liquiritinapioside (8) and the two isomers isoliquiritigenin-4'-O-β-d-apiosylglucoside (9) and isoliquiritigenin-4-O-β-d-apiosylglucoside (10). All the isolated compounds were assessed for their FXa inhibitory activity using in vitro chromogenic assay for the first time. Liquirtin (5) showed the most potent inhibitory effects with an IC50 of 5.15 μM. The QikProp module was implemented to perform ADMET predictions for the screened compounds.

Chemical Constituents of Egyptian Withania Somnifera Leaves and Fruits and their Anticholinesterase Activity

Seven compounds were isolated from the leaves and fruits of Egyptian Withania somnifera dunal, (Family: Solanaceae). The identity of the compounds based on their spectroscopic data were as follows: two withanolides; withaperuvin C (1), phyperunolideF (2) and four lipids;1,2-di-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(6´´´-sulfo-α-D-quinovopyranosyl)-glycerol (3), vaccenic acid (5), 1,3 dicaproyl,2-vaccenoyl-glycerol (6), vaccenolymonoglyceride (7) and β-sitosterol glucoside (4). All the isolated metabolites except (4) were reported for the first time from this plant. Besides, this is the first report for isolation of compounds (6, 7) in a pure form from a natural source. Different fractions of the fruits of the Egyptian plant were investigated for their anticholinesterase activities where the most potent ones found to be the aqueous, the light petroleum fraction in addition to a mixture of lipids.

Dolabellane Diterpenes from Cleome Droserifolia

Three diterpenoid dolabellane esters were isolated from Cleome droserifolia. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectral as well as chemical methods. These dolabellanes (I, II and III) are ester derivatives of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaric acid (3-HMGA). Compounds I and II have the second (3HMGA) carboxyl function free, while compound III is the methyl ester of compound I. This is the first report of the isolation of this class of compounds from the genus Cleome and is the first report of the isolation of compound III from a natural source. In addition, eight flavone derivatives were isolated.