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Breast cancer is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening disease that affects women worldwide. Natural products have gained attention as potential anticancer agents due to their fewer side effects, low toxicity, and cost effectiveness compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs. In the current study, the network pharmacology approach was used following a molecular docking study to evaluate the therapeutic potential of N. sativa-derived phytochemicals against breast cancer. Specifically, the study aimed to identify potential anticancer agents targeting key proteins implicated in breast cancer progression. Five proteins (i.e., EGFR, MAPK3, ESR1, MAPK1, and PTGS2) associated with breast cancer were selected as receptor proteins. Fourteen phytochemicals from N. sativa were prioritized based on drug-likeness (DL) and oral bioavailability (OB) parameters (with criteria set at DL > 0.18 and OB > 30%, respectively). Subsequent analysis of gene targets identified 283 overlapping genes primarily related to breast cancer pathogenesis. Ten hub genes were identified through topological analysis based on their significance in the KEGG pathway and GO annotations. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities between folic acid, betulinic acid, stigmasterol, and selected receptor proteins. These phytochemicals also demonstrated druggability potential. In vitro experiments in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line revealed that betulinic acid and stigmasterol significantly reduced cell viability after 24 h of treatment, confirming their anticancer activity. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation using a DMBA-induced rat model showed that betulinic acid and stigmasterol contributed to the significant recovery of cancer markers. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the anticancer potential of N. sativa phytochemicals against breast cancer, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic candidates for future drug development. Overall, these results highlight betulinic acid and stigmasterol as promising candidates to develop novel anticancer agents against breast cancer. The comprehensive approach of this study, which integrates network pharmacology and molecular docking study and its experimental validation, strengthens the evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of N. sativa-derived phytochemicals in breast cancer treatment, making them promising candidates for the development of novel anticancer agents against breast cancer.
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The study investigated the impact of incorporating a specific herbal blend comprising coriander, garlic, and fenugreek (CGF) at various levels on the zootechnical performance, blood metabolites and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. The 42-day experiment involved 360 broilers (Cobb 500), organized into four distinct treatment groups. The dietary interventions included a control group consisting of a basal diet and the same diet was supplemented with CGF at rates of 1, 2, and 3%. Broilers receiving a 1% phytogenic mixture exhibited significantly increased live weight and carcass weight. Moreover, the digestibility of crude protein and crude fat significantly improved in broilers supplemented with a 1% phytogenic mixture. On the other hand, the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus showed a notable increase in broilers fed with a 3% phytogenic mixture. Regarding serum metabolites, the 1% phytogenic mixture group displayed significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein and triglycerides. The supplementation of the broiler diet with a herbal mixture of coriander, fenugreek, and garlic at a 1% rate resulted in improved growth performance, carcass quality, nutrient digestion, and lipid profile.
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Coriandrum , Alho , Trigonella , Animais , Galinhas , NutrientesRESUMO
The mutualistic symbiotic relationship between insects and bacteria greatly influences the growth and development of host insects. Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae), also referred to as the litchi stink bug, has recently been established as an important insect pest of Litchi chinensis Sonn. and causes substantial yield loss in India. To design effective and environmentally safe management strategies, an understanding of the diversity and functions of microbiota harbored across the development stages is very important. The assessment of the diversity of development-associated bacteria in T. javanica and their predicted functions was conducted using 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained by the Illumina MiSeq technology. The result showed that taxonomic analysis of associated bacteria in different developmental stages includes a total of 46 phyla, encompassing 139 classes, 271 orders, 474 families, and 893 genera of bacteria. All developmental stages of T. javanica shared a total of 42.82 percent of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with a 97 % similarity threshold. Alpha diversity indices showed maximum species richness in the egg and adult stages. The phyla Proteobacteria followed by Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes, and Actinobacteria, exhibited the highest levels of abundance across all the developmental stages of T. javanica. Microbiota were most different between the egg and the 4th nymphal stage (χ2 = 711.67) and least different between the 2nd and 4th nymphal instars (χ2 = 44.45). The predicted functions of the microbiota associated with T. javanica are mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, cell motility, cellular processes and signaling, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, lipid metabolism, and membrane transport. The present study documentation and information on symbiotic bacteria across T. javanica life stages will prompt the development of novel biological management strategies.
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Introduction: The COVID-19 infection as an inflammatory disease has posed significant challenges to global public health due to multi-factor risks associated with it leading to disease severity and mortality. Understanding the effect of age and comorbidities on overall disease progression is crucial to identify highly susceptible individuals and to develop effective disease management strategies in a resource limited country like Pakistan. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted on hospitalized COVID-19 patients to assess the prevalence of various comorbidities among different age groups and their effect on disease severity and mortality rate. Results: In this retrospective study, a cohort of 618 hospitalized COVID-19 patients was analyzed, consisting of 387 males (62.6 %) and 231 females (37.4 %). Notably, the young age group (15-24 years), had the lowest frequency of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, while no case was observed in children (≤14 years) showing a significant association (p < 0.001) of age and disease prevalence. Comorbidities were observed in 63.9 % of COVID-19 patients including hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), ischemic heart diseases (IHD), asthma, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and tuberculosis (TB). The most common comorbidities were HTN (42.1 %) followed by DM (33.8 %), IHD (16.5 %), asthma (11.2 %), CKD (7.9 %) and TB (1.9 %).Furthermore, the study revealed a significant association between comorbidities, age groups, and the need for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) (p < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (MV) (p < 0.001), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (p < 0.001). Patients with specific comorbidities and those in the older age group (≥65 years) demonstrated a higher need for these interventions. However, patients without any comorbidity consistently exhibited the highest cumulative proportion of survival at each time point, indicating better overall survival outcomes. In contrast, patients with multimorbidities of DM/HTN/IHD, HTN/IHD, and DM/HTN/CKD had comparatively lower survival rates and higher mortality rates (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This research highlights the significant impact of age, comorbidities and multimorbidities on the severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients. It highlights the importance of considering these factors in tailoring effective management strategies for patients with COVID-19 or other infectious respiratory diseases.