Chewable tablet with herbal extracts and propolis arrests Wuhan and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Prevention of COVID-19 is of paramount importance for public health. Some natural extracts might have the potential to suppress COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study aimed to design a standardised, efficient, and safe chewable tablet formulation (with propolis and three herbal extracts) for possible prevention against two variants (Wuhan B.1.36 and Omicron BA.1.1) of SARS-CoV-2 virus and other viral infections. Green tea, bilberry, dried pomegranate peel, and propolis extracts were selected for this purpose. Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of each component, as well as the developed chewable tablet, were examined against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus using Vero E6 cells with the xCELLigence real-time cell analyser-multiple plates system. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, as well as mutagenicity and anti-mutagenicity of the chewable tablet were also analysed. Compared to the control, it was observed that the chewable tablet at concentrations of 110 and 55 µg/mL had antiviral activity rates of 101% and 81%, respectively, for the Wuhan variant and 112% and 35%, respectively, for the Omicron variant. The combination of herbal extracts with propolis extract were synergically more effective (∼7-fold higher) than that of individual extract. The present work suggests that a combination of herbal extracts with propolis at suitable concentrations can effectively be used as a food supplement for the prevention of both variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the oral cavity (the first entry point of the SARS-CoV-2 virus).

Development of propolis and essential oils containing oral/throat spray formulation against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A broad range of evidence has confirmed that natural products and essential oils might have the potential to suppress COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an oral/throat spray formulation for prophylactic use in the oral cavity or help treatment modalities. Based on a reference survey, several essential oils, a cold-pressed oil, and propolis were selected, and cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of each component and the developed spray formulation were examined against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using Vero E6 cells. Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic activities as well as mutagenicity and anti-mutagenicity of the formulation were analysed. Forty-three phenolics were identified in both propolis extract and oral/throat spray. The spray with 1:640-fold dilution provided the highest efficacy and the cytopathic effect was delayed for 54 h at this dilution, and the antiviral activity rate was 85.3%. A combination of natural products with essential oils at the right concentrations can be used as a supplement for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Efficient solid phase extraction of α-tocopherol and ß-sitosterol from sunflower oil waste by improving the mesoporosity of the zeolitic adsorbent.

The recovery of α-tocopherol and ß-sitosterol from the deodorizer distillate of sunflower oil using solid phase extraction is reported. Performance of the silicon-rich and inexpensive zeolite, ZSM-5, and its modified versions were compared as adsorbents. Modifications of the zeolite frame were performed under both acidic and basic conditions to desilicate and dealuminate the parent ZSM-5. Base treatment resulted in hierarchical porosity and increased mesoporosity in the structure, which made the desilicated material as the best adsorbent of the study. Optimization of the solid phase extraction conditions was also studied and high recoveries of α-tocopherol and ß-sitosterol, up to 99.20% and 97.32%, respectively, were achieved. The preparation and characterisation of the reported sorbents, as high-performance adsorbents, were not only proved to be economically promising, due to recycling of nutritious products, but also improves the ecological credentials of the process through reduction in waste.

Fatty Acid and Proximate Composition of Bee Bread.

Palynological spectrum, proximate and fatty acid (FA) composition of eight bee bread samples of different botanical origins were examined and significant variations were observed. The samples were all identified as monofloral, namely Castanea sativa (94.4%), Trifolium spp. (85.6%), Gossypium hirsutum (66.2%), Citrus spp. (61.4%) and Helianthus annuus (45.4%). Each had moisture content between 11.4 and 15.9%, ash between 1.9 and 2.54%, fat between 5.9 and 11.5%, and protein between 14.8 and 24.3%. A total of 37 FAs were determined with most abundant being (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic, (9Z,12Z)- -octadeca-9,12-dienoic, hexadecanoic, (Z)-octadec-9-enoic, (Z)-icos-11-enoic and octadecanoic acids. Among all, cotton bee bread contained the highest level of ω-3 FAs, i.e. 41.3%. Unsaturated to saturated FA ratio ranged between 1.38 and 2.39, indicating that the bee bread can be a good source of unsaturated FAs.

Determination of grayanotoxins in honey by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using dilute-and-shoot sample preparation approach.

A simple and rugged method of analysis for grayanotoxins I and III in honey using liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization was developed. This paper describes the first LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation and confirmation of the grayanotoxins in honey using "dilute-and-shoot" sample preparation approach. Honey sample was diluted 10-fold in methanol-water (1:4 v/v) prior to analysis. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed phase HPLC column using a water-methanol gradient with 0.1% acetic acid. The method was fully validated for quantitative purposes. Overall recoveries, selectivity, overall intraday and interday repeatability, decision limit, and detection capability of the analytes was determined. The matrix effects, ruggedness, and analyte stability in standards and samples were studied. Ten real honey samples were successfully analyzed using the developed method. All the samples were found to contain residues of GTXs ranging from 0.1 to 39 mg/kg.

A rapid and simple method for simultaneous determination of triphenylmethane dye residues in rainbow trouts by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid and simple LC-MS/MS method was developed and optimized for screening and confirmation of triphenylmethane dyes including malachite green (MG), leucomalachite green (LMG), crystal violet (CV), leucocrystal violet (LCV) and brilliant green (BG) in fish muscle with skin. Leucocrystal violet D6 (LCV-D6) and leucomalachite green-D5 (LMG D5) was used as internal standards. Sample preparation is a simple procedure based on solid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid, followed by centrifugation and evaporation of the supernatant. The residue was dissolved in acetonitrile with 0.1% acetic acid and centrifuged prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. Chromatographic separation of analytes was performed on an Inertsil ODS-4 C18 column with ammonium acetate buffer in acetonitrile gradient. The mass detection was performed on a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via electrospray ionization (ESI+). The developed method was validated according to the criteria set in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The decision limit (CCα) was 0.43, 0.24, 0.33, 0.28 and 0.17µgkg(-1) for MG, LMG, CV, LCV and BG respectively. The detection capability (CCß) values obtained were 0.56, 0.31, 0.43, 0.37 and 0.22µgkg(-1), respectively. The precision of the method, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) values for the within-day and inter-day laboratory reproducibility, for MG, LMG, CV, LCV and BG at the four levels of fortification (0.3, 0.5, 1, and 2µgkg(-1)), was less than 16 and 19% respectively. Accuracy of the method was confirmed by successful participation of a proficiency test organized by FAPAS. The method has been used for the analysis of 208 fish samples of which seven samples were found to be non-compliant containing low residues of LMG and LCV.