Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract: Promising Particles for the Treatment of Cancer and Diabetes.

Both diabetes and cancer pose significant threats to public health. To overcome these challenges, nanobiotechnology offers innovative solutions for the treatment of these diseases. However, the synthesis of nanoparticles can be complex, costly and environmentally toxic. Therefore, in this study, we successfully synthesized Camellia sinensis silver nanoparticles (CS-AgNPs) biologically from methanolic leaf extract of C. sinensis and as confirmed by the visual appearance which exhibited strong absorption at 456 nm in UV-visible spectroscopy. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that phytochemicals of C. sinensis were coated with AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the spherical shape of CS-AgNPs, with a size of 15.954 nm, while X-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD) analysis detected a size of 20.32 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated the thermal stability of CS-AgNPs. The synthesized CS-AgNPs significantly inhibited the ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell growth with 53.42±1.101 %. The EAC cell line induced mice exhibited increased level of the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), however this elevated serum parameter significantly reduced and controlled by the treatment with CS-AgNPs. Moreover, in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model, CS-AgNPs greatly reduced blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and creatinine levels. These findings highlight that the synthesized CS-AgNPs have significant anticancer and antidiabetic activities that could be used as promising particles for the treatment of these major diseases. However, pre-clinical and clinical trial should be addressed before use this particles as therapeutics agents.

Molecular docking and dynamics simulation approach of Camellia sinensis leaf extract derived compounds as potential cholinesterase inhibitors.

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) belongs to the family Theaceae and contains many phytochemicals that are effective against various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we aimed to characterize the phytochemicals present in the methanolic and n-hexane leaf extracts of C. sinensis using GC-MS, FTIR, and UV-visible analysis. We detected a total of 19 compounds of different chemical classes. We also performed molecular docking studies using the GC-MS detected phytochemicals, targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE, PBD ID: 4BDT) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, PDB ID: 6QAB), which are responsible for the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). This breakdown leads to dementia and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients. The compounds Ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol, (3.beta.,5.alpha.,22E)- and Benzene, 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) showed better binding affinity against AChE, while dl-.alpha.-Tocopherol and Ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol, (3.beta.,5.alpha.,22E)- showed better binding affinity against BChE. We determined the stability and rigidity of these best docked complexes through molecular dynamics simulation for a period of 100 ns. All complexes showed stability in terms of SASA, Rg, and hydrogen bonds, but some variations were found in the RMSD values. Our ADMET analysis revealed that all lead compounds are non-toxic. Therefore, these compounds could be potential inhibitors of AChE and BChE.

Evaluation of Adenanthera pavonina-derived compounds against diabetes mellitus: insight into the phytochemical analysis and in silico assays.

Adenanthera pavonina is a medicinal plant with numerous potential secondary metabolites showing a significant level of antidiabetic activity. The objective of the current study was to identify potential phytochemicals from the methanolic leaf extract of Adenanthera pavonina as therapeutic agents against diabetes mellitus using GC-MS and in silico methods. The GC-MS analysis of the leaf extract revealed a total of 17 phytochemicals. Molecular docking was performed using these phytochemicals, targeting the mutated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (5hhw), which inhibits glucose uptake by cells. Diazoprogesterone (-9.2 kcal/mol), 2,4,4,7a-Tetramethyl-1-(3-oxobutyl)octahydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid (-6.9 kcal/mol), and 2-Naphthalenemethanol, decahydro-.alpha.,.alpha.,4a-trimethyl-8-methylene-, [2R-(2.alpha.,4a.alpha.,8a.beta.)] (-6.6 kcal/mol) exhibited better binding with the target protein. The ADMET analysis was performed for the top three compounds with the best docking scores, which showed positive results with no observed toxicity in the AMES test. Furthermore, the molecular dynamics study confirmed the favorable binding of Diazoprogesterone, 2,4,4,7a-Tetramethyl-1-(3-oxobutyl)octahydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid and 2-Naphthalenemethanol, decahydro-.alpha.,.alpha.,4a-trimethyl-8-methylene-, [2R-(2.alpha.,4a.alpha.,8a.beta.)] with the receptor throughout the 100 ns simulation period.

Clinical manifestations and socio-demographic status of COVID-19 patients during the second-wave of pandemic: A Bangladeshi experience.

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh is a densely populated country with a substandard healthcare system and a mediocre economic framework. Due to the enormous number of people who have been unaware until now, the development of COVID-19's second-wave infection has become a severe threat. The present investigation aimed to characterize the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out from all the other COVID-19 patients and confirmed by RT-PCR undergoing a specialized COVID-19 hospital. From March 1 to April 15, 2021, a total of 1326 samples were collected. Samples were only obtained from non-critical COVID-19 patients as critically ill patients required emergency intensive care medications. Then, from April 17 to May 03, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical assessment was performed based on interim guidelines from the WHO. The diagnosis was conducted through RT-PCR. Later, identifying the symptomatic and asymptomatic patient based on checking the Clinical Observation Form (COF). The patients filled the COF form. Finally, statistical analyses were done using the SPSS 20 statistical program. RESULTS: In this investigation, a total of 326 patients were diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. Among them, approximately 19.02% (n = 62) were asymptomatic, and 80.98% (n = 264) were symptomatic. Here, the finding shows that the occurrence of this infection was varied depending on age, sex, residence, occupation, smoking habit, comorbidities, etc. However, Males (60.12%) were more affected than females (39.88%), and, surprisingly, this pandemic infected both urban and rural residents almost equally (urban = 50.92%; rural = 49.08%). Approximately 19% of the asymptomatic and 62% of symptomatic cases had at least one comorbid disorder. Interestingly, an unexpected result was exhibited in the case of smokers, where non-smokers were more affected than smokers. The study indicates community transmission of COVID 19, where people were highly infected at their occupations (35.58%), at houses (23.93%) and by traveling (12.88%). Noteworthy, according to this report, a large number (19.33%) of individuals did not know exactly how they were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were most commonly treated by an antibiotic 95.09%, followed in second by corticosteroid 46.01%. Anti-viral drugs, remdesivir, and oxygenation are also needed for other patients. Among those, who were being treated, approximately 69.33% were isolated at home, 27.91% were being treated at dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. Finally, 96.63% were discharged without complications, and 0.03% has died. CONCLUSION: This investigation concludes that males became more infected than females. Interestingly, both urban and rural people became nearly equally infected. It noticed community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, where people were highly infected at their workplaces. A higher rate of silent transmission indicates that more caution is needed to identify asymptomatic patients. Most of the infected people were isolated at home whereas nearly one-fourth were treated at hospitals. Clinically, antibiotics were the most widely used treatment. However, the majority of the patients were discharged without complications. The current investigation would be helpful to understand the clinical manifestations and socio-demographic situations during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.