scholarly journals Phytochemicals candidates as promising preventives and/or curatives for COVID-19 Infection: A brief review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 001-006
Author(s):  
Hamimed Selma ◽  
Jebli Nejib ◽  
Hamimed Rayene ◽  
Landoulsi Ahmed ◽  
Chatti Abdelwaheb

The outbreak of new coronavirus acute respiratory disease (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major global challenge for the scientific community to save humanity. While, the unviability of the vaccine keeps most classes of society, especially African countries, suffer from the healthcare problem. Conventional medicine plants become the alternative method for the therapeutic because it contains valuable bioactive compounds. This brief review devoted the importance of medicinal plants such as Citrus, olive, garlic, ginger, green tea, woad, broad-leaf privet, Japanese torreya, and saffron crocus, by their antiviral effects (anti-SARS coronavirus, anti-HSV, and anti-HIV diseases) and their promising uses as probable boosters of the immune and anti-inflammatory response from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on scientific reports, bioactive compounds could inhibit 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease and human protein ACE2, where these facts can be attractive to develop effective drugs.

Author(s):  
Weiam Hussein ◽  
Fawaz Alheibshy ◽  
Farhan Alshammari

The coronavirus pandemic is a modern social emergency and the biggest global challenge since the Second World War. Since the pandemic began in China at the end of 2019, the disease spread to every landmass except Antarctica. The effect of antiviral drugs on the new corona virus has been tested, but no basic and complete cure has been found, although there are many drugs such as  interleukin-6 inhibitor,  monoclonal antibody and corticosteroid which remarkably reduced mortality of critically ill COVID-19 patients in a major clinical trial. Although not enough experimental data has been released yet, many researchers have hailed the result as a step in the right direction. In this review, a series of the newly chemical derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against human coronavirus. Many derivatives found to be active in inhibiting the cellular infection of human coronavirus which causes the SARS-CoV-2pandemic. This mini- review summarizes the synthesis of these new antiviral derivatives that target coronaviruses and describes general current strategies and models for developing antiviral drugs. The review aims to provide a starting point for medicinal chemists to synthesize necessary and effective drugs against coronaviruses.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosario Nicoletti ◽  
Francesco Vinale

The impact of bioactive compounds from natural sources on human life, particularly in pharmacology and biotechnology, has challenged the scientific community to explore new environmental contexts and the associated microbial diversity. [...]


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Haavi Morreim

The discussion about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is sometimes rather heated. “Quackery!” the cry goes. A large proportion “of unconventional practices entail theories that are patently unscientific.” “It is time for the scientific community to stop giving alternative medicine a free ride. There cannot be two kinds of medicine — conventional and alternative. There is only medicine that has been adequately tested and medicine that has not, medicine that works and medicine that may or may not work.” “I submit that if these treatments cannot withstand the test of empirical research, … then we have wasted a lot of time and effort. The time has been wasted on all the people who have spent years learning falsehoods about acupuncture points and the principles of homeopathy. And the patients have wasted their time, money, and efforts receiving treatments that were not what they were represented to be or were harmful.”


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 079-084
Author(s):  
Amole O.O.

Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement of physical and mental illness. Herbal treatments are the most form of traditional medicine and 70 – 80% of the African region has used a form as primary health care. There is little doubt that the use of herbal medicines is growing and one of the most problems found in medicinal plants is the absence of clinical, toxicological and pharmacological studies. Many African countries depend on herbal medicines because of their efficacy, affordability and availability. The future of African traditional medicine is bright if view in the context of service provision, increase of health care coverage, economic potential and poverty reduction. Formal recognition and integration of traditional medicine into conventional medicine would be of good advantage.


Author(s):  
Luis Lopes ◽  
Leonor Venceslau ◽  
Luís da Costa

The entomological collection of the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência (MUHNAC), Universidade de Lisboa, includes over 70,000 catalogued specimens, mostly from Portugal and some African countries (Lopes et al. 2016). However, many more remain uncatalogued and thus unavailable to the broader scientific community. To achieve our goal of full access, it is necessary to digitize and validate all data associated with these specimens. Recently, a large private collection, comprised of several thousand specimens compiled by José Passos de Carvalho, was donated to the Museum. These specimens are prepared and labelled, however no catalogue is available. Therefore, the only available information about each specimen is on the respective label(s). To acquire this information, specimens are being photographed along with their labels (Fig. 1). Since digitization of specimen labels is labor intensive, we decided to use the Zooniverse platform to involve the public in this task. To this end we have developed a project (currently being tested), entitled “MB07 - The Insects of the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência”, with a test dataset of 130 specimens of moths from the Sphingidae family (Insecta, Lepidoptera). The objective is to evaluate the potential of involving the public in the tasks of label transcription and taxonomic determination to enrich and speed collection digitization. We have developed two distinct workflows: i) one in which users are asked to transcribe information from specimen labels, therefore a pure digitization task; and ii) a second workflow in which volunteers are asked to contribute new taxonomic information based on the specimen images. Therefore, the first task should be accessible to the general user while the second is more directed towards taxonomic specialists and not intended for the general public. Here we present a preliminary analysis of our experience with this platform and of the obtained data.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 5017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad A. I. Al-Hatamleh ◽  
Ma’mon M. Hatmal ◽  
Kamran Sattar ◽  
Suhana Ahmad ◽  
Mohd Zulkifli Mustafa ◽  
...  

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has recently put the world under stress, resulting in a global pandemic. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines, and this severe respiratory illness has cost many lives. Despite the established antimicrobial and immune-boosting potency described for honey, to date there is still a lack of evidence about its potential role amid COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the previously explored antiviral effects and phytochemical components of honey, we review here evidence for its role as a potentially effective natural product against COVID-19. Although some bioactive compounds in honey have shown potential antiviral effects (i.e., methylglyoxal, chrysin, caffeic acid, galangin and hesperidinin) or enhancing antiviral immune responses (i.e., levan and ascorbic acid), the mechanisms of action for these compounds are still ambiguous. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work exclusively summarizing all these bioactive compounds with their probable mechanisms of action as antiviral agents, specifically against SARS-CoV-2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-45
Author(s):  
Dolores Mensah Hervie ◽  
Ernest Christian Winful ◽  
Sebrina Kafui Tsagli

Wastes from plastics are ubiquitous and have become a critical global challenge, especially in Africa. There is an urgent call to combat the menace because of its harmful impact on the ecosystem. The research methodology used is the exploratory technique. Circular economy (CE) is the answer to this global problem, especially in advanced countries. Even though some African countries have commenced recycling waste plastics, which is a contribution to circular economy, the idea is now gaining support in Ghana. The aim of this study is to propose a strategy and design a customized business model canvas for an establishment that transforms different types of waste plastics into pavement slabs and paving tiles in Ghana. The rationale is to accentuate the significance of introducing CE as a tool for effective and efficient plastic waste management in the country.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2213-2218
Author(s):  
Pavithra G ◽  
Laxmi. B. Kurle ◽  
Ravi. R. Chavan

Hridroga is a broad entity considered in Ayurveda, covering all cardiovascular diseases. According to current stud- ies, 17.5 million people die each year from cardiovascular diseases, with an estimated 31 per cent of death world- wide. Among them 7.4 million died due to coronary heart disease,6.7 million due to stroke, atherosclerosis etc., hence it is needed to discover effective drugs which can prevent death due to cardiovascular diseases and other cardiac disorders. Methods: Statins and fibrates are the most prescribed medications for cardiac disorders. Though there is extensive evidence about their safety and efficacy, but the use of these synthetic drugs has certain adverse effects; Myalgia, hepatopathy, renal failure, increased risk of diabetes and rhabdomyolysis are the most common side effects from statin use. Considering the wide magnitude of cardiac disorders in the Indian subcontinent and the absence of promising therapy with safety in conventional systems; the suffering population is turning towards cer- tain other alternatives for safe and effective remedies. Hridayarnava rasa, one such Herbo- mineral compound formulation containing Kajjali and Tamra bhasma as an integral component indicated in the treatment of abnormal lipid levels. Results: Hridayarnava rasa is thereby useful in tackling Hridroga in specific, Atherosclerosis. There- fore, this formulation can be enforced in place of statins of conventional medicine. Discussion: This review is mainly focused on different aspects of Herbo mineral ayurvedic formulation Hridayarnava rasa. It is well recog- nized in Ayurveda that most cardiac disorders run a chronic course and are difficult to treat, there are many formu- lations in the market for Hridroga yet there is scope for drugs in this disease, Hridayarnava rasa is one suchformulation that is designed perfectly for kaphaja Hridroga, which is also cost-effective, easy to prepare, as it is hidden all these days its efficacy was not discussed so here an attempt has been made to address the critical review of Hridayarnava rasa. Keywords: Hridayarnava rasa, Cardiovascular diseases, Hridroga.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Sharifi-Rad ◽  
Cristina Quispe ◽  
Amirhossein Rahavian ◽  
Joara Nályda Pereira Carneiro ◽  
Janaína Esmeraldo Rocha ◽  
...  

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are produced by pathogens like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, and may generate severe health problems such as cancer, ulcers, and even problems in the newborn. This narrative review aims to present updated information about the use of natural bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. A search of the literature was performed using databases and search engines such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Science Direct. From the pharmacotherapeutic management point of view, any strategies for prevention should contain medical approaches. The bioactive compounds obtained from natural products have shown biological effects against different microorganisms for the treatment of these diseases. The main results showed antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antifungal and antiviral effects such as HIV. Also, the molecular mechanisms, signalling pathways and action targets of natural compounds were highlighted, thus justifying bacterial and antifungal inhibition, apoptosis or reduction of viral replication. From the data of our study, we can conclude that natural compounds may be a significant source for adjuvant drugs / complementary therapies in the treatment of STDs. With all these benefits, the future must conduct extensive clinical trials and the development of pharmaceutical nanotechnologies for a greater therapeutic effect.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 9) ◽  
pp. e001517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ossy Muganga Julius Kasilo ◽  
Charles Wambebe ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Nikiema ◽  
Juliet Nabyonga-Orem

African traditional medicine (ATM) and traditional health practitioners (THPs) could make significant contributions to the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC). Consequently, the WHO provided technical tools to assist African countries to develop ATM as a significant component of healthcare. Many African countries adopted the WHO tools after appropriate modifications to advance research and development (R&D) of ATM. An analysis of the extent of this development was undertaken through a survey of 47 countries in the WHO African region. Results show impressive advances in R&D of ATM, the collaboration between THP and conventional health practitioners, quality assurance as well as regulation, registration and THP integration into the national health systems. We highlight the various ways investment in the R&D of ATM can impact on policy, practice and the three themes of UHC. We underscore the need for frameworks for fair and equitable sharing of all benefits arising from the R&D of ATM products involving all the stakeholders. We argue for further investment in ATM as a complement to conventional medicine to promote attainment of the objectives of UHC.


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