scholarly journals Glycyrrhizic Acid: A Natural Plant Ingredient as a Drug Candidate to Treat COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Sun ◽  
Guozhong He ◽  
Ninghao Huang ◽  
Karuppiah Thilakavathy ◽  
Jonathan Chee Woei Lim ◽  
...  

The total number of cumulative cases and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is still increasing worldwide. Although many countries have actively implemented vaccination strategies to curb the epidemic, there is no specific efficient therapeutic drug for this virus to effectively reduce deaths. Therefore, the underappreciated macromolecular compounds have become the spotlight of research. Furthermore, the medicinal compounds in plants that provide myriad possibilities to treat human diseases have become of utmost importance. Experience indicates that Traditional Chinese medicine effectively treats SARS and has been used for treating patients with COVID-19 in China. As one of the world’s oldest herbal remedies, licorice is used for treating patients with all stages of COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the main active compound in licorice, has been proven effective in killing the SARS virus. Meanwhile, as a natural plant molecule, GA can also directly target important protein structures of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarized the immune synergy of GA and its potential role in treating COVID-19 complications. Besides, we reviewed its anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system and its positive effects in cooperation with various drugs to fight against COVID-19 and its comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to elucidate and suggest that GA can be used as a potential drug during COVID-19 treatment.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaban Ahmad ◽  
Piyush Bhanu ◽  
Jitendra Kumar ◽  
Ravi Kant Pathak ◽  
Dharmendra Mallick ◽  
...  

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is rampant worldwide and is a deadly disease for humans. Our current work emphasizes on molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) targeting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), the well-known human transcription factor controlling innate and adaptive immunity, to understand its mechanism of action during COVID-19 in humans. NF-κB was interacted with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in an in silico MDS experiment, revealing the NF-κB site at which the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts. We screened some known drugs via docking studies on NF-κB used as a receptor. The MDS software Schrodinger generated more than 2000 complexes from these compounds and using the SMILES format of these complexes, 243 structures were extracted and 411 conformers were generated. The drug used as a ligand that docked with NF-κB with the best docking score and binding affinity was Sulindac sodium as its trade name. Furthermore, RMSF data of sulindac sodium and NF-κB displayed minimal fluctuations in the protein structures, and the protein-ligand complex had reduced flexibility. Sulindac sodium is hence suggested as a suitable drug candidate for repurposing in clinical trials for SARS-CoV-2 infections. This drug potently blocked the spike protein’s interaction with NF-κB by inducing a conformational change in the latter. Arguably, NF-κB inaction is desired to have normal immunity and can possibly be retained using proposed drug. This work provides a significant lead for drug repurposing to combat SARS-CoV-2 and its various mutant forms and reveals new approach for controlling SARS-CoV-2-induced disease.


Author(s):  
Ali Forouzanfar ◽  
Hamideh Sadat Mohammadipour ◽  
Fatemeh Forouzanfar

: Periodontal diseases are highly prevalent and can affect high percentage of the world population. Oxidative stress and inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Nowadays, more attention has been focused on the herbal remedies in the field of drug discovery. Green tea is an important source of polyphenol antioxidants, it has long been used as a beverage worldwide. The most interesting polyphenol components of green tea leaves that are related with health benefits are the catechins. Taken together this review suggested that green tea with its wide spectrum of activities could be a healthy alternative for controlling the damaging reactions seen in periodontal diseases.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Anissa Nofita Sari ◽  
Ahmed Elwakeel ◽  
Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal ◽  
Vipul Kumar ◽  
Durai Sundar ◽  
...  

p53 has an essential role in suppressing the carcinogenesis process by inducing cell cycle arrest/apoptosis/senescence. Mortalin/GRP75 is a member of the Hsp70 protein family that binds to p53 causing its sequestration in the cell cytoplasm. Hence, p53 cannot translocate to the nucleus to execute its canonical tumour suppression function as a transcription factor. Abrogation of mortalin-p53 interaction and subsequent reactivation of p53’s tumour suppression function has been anticipated as a possible approach in developing a novel cancer therapeutic drug candidate. A chemical library was screened in a high-content screening system to identify potential mortalin-p53 interaction disruptors. By four rounds of visual assays for mortalin and p53, we identified a novel synthetic small-molecule triazole derivative (4-[(1E)-2-(2-phenylindol-3-yl)-1-azavinyl]-1,2,4-triazole, henceforth named MortaparibPlus). Its activities were validated using multiple bioinformatics and experimental approaches in colorectal cancer cells possessing either wild-type (HCT116) or mutant (DLD-1) p53. Bioinformatics and computational analyses predicted the ability of MortaparibPlus to competitively prevent the interaction of mortalin with p53 as it interacted with the p53 binding site of mortalin. Immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrated the abrogation of mortalin-p53 complex formation in MortaparibPlus-treated cells that showed growth arrest and apoptosis mediated by activation of p21WAF1, or BAX and PUMA signalling, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MortaparibPlus-induced cytotoxicity to cancer cells is mediated by multiple mechanisms that included the inhibition of PARP1, up-regulation of p73, and also the down-regulation of mortalin and CARF proteins that play critical roles in carcinogenesis. MortaparibPlus is a novel multimodal candidate anticancer drug that warrants further experimental and clinical attention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Michael ◽  
Julia Zirknitzer ◽  
Michael Stefan Unger ◽  
Rodolphe Poupardin ◽  
Tanja Rieß ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. In particular, neuroinflammation, mediated by microglia cells but also through CD8+ T-cells, actively contributes to disease pathology. Leukotrienes are involved in neuroinflammation and in the pathological hallmarks of AD. In consequence, leukotriene signaling—more specifically, the leukotriene receptors—has been recognized as a potential drug target to ameliorate AD pathology. Here, we analyzed the effects of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast (MTK) on hippocampal gene expression in 5xFAD mice, a commonly used transgenic AD mouse model. We identified glial activation and neuroinflammation as the main pathways modulated by MTK. The treatment increased the number of Tmem119+ microglia and downregulated genes related to AD-associated microglia and to lipid droplet-accumulating microglia, suggesting that the MTK treatment targets and modulates microglia phenotypes in the disease model compared to the vehicle. MTK treatment further reduced infiltration of CD8+T-cells into the brain parenchyma. Finally, MTK treatment resulted in improved cognitive functions. In summary, we provide a proof of concept for MTK to be a potential drug candidate for AD and provide novel modes of action via modulation of microglia and CD8+ T-cells. Of note, 5xFAD females showed a more severe pathology, and in consequence, MTK treatment had a more pronounced effect in the females compared to the males. The effects on neuroinflammation, i.e., microglia and CD8+ T-cells, as well as the effects on cognitive outcome, were dose-dependent, therefore arguing for the use of higher doses of MTK in AD clinical trials compared to the approved asthma dose.


Author(s):  
Adi Yusuf Yusuf

Adi YusufUniversitas Pesantren Tinggi Darul Ulum [email protected] AbstractOne of the interesting things in the study of literary works is to explore the representation of a literary work itself to the culture of real life. More specifically, when it is related to the history – in this case, the condition of precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial times. This article discusses postcolonialism analysis on Things fall Apart by Achebe. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative. It is found that the novel represents “precolonial tribal” life in Africa: earning a living by farming land and keeping the cattle, diverse cultural backgrounds including belief of traditional religion. Then, the things lost as a result of colonial contact are “religious practice and government”. Then, Colonizers’ strategies in indoctrinating the native population to their way of thinking  include building a school, convincing the society of the importance of education for the future generation, and building the court for judgement and protection. There are some reasons that make colonizers’ successful, they are: they make mutual benefit of trading, use a soft way to spread the belief, and use an innovative way to link the religion and the education. Furthermore, after colonialism, Africa experiences mixed reaction of religious practice, education becomes the key to get success in career, two ways of healers: the traditional African healers i.e. “using ritual and herbal remedies and modern cures, hospital, and the establishment of Courts of Justice and Human Rights”.Keywords: precolonial life, positive effects, negative effects, postcolonialism.  AbstrakSalah satu hal yang menarik dalam studi karya sastra ialah mengeksplorasi representasi  karya sastra itu sendiri dengan budaya kehidupan nyata, lebih khusus lagi, ketika dikaitkan dengan sejarah - dalam hal ini, kondisi pada saat pra-kolonial, kolonial, dan postkolonial. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk membahas tentang  postkolonialisme pada novel Things Fall Apart oleh Achebe. Metode yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah deskriptif qualitative. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa novel tersebut merepresentasikan kehidupan suku “precolonial di Afrika”: mencari nafkah dengan bertani dan memelihara binatang ternak, latar belakang budaya yang beragam termasuk keyakinan agama tradisional. Hal-hal yang hilang/ negatif  akibat dari kontak kolonial pada penduduk asli yaitu “praktik agama dan pemerintahan”. Ada tiga strategi yang dilakukan oleh penjajah dalam mengindoktrinir penduduk asli terhadap cara berpikir mereka antara lain:   “membangun sebuah sekolah, meyakinkan masyarakat akan pentingnya pendidikan bagi generasi masa depan, dan membangun pengadilan untuk mencari keadilan dan perlindungan”. Penjajah sukses karena mereka mengadakan “perdagangan yang saling menguntungkan, menggunakan cara yang lembut untuk menyebarkan keyakinan, dan menggunakan cara yang inovatif untuk menghubungkan antara agama dan pendidikan”.  Beberapa efek dari kolonialisme tersebut antara lain: (1) terdapat beberapa agama di Afrika, (2) pendidikan menjadi kunci untuk mendapatkan kesuksesan dalam karir, (3) ada dua cara penyembuhan: (1.penyembuhan tradisional Afrika yaitu menggunakan ritual dan herbal, dan 2. obat modern, rumah sakit), dan (4) pendirian Pengadilan Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia.Kata Kunci: kehidupan prekolonial, efek negatif, efek positif, postkolonial


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-896
Author(s):  
Prachi Sao ◽  
Yamini Chand ◽  
Atul Kumar ◽  
Sachidanand Singh

Introduction: Porphyromonas Gingivalis (P. gingivalis) a primary periodontal disease pathogen. This bacterium affects sub-gingival tissue and leads to loss of teeth and alveolar bone destruction in the acute stage. In recent years, P. gingivalis is often connected with other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease, though the aetiology is still unclear. Objective: The use of commonly available drugs to treat periodontitis results in various side effects, in particular multi-drug resistant strains. As the development of multidrugresistant strains frequently urges the identification of novel drug targets, the aim of this study is to identify specific targets in the narrow spectrum to combat oral pathogens. Methodology: This study used a comparative and subtractive pathway analysis approach to identify potential drug targets specific to P. gingivalis. Results: The in-silico comparison of the P. gingivalis and Homo sapiens (H. sapiens) metabolic pathways resulted in 13 unique pathogen pathways. A homology search of the 67 enzymes in the unique bacterial pathway using the BLASTp program against the Homo sapiens proteome resulted in fifteen possible targets that are non-homologous to the human proteome. Thirteen genes among 15 potent target encoders are key DEG genes indispensable for P. gingivalis’s survival. A comprehensive analysis of the literature identified three potential therapeutic drug targets. Conclusions: The three most relevant drug targets are Arabinose-5-phosphate isomerase, UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine hydrolase, and Undecaprenyl diphosphatase. Upon corroboration, these targets may give rise to narrow-spectrum antibiotics that can specificallytreat thedental infection. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(4) 2021 p.887-896


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1472197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz-ur Rehman ◽  
Khadija Nafeesa ◽  
Muhammad Athar Abbasi ◽  
Sabahat Zahra Siddiqui ◽  
Shahid Rasool ◽  
...  

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