Identification of mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 inhibitors from natural products: Combined virtual screening and dynamic simulation studies.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that belongs to the MAPK family and plays a vital role in various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, gene transcription, apoptosis, metabolism, and cell survival. The elevated expression of MAPK7 has been associated with the onset and progression of multiple aggressive tumors in humans, underscoring the potential of targeting MAPK7 pathways in therapeutic research. This pursuit holds promise for the advancement of anticancer drug development by developing potential MAPK7 inhibitors. To look for potential MAPK7 inhibitors, we exploited structure-based virtual screening of natural products from the ZINC database. First, the Lipinski rule of five criteria was used to filter a large library of ~90,000 natural compounds, followed by ADMET and pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) filters. Then, top hits were chosen based on their strong binding affinity as determined by molecular docking. Further, interaction analysis was performed to find effective and specific compounds that can precisely bind to the binding pocket of MAPK7. Consequently, two compounds, ZINC12296700 and ZINC02123081, exhibited significant binding affinity and demonstrated excellent drug-like properties. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations for 200 ns confirmed the stability of MAPK7-ZINC12296700 and MAPK7-ZINC02123081 docked complexes. According to the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area investigation, the binding affinities of both complexes were considerable. Overall, the result suggests that ZINC12296700 and ZINC02123081 might be used as promising leads to develop novel MAPK7 inhibitors. Since these compounds would interfere with the kinase activity of MAPK7, therefore, may be implemented to control cell growth and proliferation in cancer after required validations.

RNA-sequencing exploration on SIR2 and SOD genes in Polyalthia longifolia leaf methanolic extracts (PLME) mediated anti-aging effects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY611 yeast cells.

Polyalthia longifolia is well-known for its abundance of polyphenol content and traditional medicinal uses. Previous research has demonstrated that the methanolic extract of P. longifolia leaves (PLME, 1 mg/mL) possesses anti-aging properties in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY611 yeast cells. Building on these findings, this study delves deeper into the potential antiaging mechanism of PLME, by analyzing the transcriptional responses of BY611 cells treated with PLME using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. The RNA-seq analysis results identified 1691 significantly (padj < 0.05) differentially expressed genes, with 947 upregulated and 744 downregulated genes. Notably, the expression of three important aging-related genes, SIR2, SOD1, and SOD2, showed a significant difference following PLME treatment. The subsequent integration of these targeted genes with GO and KEGG pathway analysis revealed the multifaceted nature of PLME's anti-aging effects in BY611 yeast cells. Enriched GO and KEGG analysis showed that PLME treatment promotes the upregulation of SIR2, SOD1, and SOD2 genes, leading to a boosted cellular antioxidant defense system, reduced oxidative stress, regulated cell metabolism, and maintain genome stability. These collectively increased longevities in PLME-treated BY611 yeast cells and indicate the potential anti-aging action of PLME through the modulation of SIR2 and SOD genes. The present study provided novel insights into the roles of SIR2, SOD1, and SOD2 genes in the anti-aging effects of PLME treatment, offering promising interventions for promoting healthy aging.

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Plectranthus rugosus extract and fractions: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a key biological reaction that comprises a complex network of signals that both initiate and stop the inflammation process. PURPOSE: This study targets to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of the leaves of the Plectranthus rugosus (P. rugosus) plant involving both in vitro and in vivo measures. The current available drugs exhibit serious side effects. Traditional medicines impart an essential role in drug development. P. rugosus is a plant used in traditional medicine of Tropical Africa, China, and Australia to treat various diseases. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin, kindles macrophages to discharge huge quantities of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6. So, clampdown of macrophage stimulation may have a beneficial potential to treat various inflammatory disorders. The leaves of the P. rugosus are used for swelling purpose by local population; however, its use as an anti-inflammatory agent and associated disorders has no scientific evidence. RESULTS: The extracts of the plant Plectranthus rugosus ethanolic extract (PREE), Plectranthus rugosus ethyl acetate extract (PREAF), and the compound isolated (oleanolic acid) suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO), confirming its importance in traditional medicine. CONCLUSION: The pro-inflammatory cytokines are inhibited by P. rugosus extracts, as well as an isolated compound oleanolic acid without compromising cell viability.

Illicium verum L. (Star Anise) Essential Oil: GC/MS Profile, Molecular Docking Study, In Silico ADME Profiling, Quorum Sensing, and Biofilm-Inhibiting Effect on Foodborne Bacteria.

Illicium verum, or star anise, has many uses ranging from culinary to religious. It has been used in the food industry since ancient times. The main purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition, antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-quorum sensing activities of the essential oil (EO) obtained via hydro-distillation of the aerial parts of Illicium verum. Twenty-four components were identified representing 92.55% of the analyzed essential oil. (E)-anethole (83.68%), limonene (3.19%), and α-pinene (0.71%) were the main constituents of I. verum EO. The results show that the obtained EO was effective against eight bacterial strains to different degrees. Concerning the antibiofilm activity, trans-anethole was more effective against biofilm formation than the essential oil when tested using sub-inhibitory concentrations. The results of anti-swarming activity tested against P. aeruginosa PAO1 revealed that I. verum EO possesses more potent inhibitory effects on the swarming behavior of PAO1 when compared to trans-anethole, with the percentage reaching 38% at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. The ADME profiling of the identified phytocompounds confirmed their important pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness properties. The in silico study using a molecular docking approach revealed a high binding score between the identified compounds with known target enzymes involved in antibacterial and anti-quorum sensing (QS) activities. Overall, the obtained results suggest I. verum EO to be a potentially good antimicrobial agent to prevent food contamination with foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Expression Profiling of Selected Immune Genes and Trabecular Microarchitecture in Breast Cancer Skeletal Metastases Model: Effect of α-Tocopherol Acetate Supplementation.

Breast cancer bone metastases (BCBM) result in serious skeletal morbidity. Although there have been important advances in cancer treatment methods such as surgery and chemotherapy, the complementary treatments, such as α-tocopherol acetate (ATA), still remain of key role via complementary and/or synergistic effects. The aim of this work was to study immune response in a rat model of BCBM due to Walker 256/B cells inoculation and the effect of ATA alone. Compared to the control group (CTRL), rat injected with Walker 256/B cells (5 × 104) in the medullar cavity (W256 group) showed osteolytic damages with marked tumor osteolysis of both cancellous and trabecular bone as assessed by X-ray radiology, micro-computed tomography, and histology. Rats inoculated with Walker 256/B cells and treated with ATA (45 mg/kg BW, W256ATA group) presented marked less tumor osteolysis, less disturbance of Tb.Th and Tb.Sp associated with conversion of rods into plates, and increased structure model index and trabecular pattern factor (Tb.Pf). Elsewhere, 3D frequency distributions of Tb.Th and Tb.Sp were highly disturbed in metastatic W256 rats. Overexpression of some genes commonly associated with cancer and metastatic proliferation: COX-2, TNF-α, and pro-inflammatory interleukins 1 and 6 was outlined. ATA alleviated most of the Walker 256/B cells-induced microarchitectural changes in the target parameters without turning back to normal levels. Likewise, it alleviates the BCSM-induced overexpression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6. In silico approach showed that ATA bound these proteins with high affinities, which satisfactory explain its beneficial effects. In conclusion, BCBM is associated with bone microarchitectural disorders and an immune response characterized by an overexpression of some key role genes in cancer proliferation and invasion. ATA exerted favorable effects on trabecular bone distribution and morphology, which may involve the COX-2, TNF-α, and ILs pathways.

Tripeptides from Allium subhirsitum L. extracts: Pharmacokinetics properties, toxicity prediction and in silico study against SARS-CoV-2 enzymes and pro-inflammatory proteins.

Developing new prophylactic and therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum antiviral activities is urgently needed to combat emerging human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since no available clinically antiviral drugs have been approved to eradicate COVID-19 as of the writing of this report, this study aimed to investigate bioactive short peptides from Allium subhirsutum L. (Hairy garlic) extracts identified through HR-LC/MS analysis that could potentially hinder the multiplication cycle of SARS-CoV-2 via molecular docking study. The obtained promising results showed that the peptides (Asn-Asn-Asn) possess the highest binding affinities of -8.4 kcal/mol against S protein, (His-Phe-Gln) of -9.8 kcal/mol and (Gln-His-Phe) of -9.7 kcal/mol towards hACE2, (Thr-Leu-Trp) of -10.3 kcal/mol and (Gln-Phe-Tyr) of -9.8 kcal/mol against furin. Additionally, the identified peptides show strong interactions with the targeted and pro-inflammatory ranging from -8.1 to -10.5 kcal/mol for NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), from -8.2 to -10 kcal/mol for phospholipase A2 (PLA2), from -8.0 to -10.7 kcal/mol for interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK-4), and from -8.6 to -11.6 kcal/mol for the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) with Gln-Phe-Tyr model seems to be the most prominent. Results from pharmacophore, drug-likeness and ADMET prediction analyses clearly evidenced the usability of the peptides to be developed as an effective drug, beneficial for COVID-19 treatment.

Ilimaquinone (Marine Sponge Metabolite) Induces Apoptosis in HCT-116 Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells via Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis Pathway.

Ilimaquinone (IQ), a metabolite found in marine sponges, has been reported to have a number of biological properties, including potential anticancer activity against colon cancer. However, no clear understanding of the precise mechanism involved is known. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular mechanism by which IQ acts on HCT-116 cells. The anticancer activity of IQ was investigated by means of a cell viability assay followed by the determination of induction of apoptosis by means of the use of acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, Annexin V/PI double staining, DNA fragmentation assays, and TUNEL assays. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was detected using the JC-1 staining technique, and the apoptosis-associated proteins were analyzed using real-time qRT-PCR. A molecular docking study of IQ with apoptosis-associated proteins was also conducted in order to assess the interaction between IQ and them. Our results suggest that IQ significantly suppressed the viability of HCT-116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation and the TUNEL assay in treated cells demonstrated apoptotic death mode. As an additional confirmation of apoptosis, the increased level of caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression and the downregulation of Bcl-2 and mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in HCT-116 cells after treatment with IQ, which was accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Overall, the results of our studies demonstrate that IQ could trigger mitochondria-mediated apoptosis as demonstrated by a decrease in ΔΨm, activation of caspase-9/-3, damage of DNA and a decrease in the proportion of Bcl-2 through the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway.

Structure-Guided Approach to Discover Tuberosin as a Potent Activator of Pyruvate Kinase M2, Targeting Cancer Therapy.

Metabolic reprogramming is a key attribute of cancer progression. An altered expression of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a phosphotyrosine-binding protein is observed in many human cancers. PKM2 plays a vital role in metabolic reprogramming, transcription and cell cycle progression and thus is deliberated as an attractive target in anticancer drug development. The expression of PKM2 is essential for aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation, especially in cancer cells, facilitating selective targeting of PKM2 in cell metabolism for cancer therapeutics. We have screened a virtual library of phytochemicals from the IMPPAT (Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry and Therapeutics) database of Indian medicinal plants to identify potential activators of PKM2. The initial screening was carried out for the physicochemical properties of the compounds, and then structure-based molecular docking was performed to select compounds based on their binding affinity towards PKM2. Subsequently, the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) properties, PAINS (Pan-assay interference compounds) patterns, and PASS evaluation were carried out to find more potent hits against PKM2. Here, Tuberosin was identified from the screening process bearing appreciable binding affinity toward the PKM2-binding pocket and showed a worthy set of drug-like properties. Finally, molecular dynamics simulation for 100 ns was performed, which showed decent stability of the protein-ligand complex and relatival conformational dynamics throughout the trajectory. The study suggests that modulating PKM2 with natural compounds is an attractive approach in treating human malignancy after required validation.

Phytochemical and In Silico ADME/Tox Analysis of Eruca sativa Extract with Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential against Caco-2 and HCT-116 Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Lines.

Eruca sativa Mill. (E. sativa) leaves recently grabbed the attention of scientific communities around the world due to its potent bioactivity. Therefore, the present study investigates the metabolite profiling of the ethanolic crude extract of E. sativa leaves using high resolution-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HR-LC/MS), including antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer potential against human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. In addition, computer-aided analysis was performed for determining the pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity prediction of the identified compounds. Our results show that E. sativa contains several bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, fatty acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and phenols. Furthermore, the antibacterial assay of E. sativa extract showed inhibitory effects of the tested pathogenic bacterial strains. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were found to be IC50 = 66.16 µg/mL and 76.05 µg/mL, respectively. E. sativa also showed promising anticancer activity against both the colorectal cancer cells HCT-116 (IC50 = 64.91 µg/mL) and Caco-2 (IC50 = 83.98 µg/mL) in a dose/time dependent manner. The phytoconstituents identified showed promising pharmacokinetics properties, representing a valuable source for drug or nutraceutical development. These investigations will lead to the further exploration as well as development of E. sativa-based nutraceutical products.

Multifunctional Derivatives of Spiropyrrolidine Tethered Indeno-Quinoxaline Heterocyclic Hybrids as Potent Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Agents: Design, Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Approaches.

To combat emerging antimicrobial-resistant microbes, there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobials with better therapeutic profiles. For this, a series of 13 new spiropyrrolidine derivatives were designed, synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. Antimicrobial results revealed that the designed compounds displayed good activity against clinical isolated strains, with 5d being the most potent (MIC 3.95 mM against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) compared to tetracycline (MIC 576.01 mM). The antioxidant activity was assessed by trapping DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The results suggest remarkable antioxidant potential of all synthesized compounds, particularly 5c, exhibiting the strongest activity with IC50 of 3.26 ± 0.32 mM (DPPH), 7.03 ± 0.07 mM (ABTS) and 3.69 ± 0.72 mM (FRAP). Tested for their α-amylase inhibitory effect, the examined analogues display a variable degree of α-amylase activity with IC50 ranging between 0.55 ± 0.38 mM and 2.19 ± 0.23 mM compared to acarbose (IC50 1.19 ± 0.02 mM), with the most active compounds being 5d, followed by 5c and 5j, affording IC50 of 0.55 ± 0.38 mM, 0.92 ± 0.10 mM, and 0.95 ± 0.14 mM, respectively. Preliminary structure-activity relationships revealed the importance of such substituents in enhancing the activity. Furthermore, the ADME screening test was applied to optimize the physicochemical properties and determine their drug-like characteristics. Binding interactions and stability between ligands and active residues of the investigated enzymes were confirmed through molecular docking and dynamic simulation study. These findings provided guidance for further developing leading new spiropyrrolidine scaffolds with improved dual antimicrobial and antidiabetic activities.

Cytotoxic Activity and Antibiofilm Efficacy of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Colonizing Cell Phones.

The interest for green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has acquired particular attention due to its low toxicity and economic feasibility compared with chemical or physical process. Here we carried out an extracellular synthesis approach of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using dried orange peel extract. Characterization studies revealed the synthesis of 25-30 nm AgNPs with distinct morphology as observed in transmission electron microscopes. Dynamic light scattering spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses further characterized nanoparticles confirming their stability and the presence of functional groups. The biological properties of biosynthesized AgNPs were subsequently investigated. Our results revealed anticancer activity of biogenic silver NPs against the B16 melanoma cell line with an IC50 value of 25 µg/ml. Additionally, the developed AgNPs displayed a considerable antagonistic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains colonizing cell phones, with inhibition zones between 12 and 14 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration values between 1.56 and 12.5 µg/ml. Furthermore, the AgNPs exhibited potent antibiofilm activity against MRSA strains with the percent biofilm disruption reaching 80%. Our results highlighted the efficacy of biosynthesized AgNPs against bacterial biofilms and pointed to the exploration of orange peels as a natural and cost-effective strategy.

Therapeutic Potential of Ursolic Acid in Cancer and Diabetic Neuropathy Diseases.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid frequently found in medicinal herbs and plants, having numerous pharmacological effects. UA and its analogs treat multiple diseases, including cancer, diabetic neuropathy, and inflammatory diseases. UA inhibits cancer proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and induced cell death, scavenging free radicals and triggering numerous anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins. The biochemistry of UA has been examined broadly based on the literature, with alterations frequently having been prepared on positions C-3 (hydroxyl), C12-C13 (double bonds), and C-28 (carboxylic acid), leading to several UA derivatives with increased potency, bioavailability and water solubility. UA could be used as a protective agent to counter neural dysfunction via anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is a potential therapeutic drug implicated in the treatment of cancer and diabetic complications diseases provide novel machinery to the anti-inflammatory properties of UA. The pharmacological efficiency of UA is exhibited by the therapeutic theory of one-drug → several targets → one/multiple diseases. Hence, UA shows promising therapeutic potential for cancer and diabetic neuropathy diseases. This review aims to discuss mechanistic insights into promising beneficial effects of UA. We further explained the pharmacological aspects, clinical trials, and potential limitations of UA for the management of cancer and diabetic neuropathy diseases.

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Interact Differently with ACE2 Domains Reported to Bind with the Coronavirus Spike Protein: Mediation by ACE2 Polymorphism.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection inducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still an ongoing challenge. To date, more than 95.4 million have been infected and more than two million deaths have been officially reported by the WHO. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in the disease pathogenesis. In this computational study, seventeen coding variants were found to be important for ACE2 binding with the coronavirus spike protein. The frequencies of these allele variants range from 3.88 × 10-3 to 5.47 × 10-6 for rs4646116 (K26R) and rs1238146879 (P426A), respectively. Chloroquine (CQ) and its metabolite hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are mainly used to prevent and treat malaria and rheumatic diseases. They are also used in several countries to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection inducing COVID-19. Both CQ and HCQ were found to interact differently with the various ACE2 domains reported to bind with coronavirus spike protein. A molecular docking approach revealed that intermolecular interactions of both CQ and HCQ exhibited mediation by ACE2 polymorphism. Further explorations of the relationship and the interactions between ACE2 polymorphism and CQ/HCQ would certainly help to better understand the COVID-19 management strategies, particularly their use in the absence of specific vaccines or drugs.

Multi-Targeted Molecular Docking, Pharmacokinetics, and Drug-Likeness Evaluation of Okra-Derived Ligand Abscisic Acid Targeting Signaling Proteins Involved in the Development of Diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a global threat affecting millions of people of different age groups. In recent years, the development of naturally derived anti-diabetic agents has gained popularity. Okra is a common vegetable containing important bioactive components such as abscisic acid (ABA). ABA, a phytohormone, has been shown to elicit potent anti-diabetic effects in mouse models. Keeping its anti-diabetic potential in mind, in silico study was performed to explore its role in inhibiting proteins relevant to diabetes mellitus- 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11ß-HSD1), aldose reductase, glucokinase, glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), and Sirtuin family of NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylases 6 (SIRT6). A comparative study of the ABA-protein docked complex with already known inhibitors of these proteins relevant to diabetes was compared to explore the inhibitory potential. Calculation of molecular binding energy (ΔG), inhibition constant (pKi), and prediction of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties were performed. The molecular docking investigation of ABA with 11-HSD1, GFAT, PPAR-gamma, and SIRT6 revealed considerably low binding energy (ΔG from -8.1 to -7.3 Kcal/mol) and predicted inhibition constant (pKi from 6.01 to 5.21 µM). The ADMET study revealed that ABA is a promising drug candidate without any hazardous effect following all current drug-likeness guidelines such as Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-Acetylcholinesterase, Antidiabetic, and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. Essential Oils Alone and in Combination.

Herbs and spices have been used since antiquity for their nutritional and health properties, as well as in traditional remedies for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Therefore, this study aims to perform a chemical analysis of both essential oils (EOs) from the seeds of Carum carvi (C. carvi) and Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum) and evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and antidiabetic activities alone and in combination. Results showed that the EOs mainly constitute monoterpenes with γ-terpinene (31.03%), ß-pinene (18.77%), p-cymene (17.16%), and carvone (12.20%) being the major components present in C. carvi EO and linalool (76.41%), γ-terpinene (5.35%), and α-pinene (4.44%) in C. sativum EO. In comparison to standards, statistical analysis revealed that C. carvi EO showed high and significantly different (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity than C. sativum EO, but lower than the mixture. Moreover, the mixture exhibited two-times greater ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC50 = 11.33 ± 1.53 mg/mL) and equipotent chelating power (IC50 = 31.33 ± 0.47 mg/mL) than the corresponding references, and also potent activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50 = 19.00 ± 1.00 mg/mL), ß-carotene (IC50 = 11.16 ± 0.84 mg/mL), and superoxide anion (IC50 = 10.33 ± 0.58 mg/mL) assays. Antimicrobial data revealed that single and mixture EOs were active against a panel of pathogenic microorganisms, and the mixture had the ability to kill more bacterial strains than each EO alone. Additionally, the anti-acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect have been studied for the first time, highlighting the high inhibition effect of AChE by C. carvi (IC50 = 0.82 ± 0.05 mg/mL), and especially by C. sativum (IC50 = 0.68 ± 0.03 mg/mL), as well as the mixture (IC50 = 0.63 ± 0.02 mg/mL) compared to the reference drug, which are insignificantly different (p > 0.05). A high and equipotent antidiabetic activity was observed for the mixture (IC50 = 0.75 ± 0.15 mg/mL) when compared to the standard drug, acarbose, which is about nine times higher than each EO alone. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic analysis provides some useful insights into designing new drugs with favorable drug likeness and safety profiles based on a C. carvi and C. sativum EO mixture. In summary, the results of this study revealed that the combination of these EOs may be recommended for further food, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical applications, and can be utilized as medicine to inhibit several diseases.

Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity Prediction of Selaginella repanda with Its Anticancer Potential against Human Lung, Breast and Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Lines.

In this study, we investigated the bioactive potential (antibacterial and antioxidant), anticancer activity and detailed phytochemical analysis of Selaginellarepanda (S. repanda) ethanolic crude extract for the very first time using different in vitro approaches. Furthermore, computer-aided prediction of pharmacokinetic properties and safety profile of the identified phytoconstituents were also employed in order to provide some useful insights for drug discovery. S. repanda, which is a rich source of potent natural bioactive compounds, showed promising antibacterial activity against the tested pathogenic bacteria (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and S. flexneri). The crude extract displayed favorable antioxidant activity against both 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50 = 231.6 µg/mL) and H2O2 (IC50 = 288.3 µg/mL) molecules. S. repanda also showed favorable and effective anticancer activity against all three malignant cancer cells in a dose/time dependent manner. Higher activity was found against lung (A549) (IC50 = 341.1 µg/mL), followed by colon (HCT-116) (IC50 = 378.8 µg/mL) and breast (MCF-7) (IC50 = 428.3 µg/mL) cancer cells. High resolution-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HR-LC-MS) data of S. repanda crude extract revealed the presence of diverse bioactive/chemical components, including fatty acids, alcohol, sugar, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, coumarins and phenolics, which can be the basis and major cause for its bioactive potential. Therefore, achieved results from this study confirmed the efficacy of S. repanda and a prospective source of naturally active biomolecules with antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer potential. These phytocompounds alone with their favorable pharmacokinetics profile suggests good lead and efficiency of S. repanda with no toxicity risks. Finally, further in vivo experimental investigations can be promoted as probable candidates for various therapeutic functions, drug discovery and development.

Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus) as a Potential Dietary Medicine with Nutraceutical Importance for Sustainable Health Applications.

Recently, there has been a paradigm shift from conventional therapies to relatively safer phytotherapies. This divergence is crucial for the management of various chronic diseases. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is a popular vegetable crop with good nutritional significance, along with certain therapeutic values, which makes it a potential candidate in the use of a variety of nutraceuticals. Different parts of the okra fruit (mucilage, seed, and pods) contain certain important bioactive components, which confer its medicinal properties. The phytochemicals of okra have been studied for their potential therapeutic activities on various chronic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular, and digestive diseases, as well as the antifatigue effect, liver detoxification, antibacterial, and chemo-preventive activities. Moreover, okra mucilage has been widely used in medicinal applications such as a plasma replacement or blood volume expanders. Overall, okra is considered to be an easily available, low-cost vegetable crop with various nutritional values and potential health benefits. Despite several reports about its therapeutic benefits and potential nutraceutical significance, there is a dearth of research on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of okra, which has hampered its widespread use in the nutraceutical industry. This review summarizes the available literature on the bioactive composition of okra and its potential nutraceutical significance. It will also provide a platform for further research on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of okra for its possible commercial production as a therapeutic agent against various chronic diseases.

Development and Characterization of Novel Biopolymer Derived from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Extract and Its Antidiabetic Potential.

Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) is an important vegetable crop, widely cultivated around the world due to its high nutritional significance along with several health benefits. Different parts of okra including its mucilage have been currently studied for its role in various therapeutic applications. Therefore, we aimed to develop and characterize the okra mucilage biopolymer (OMB) for its physicochemical properties as well as to evaluate its in vitro antidiabetic activity. The characterization of OMB using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that okra mucilage containing polysaccharides lies in the bandwidth of 3279 and 1030 cm-1, which constitutes the fingerprint region of the spectrum. In addition, physicochemical parameters such as percentage yield, percentage solubility, and swelling index were found to be 2.66%, 96.9%, and 5, respectively. A mineral analysis of newly developed biopolymers showed a substantial amount of calcium (412 mg/100 g), potassium (418 mg/100 g), phosphorus (60 mg/100 g), iron (47 mg/100 g), zinc (16 mg/100 g), and sodium (9 mg/100 g). The significant antidiabetic potential of OMB was demonstrated using α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory assay. Further investigations are required to explore the newly developed biopolymer for its toxicity, efficacy, and its possible utilization in food, nutraceutical, as well as pharmaceutical industries.

Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Revealed Ivermectin as Potential Drug against Schistosoma-Associated Bladder Cancer Targeting Protein Signaling: Computational Drug Repositioning Approach.

Urogenital schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infection, which has been linked to the development of bladder cancer. In this study, three repurposing drugs, ivermectin, arteether and praziquantel, were screened to find the potent drug-repurposing candidate against the Schistosoma-associated bladder cancer (SABC) in humans by using computational methods. The biology of most glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) proteins and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is complex and multifaceted, according to recent evidence, and these proteins actively participate in many tumorigenic processes such as cell proliferation, cell survival and drug resistance. The VEGF and GSTs are now widely acknowledged as an important target for antitumor therapy. Thus, in this present study, ivermectin displayed promising inhibition of bladder cancer cells via targeting VEGF and GSTs signaling. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis revealed that ivermectin efficiently targeted the binding pockets of VEGF receptor proteins and possessed stable dynamics behavior at binding sites. Therefore, we proposed here that these compounds must be tested experimentally against VEGF and GST signaling in order to control SABC. Our study lies within the idea of discovering repurposing drugs as inhibitors against the different types of human cancers by targeting essential pathways in order to accelerate the drug development cycle.

Fish-based Bioactives as Potent Nutraceuticals: Exploring the Therapeutic Perspective of Sustainable Food from the Sea.

Recent developments in nutraceuticals and functional foods have confirmed that bioactive components present in our diet play a major therapeutic role against human diseases. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis on food scientists for identifying and producing foods with better bioactive activity, which can ultimately provide wellness and well-being to human health. Among the several well-known foods with bioactive constituents, fish has always been considered important, due to its rich nutritional values and by-product application in food industries. Nutritionists, food scientists, and other scientific communities have been working jointly to uncover new bioactive molecules that could increase the potential and therapeutic benefits of these bioactive components. Despite the innumerable benefits of fish and known fish bioactive molecules, its use by food or pharmaceutical industries is scarce, and even research on fish-based nutraceuticals is not promising. Therefore, this review focuses on the current information/data available regarding fish bioactive components, its application as nutraceuticals for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of chronic diseases, ethnic issues related to consumption of fish or its by-products. Especial emphasis is given on the utilization of fish wastes and its by-products to fulfill the world demand for cheap dietary supplements specifically for underdeveloped/least developed countries.