RESUMEN
The discovery and development of novel antiviral drugs from natural sources is continuously increasing due to limitations of currently available drugs such as toxic side effects, drug residue risk factors, high costs, and poor therapeutic strategies. Also, there are very few known antiviral drugs that are effective against only specific viruses. Hence, the present study is intended to isolate and characterize potent antiviral compounds from the methanolic root extract of Sophora interrupta Bedd. against avian paramyxovirus, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and to distinguish the molecular basis of antiviral compounds. The two isolated flavonoids, maackiain (SR-1) and echinoisoflavanone (SR-2) exhibited the best antiviral activities against NDV infection in chicken embryo fibroblast cell lines compared to the standard antiviral drug, Ribavirin. Further, the in vitro studies and quantitative PCR analysis suggests that these flavonoids inhibit the viral entry, replication, and transcription, which may be beneficial as a promising strategy for the treatment of viral infections. Besides, the molecular docking studies of SR-1 and SR-2 exhibited high binding affinities of -7.6 and -8.0 kcal mol-1, respectively, and marked interactions with the NDV surface glycoprotein, hemagglutinin neuraminidase (HN). Also, the in silico toxicity properties as well pharmacokinetic studies of isolates revealed them as pharmacologically potent antiviral compounds.
RESUMEN
Ricinus communis (RC) is a traditional medicinal plant which has been used by Chenchu and Yerukula tribes for treating their liver ailments. The present work is aimed to explore the hepatoprotective efficacy of Ricinus communis against d-galactosamine (D-GalN) induced hepatitis rat model and its therapeutic potential compared with standard drug, silymarin (100mg/kg.bw). In vitro antioxidant activity of Methanolic extract of Ricinus communis leaves (MERCL) was assayed through DPPH and H2O2 free radical scavenging activity. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of MERCL using HPLC, demonstrated that Rutin was found to be predominant bioactive compound in the extract. Hepatitis was induced by treating the rats with D-GalN at a single intraperitoneal dose of 800mg/kg.bw. Serum markers viz, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased and the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD),Catalase (CAT), Glutathione reductase (GR), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), non-enzymatic antioxidant Glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased in the liver of hepatitis induced rats when compared to controls. Pre and post treatment with MERCL significantly altered the enzyme activities, GSH and MDA to normal levels. Histopathological observations also showed protective and curative effects of MERCL against D-GalN intoxication. These results demonstrated that MERCL significantly protected the liver from d-galactosamine induced hepatitis, improved the curative effect in the liver and hence, MERCL can be used as a potent hepatoprotective drug in future.
