Comparative evaluation of antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial potential of Euphorbia-derived functional products.

This study assessed the medicinal properties of Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg (E. resinifera) and Euphorbia officinarum subsp echinus (Hook.f. and Coss.) Vindt (Euphorbia echinus, known for their pharmaceutical benefits. Extracts from their flowers, stems, propolis, and honey were examined for phenolic content, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total condensed tannin (TCC) were determined using specific methods. Antioxidant potential was assessed through various tests including DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and Total antioxidant capacity. Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using phenol-induced ear edema in rats, while antibacterial activity was measured against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) and Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 10536) bacteria. Among the extracts, the aqueous propolis extract of E. resinifera demonstrated exceptional antioxidant capabilities, with low IC50 values for DPPH (0.07 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and ABTS (0.13 ± 0.00 mg/mL), as well as high TAC (176.72 ± 0.18 mg AA/mg extract) and FRAP (86.45 ± 1.45 mg AA/mg extract) values. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of E. resinifera propolis extracts surpassed that of indomethacin, yielding edema percentages of 3.92% and 11.33% for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Microbiological results indicated that the aqueous extract of E. resinifera flower exhibited the most potent inhibitory action against S. aureus, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 21.0 ± 0.00 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.125 mg/mL. Additionally, only E. resinifera honey displayed the ability to inhibit E. coli growth, with an inhibition zone diameter of 09.30 ± 0.03 mm and a MIC of 0.0433 mg/mL.

Unlocking melanoma Suppression: Insights from Plasma-Induced potent miRNAs through PI3K-AKT-ZEB1 axis.

INTRODUCTION: Melanoma is a rare but highly malignant form of skin cancer. Although recent targeted and immune-based therapies have improved survival rates by 10-15%, effective melanoma treatment remains challenging. Therefore, novel, combinatorial therapy options such as non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) are being investigated to inhibit and prevent chemoresistance. Although several studies have reported the apoptotic and inhibitory effects of reactive oxygen species produced by NTP in the context of melanoma, the intricate molecular network that determines the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating NTP-mediated cell death remains unexplored. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms and miRNA networks regulated by NTP-induced oxidative stress in melanoma cells. METHODS: Melanoma cells were exposed to NTP and then subjected to high-throughput miRNA sequencing to identify NTP-regulated miRNAs. Various biological processes and underlying molecular mechanisms were assessed using Alamar Blue, propidium iodide (PI) uptake, cell migration, and clonogenic assays followed by qRT-PCR and flow cytometry. RESULTS: NTP exposure for 3 min was sufficient to modulate the expression of several miRNAs, inhibiting cell growth. Persistent NTP exposure for 5 min increased differential miRNA regulation, PI uptake, and the expression of genes involved in cell cycle arrest and death. qPCR confirmed that miR-200b-3p and miR-215-5p upregulation contributed to decreased cell viability and migration. Mechanistically, inhibiting miR-200b-3p and miR-215-5p in SK-2 cells enhancedZEB1, PI3K, and AKT expression, increasing cell proliferation and viability. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that NTP exposure for 5 min results in the differential regulation of miRNAs related to the PI3K-AKT-ZEB1 axis and cell cycle dysregulation to facilitate melanoma suppression.

Surface air gas discharge plasma: An ecofriendly virus inactivation approach to enhance CPRRs mediated antiviral genes expression against airborne bio-contaminant (human Coronavirus-229E).

Emerging bio-contaminants (airborne viruses) exploits and manipulate host (human) metabolism to produce new viral particles, evading the host's immune defences and leading to infections. Non-thermal plasma, operating at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, is explored for virus inactivation, generating RONS that interact and denatures viral proteins. However, various factors affecting virus survival influence the efficacy of non-thermal plasma. Glucose analogue 2-DG, a metabolic modifier used in this study, disrupts the glycolysis pathway viruses rely on, creating an unfavourable environment for replication. Here, airborne HCoV-229E bio-contaminant was treated with plasma for inactivation, and the presence of RONS was analysed. Metabolically altered lung cells were subsequently exposed to the treated airborne viruses. Cytopathic effect, spike protein, and cell death were evaluated via flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and CPRRs mediated antiviral gene expression was evaluated using PCR. Gas plasma-treated viruses led to reduced virus proliferation in unaltered lung cells, although few virus particles survived the exposure, as confirmed by biological assessment (cytopathic effects and live/dead staining). A combination approach of gas plasma-treated viruses and altered lung cells displayed drastic virus reduction compared to the control group, established through confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Furthermore, altered lung cell enhances gene transcription responsible for innate immunity when exposed to the gas plasma-treated virus, thereby impeding airborne virus propagation. This study demonstrates the significance of a surface air gas plasma and metabolic alteration approach in enhancing genes targeted towards antiviral innate immunity and tackling outbreaks of emerging bio-contaminants of concerns (airborne viruses).

TFCP2 as a therapeutic nexus: unveiling molecular signatures in cancer.

Tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes comprise most of the complex genomic landscape associated with cancer, with a minimal number of genes exhibiting dual-context-dependent functions. The transcription factor cellular promoter 2 (TFCP2), a pivotal transcription factor encoded by the alpha globin transcription factor CP2 gene, is a constituent of the TFCP2/grainyhead family of transcription factors. While grainyhead members have been extensively studied for their crucial roles in developmental processes, embryogenesis, and multiple cancers, the TFCP2 subfamily has been relatively less explored. The molecular mechanisms underlying TFCP2's involvement in carcinogenesis are still unclear even though it is a desirable target for cancer treatment and a therapeutic marker. This comprehensive literature review summarizes the molecular functions of TFCP2, emphasizing its involvement in cancer pathophysiology, particularly in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. It highlights TFCP2's critical function as a regulatory target and explores its potential as a prognostic marker for survival and inflammation in carcinomas. Its ambiguous association with carcinomas underlines the urgent need for an in-depth understanding to facilitate the development of more efficacious targeted therapeutic modality and diagnostic tools. This study aims to elucidate the multifaceted effects of TFCP2 regulation, through a comprehensive integration of the existing knowledge in cancer therapeutics. Furthermore, the clinical relevance and the inherent challenges encountered in investigating its intricate role in cancer pathogenesis have been discussed in this review.

Mitigation of T3SS-mediated virulence in waterborne pathogenic bacteria by multi-electrode cylindrical-DBD plasma-generated nitric oxide water.

S. enterica, S. flexneri, and V. parahaemolyticus bacteria are globally recognized to cause severe diarrheal diseases, consisting of Type III Secretion System (T3SS) effectors that help in bacterial infection and virulence in host cells. This study investigates the properties of multi-electrode cylindrical DBD plasma-generated nitric oxide water (MCDBD-PG-NOW) treatment on the survival and virulence of S. enterica, S. flexneri, and V. parahaemolyticus bacteria. The Colony Forming Unit (CFU) assay, live/dead cell staining, lipid peroxidation assay, and bacteria morphological analysis showed substantial growth inhibition of bacteria. Moreover, to confirm the interaction of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) with bacterial membrane biotin switch assay, DAF-FM, and FTIR analysis were carried out, which established the formation of S-nitrosothiols in the cell membrane, intracellular accumulation of RNS, and changes in the cell composition post-PG-NOW treatment. Furthermore, the conventional culture-based method and a quantitative PCR using propidium monoazide showed minimal VBNC induction under similar condition. The efficiency of bacteria to adhere to mammalian colon cells was significantly reduced. In addition, the infection rate was also controlled by disrupting the virulent genes, leading to the collapse of the infection mechanism. This study provides insights into whether RNS generated from PG-NOW might be beneficial for preventing diarrheal infections.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma: A Growing Paradigm in Diabetic Wound Healing-Mechanism and Clinical Significance.

Diabetes is one of the most significant causes of death all over the world. This illness, due to abnormal blood glucose levels, leads to impaired wound healing and, as a result, foot ulcers. These ulcers cannot heal quickly in diabetic patients and may finally result in amputation. In recent years, different research has been conducted to heal diabetic foot ulcers: one of them is using cold atmospheric pressure plasma. Nowadays, cold atmospheric pressure plasma is highly regarded in medicine because of its positive effects and lack of side effects. These conditions have caused plasma to be considered a promising technology in medicine and especially diabetic wound healing because studies show that it can heal chronic wounds that are resistant to standard treatments. The positive effects of plasma are due to different reactive species, UV radiation, and electromagnetic fields. This work reviews ongoing cold atmospheric pressure plasma improvements in diabetic wound healing. It shows that plasma can be a promising tool in treating chronic wounds, including ones resulting from diabetes.

Tobacco smoking is associated with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema and worse outcomes in interstitial lung disease.

Tobacco smoking is an established cause of pulmonary disease whose contribution to interstitial lung disease (ILD) is incompletely characterized. We hypothesized that compared with nonsmokers, subjects who smoked tobacco would differ in their clinical phenotype and have greater mortality. We performed a retrospective cohort study of tobacco smoking in ILD. We evaluated demographic and clinical characteristics, time to clinically meaningful lung function decline (LFD), and mortality in patients stratified by tobacco smoking status (ever vs. never) within a tertiary center ILD registry (2006-2021) and replicated mortality outcomes across four nontertiary medical centers. Data were analyzed by two-sided t tests, Poisson generalized linear models, and Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), ILD subtype, antifibrotic therapy, and hospital center. Of 1,163 study participants, 651 were tobacco smokers. Smokers were more likely to be older, male, have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), coronary artery disease, CT honeycombing and emphysema, higher FVC, and lower DLCO than nonsmokers (P < 0.01). Time to LFD in smokers was shorter (19.7 ± 20 mo vs. 24.8 ± 29 mo; P = 0.038) and survival time was decreased [10.75 (10.08-11.50) yr vs. 20 (18.67-21.25) yr; adjusted mortality HR = 1.50, 95%CI 1.17-1.92; P < 0.0001] compared with nonsmokers. Smokers had 12% greater odds of death for every additional 10 pack yr of smoking (P < 0.0001). Mortality outcomes remained consistent in the nontertiary cohort (HR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.03-2.23; P = 0.036). Tobacco smokers with ILD have a distinct clinical phenotype strongly associated with the syndrome of combined PF and emphysema, shorter time to LFD, and decreased survival. Smoking prevention may improve ILD outcomes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Smoking in ILD is associated with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema and worse clinical outcomes.

Glycolytic stress deteriorates 229E virulence to improve host defense response.

Viral infection treatment is a difficult task due to its complex structure and metabolism. Additionally, viruses can alter the metabolism of host cells, mutate, and readily adjust to harsh environments. Coronavirus stimulates glycolysis, weakens mitochondrial activity, and impairs infected cells. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of 2-DG in inhibiting coronavirus-induced metabolic processes and antiviral host defense systems, which have not been explored so far. 2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG), a molecule restricting substrate availability, has recently gained attention as a potential antiviral drug. The results revealed that 229E human coronavirus promoted glycolysis, producing a significant increase in the concentration of fluorescent 2-NBDG, a glucose analog, particularly in the infected host cells. The addition of 2-DG decreased its viral replication and suppressed infection-induced cell death and cytopathic effects, thereby improving the antiviral host defense response. It was also observed that administration of low doses of 2-DG inhibited glucose uptake, indicating that 2-DG consumption in virus-infected host cells was mediated by high-affinity glucose transporters, whose levels were amplified upon coronavirus infection. Our findings indicated that 2-DG could be a potential drug to improve the host defense system in coronavirus-infected cells.

Antimicrobial potential of phytocompounds of Acorus calamus: in silico approach.

Medicinal plants are used from prehistoric time to cure various life-threatening bacterial diseases. Acorus calamus is an important medicinal plant widely used to cure gastrointestinal, respiratory, kidney and liver disorders. The objective of the current research was to investigate the interaction of major phytoconstituents of Acorus calamus with bacterial (6VJE) and fungal (1EA1) protein targets. Protein-ligand interactions were estimated using the AutoDock software, drug likeness was predicted by using the molinspiration server and toxicity was predicted with the swissADME and protox II servers. MD simulation of phytocompounds with the best profiles was done on the GROMACS software for 100 ns. Molecular docking results showed among all the selected major phytoconstituents, that ß-cadinene showed best binding interaction in complex with bacterial (6VJE) and fungal (1EA1) protein targets with binding energy -7.66 ± 0.1 and -7.73 ± 0.15 kcal mol-1, respectively. Drug likeness and toxicity predictions showed that ß-cadinene follows all rules of drug likeness and toxicity. MD simulation study revealed that ß-cadinene fit in binding pocket of bacterial and fungal targets and found to be stable throughout the duration of the simulation. Based on the observations from this in-silico study it is being proposed that ß-cadinene, a major phytocompound of Acorus calamus, can be considered for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections since the study shows that it might be one of the compounds that contributes majorly to the plant's biological activity. This study needs in vitro and in vivo validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Functional impact of non-coding RNAs in high-grade breast carcinoma: Moving from resistance to clinical applications: A comprehensive review.

Despite the recent advances in cancer therapy, triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are the most relapsing cancer sub-type. It is partly due to their propensity to develop resistance against the available therapies. An intricate network of regulatory molecules in cellular mechanisms leads to the development of resistance in tumors. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained widespread attention as critical regulators of cancer hallmarks. Existing research suggests that aberrant expression of ncRNAs modulates the oncogenic or tumor suppressive signaling. This can mitigate the responsiveness of efficacious anti-tumor interventions. This review presents a systematic overview of biogenesis and down streaming molecular mechanism of the subgroups of ncRNAs. Furthermore, it explains ncRNA-based strategies and challenges to target the chemo-, radio-, and immunoresistance in TNBCs from a clinical standpoint.

Argon gas plasma-treated physiological solutions stimulate immunogenic cell death and eradicates immunosuppressive CD47 protein in lung carcinoma.

Cold atmospheric plasma-treated liquids (PTLs) exhibit selective toxicity toward tumor cells and are provoked by a cocktail of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in such liquids. Compared to the gaseous phase, these reactive species are more persistent in the aqueous phase. This indirect plasma treatment method has gradually gathered interest in the discipline of plasma medicine to treat cancer. PTL's motivated effect on immunosuppressive proteins and immunogenic cell death (ICD) in solid cancer cells is still not explored. In this study, we aimed to induce immunomodulation by plasma-treated Ringer's lactate (PT-RL) and phosphate-buffered saline (PT-PBS) solutions for cancer treatment. PTLs induced minimum cytotoxicity in normal lung cells and inhibited cancer cell growth. ICD is confirmed by the enhanced expression of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). We evidenced that PTLs induce intracellular nitrogen oxide species accumulation and elevate immunogenicity in cancer cells owing to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, DAMPs, and reduced immunosuppressive protein CD47 expression. In addition, PTLs influenced A549 cells to elevate the organelles (mitochondria and lysosomes) in macrophages. Taken together, we have developed a therapeutic approach to potentially facilitate the selection of a suitable candidate for direct clinical applications.

Plasma-Generated Nitric Oxide Water Mediates Environmentally Transmitted Pathogenic Bacterial Inactivation via Intracellular Nitrosative Stress.

Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria will increase. This is a major concern. Therefore, effective and biocompatible therapeutic strategies against these bacteria are urgently needed. Non-thermal plasma has been exhaustively characterized for its antibacterial activity. This study aims to investigate the inactivation efficiency and mechanisms of plasma-generated nitric oxide water (PG-NOW) on pathogenic water, air, soil, and foodborne Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Using a colony-forming unit assay, we found that PG-NOW treatment effectively inhibited the growth of bacteria. Moreover, the intracellular nitric oxide (NO) accumulation was evaluated by 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM DA) staining. The reduction of viable cells unambiguously indicates the anti-microbial effect of PG-NOW. The soxR and soxS genes are associated with nitrosative stress, and oxyR regulation corresponds to oxidative stress in bacterial cells. To support the nitrosative effect mediated by PG-NOW, we have further assessed the soxRS and oxyR gene expressions after treatment. Accordingly, soxRS expression was enhanced, whereas the oxyR expression was decreased following PG-NOW treatment. The disruption of cell morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In conclusion, our findings furnish evidence of an initiation point for the further progress and development of PG-NOW-based antibacterial treatments.

Zebrafish-based platform for emerging bio-contaminants and virus inactivation research.

Emerging bio-contaminants such as viruses have affected health and environment settings of every country. Viruses are the minuscule entities resulting in severe contagious diseases like SARS, MERS, Ebola, and avian influenza. Recent epidemic like the SARS-CoV-2, the virus has undergone mutations strengthen them and allowing to escape from the remedies. Comprehensive knowledge of viruses is essential for the development of targeted therapeutic and vaccination treatments. Animal models mimicking human biology like non-human primates, rats, mice, and rabbits offer competitive advantage to assess risk of viral infections, chemical toxins, nanoparticles, and microbes. However, their economic maintenance has always been an issue. Furthermore, the redundancy of experimental results due to aforementioned aspects is also in examine. Hence, exploration for the alternative animal models is crucial for risk assessments. The current review examines zebrafish traits and explores the possibilities to monitor emerging bio-contaminants. Additionally, a comprehensive picture of the bio contaminant and virus particle invasion and abatement mechanisms in zebrafish and human cells is presented. Moreover, a zebrafish model to investigate the emerging viruses such as coronaviridae and poxviridae has been suggested.

Nitric-oxide enriched plasma-activated water inactivates 229E coronavirus and alters antiviral response genes in human lung host cells.

The ongoing pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is influencing global health. Moreover, there is a major threat of future coronaviruses affecting the entire world in a similar, or even more dreadful, manner. Therefore, effective and biocompatible therapeutic options against coronaviruses are urgently needed. To address this challenge, medical specialists require a well-informed and safe approach to treating human coronaviruses (HCoVs). Herein, an environmental friendly approach for viral inactivation, based on plasma technology, was considered. A microwave plasma system was employed for the generation of the high amount of gaseous nitric oxide to prepare nitric oxide enriched plasma-activated water (NO-PAW), the effects of which on coronaviruses, have not been reported to date. To determine these effects, alpha-HCoV-229E was used in an experimental model. We found that NO-PAW treatment effectively inhibited coronavirus infection in host lung cells, visualized by evaluating the cytopathic effect and expression level of spike proteins. Interestingly, NO-PAW showed minimal toxicity towards lung host cells, suggesting its potential for therapeutic application. Moreover, this new approach resulted in viral inactivation and greatly improved the gene levels involved in host antiviral responses. Together, our findings provide evidence of an initiation point for further progress toward the clinical development of antiviral treatments, including such coronaviruses.

A review on recent advancements on removal of harmful metal/metal ions using graphene oxide: Experimental and theoretical approaches.

Graphene oxide is a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial and has gained huge popularity over the last decade. Because, the graphene oxide can be dispersed in water easily and it is one of the most researched two-dimensional materials in the current time. The extraordinary properties shown by graphene oxide (GO) are due to its unique chemical structure; includes various hydrophilic functional groups containing oxygen such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl and tiny sp2 carbon domains surrounded by sp3 domains. These groups are very peculiar for various applications as they allow covalent functionalisation with a plethora of compounds. Large surface area, intrinsic fluorescence, excellent surface functionality, amphiphilicity, improved conductivity, high adsorption capacity and superior biocompatibility are some of the chemical properties have drawn research from various fields. Graphene oxide has various interactions such as coordination, chelation, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic effects, π-π interaction, acid base interaction etc., with various metal ions. This review is focused on the removal of metals and metal ions due to their interactions mentioned above. Further, potential of composites of graphene oxide in the removal of metal and metal ions is also discussed. Further, the current challenges in this field at industrial-scale are also discussed.

The inactivation and destruction of viruses by reactive oxygen species generated through physical and cold atmospheric plasma techniques: Current status and perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of airborne viral infections, such as COVID-19, can cause panic regarding other severe respiratory syndrome diseases that may develop and affect public health. It is therefore necessary to develop control methods that offer protection against such viruses. AIM OF REVIEW: To identify a feasible solution for virus deactivation, we critically reviewed methods of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can attack a wide range of molecular targets to induce antiviral activity, accounting for their flexibility in facilitating host defense mechanisms against a comprehensive range of pathogens. Recently, the role of ROS in microbial decontamination has been critically investigated as a major topic in infectious diseases. ROS can eradicate pathogens directly by inducing oxidative stress or indirectly by promoting pathogen removal through numerous non-oxidative mechanisms, including autophagy, T-cell responses, and pattern recognition receptor signaling. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: In this article, we reviewed possible methods for the in vitro generation of ROS with antiviral activity. Furthermore, we discuss, in detail, the novel and environmentally friendly cold plasma delivery system in the destruction of viruses. This review highlights the potential of ROS as therapeutic mediators to modernize current techniques and improvement on the efficiency of inactivating SARS-CoV2 and other viruses.

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds Having Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Liliaceae Family Flower Petal Extracts.

Beneficial natural products utilized in cosmetics formulation and pharmaceutical applications are of enormous interest. Lily (Lilium) serves as an essential edible and medicinal plant species with wide classification. Here, we have performed the screening of various extracts that were prepared from flower petals grown from the bulbs of eight Lilium varieties, with a viewpoint to their applicability as a viable source of natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidants agent. Interestingly, our findings indicated that all ethanol and water extracts exhibited a substantially differential spectrum of antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Specifically, Serrano showed a close similarity among ethanol and water extracts among all tested lily petal extracts. Therefore, to obtain a detailed analysis of chemical compounds, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy was performed in ethanolic and water extracts of Serrano petals. Together, our preliminary results indicated that lily petals extracts used in this study could serve as a basis to develop a potential new whitening agent with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for medicinal, functional food, and cosmetic applications.

An understanding of coronavirus and exploring the molecular dynamics simulations to find promising candidates against the Mpro of nCoV to combat the COVID-19: A systematic review.

The first infection case of new coronavirus was reported at the end of 2019 and after then, the cases are reported in all nations across the world in a very short period. Further, the regular news of mutations in the virus has made life restricted with appropriate behavior. To date, a new strain (Omicron and its new subvariant Omicron XE) has brought fear amongst us due to a higher trajectory of increase in the number of cases. The researchers thus started giving attention to this viral infection and discovering drug-like candidates to cure the infections. Finding a drug for any viral infection is not an easy task and takes plenty of time. Therefore, computational chemistry/bioinformatics is followed to get promising molecules against viral infection. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are being explored to get drug candidates in a short period. The molecules are screened via molecular docking, which provides preliminary information which can be further verified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. To understand the change in structure, MD simulations generated several trajectories such as root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), hydrogen bonding, and radius of gyration for the main protease (Mpro) of the new coronavirus (nCoV) in the presence of small molecules. Additionally, change in free energy for the formation of complex of Mpro of nCoV with the small molecule can be determined by applying molecular mechanics with generalized born and surface area solvation (MM-GBSA). Thus, the promising molecules can be further explored for clinical trials to combat coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

Euphorbia species latex: A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and biological activities.

The genus Euphorbia includes about 2,000 species commonly widespread in both temperate and tropical zones that contain poisonous milky juice fluid or latex. Many species have been used in traditional and complementary medicine for the treatment of various health issues such as dropsy, paralysis, deafness, wounds, warts on the skin, and amaurosis. The medicinal applications of these species have been attributed to the presence of various compounds, and most studies on Euphorbia species have focused on their latex. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on chemical composition and biological activities of the latex from various species of the genus Euphorbia. Our aim was to explore the applications of latex extracts in the medical field and to evaluate their ethnopharmacological potential. The databases employed for data collection, are obtained through Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus, from 1983 to 2022. The bibliographic data indicate that terpenoids are the most common secondary metabolites in the latex. Furthermore, the latex has interesting biological properties and pharmacological functions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, free radical scavenger, cytotoxic, tumor, anti-inflammatory, healing, hemostatic, anti-angiogenic, insecticidal, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities. However, the role of other components in the latex, such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids, remains unknown, which limits the application of the latex. Future studies are required to optimize the therapeutic use of latex extracts.

Current Nanomedicine for Targeted Vascular Disease Treatment: Trends and Perspectives.

Nanotechnology has been developed to deliver cargos effectively to the vascular system. Nanomedicine is a novel and effective approach for targeted vascular disease treatment including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, strokes, peripheral arterial disease, and cancer. It has been well known for some time that vascular disease patients have a higher cancer risk than the general population. During atherogenesis, the endothelial cells are activated to increase the expression of adhesion molecules such as Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin. This biological activation of endothelial cells gives a targetability clue for nanoparticle strategies. Nanoparticle formation has a passive targeting pathway due to the increased adhesion molecule expression on the cell surface as well as increased cell activation. In addition, the VCAM-1-targeting peptide has been widely used to target the inflamed endothelial cells. Biomimetic nanoparticles using platelet and leukocyte membrane fragment strategies have been promising techniques for targeted vascular disease treatment. Cyclodextrin, a natural oligosaccharide with a hydrophobic cavity, increase the solubility of cholesterol crystals at the atherosclerotic plaque site and has been used to deliver the hydrophobic drug statin as a therapeutic in a targeted manner. In summary, nanoparticles decorated with various targeting molecules will be an effective and promising strategy for targeted vascular disease treatment.