scholarly journals Can Antiviral Activity of Licorice Help Fight COVID-19 Infection?

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 855
Author(s):  
Luisa Diomede ◽  
Marten Beeg ◽  
Alessio Gamba ◽  
Oscar Fumagalli ◽  
Marco Gobbi ◽  
...  

The phytotherapeutic properties of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) extract are mainly attributed to glycyrrhizin (GR) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA). Among their possible pharmacological actions, the ability to act against viruses belonging to different families, including SARS coronavirus, is particularly important. With the COVID-19 emergency and the urgent need for compounds to counteract the pandemic, the antiviral properties of GR and GA, as pure substances or as components of licorice extract, attracted attention in the last year and supported the launch of two clinical trials. In silico docking studies reported that GR and GA may directly interact with the key players in viral internalization and replication such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), spike protein, the host transmembrane serine protease 2, and 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease. In vitro data indicated that GR can interfere with virus entry by directly interacting with ACE2 and spike, with a nonspecific effect on cell and viral membranes. Additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of GR cannot be excluded. These multiple activities of GR and licorice extract are critically re-assessed in this review, and their possible role against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 and the features of COVID-19 disease is discussed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paritosh Shukla ◽  
Ashok Sharma ◽  
Leena Fageria ◽  
Rajdeep Chowdhury

Background: Cancer being a deadly disease, many reports of new chemical entities are available. Pyranopyrazole (PPZ) compounds have also been disclosed as bioactive molecules but mainly as antimicrobial agents. Based on one previous report and our interest in anticancer drug design, we decided to explore PPZs as anticancer agents. To the best of our knowledge, we found that a comprehensive study, involving synthesis, in-vitro biological activity determination, exploration of the mechanism of inhibition and finally in-silico docking studies, was missing in earlier reports. This is what the present study intends to accomplish. Methods: Ten spiro and eleven non-spiro PPZ molecules were synthesized by environment-friendly multicomponent reaction (MCR) strategy. After subjecting each of the newly synthesized molecules to Hep3b hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines assay, we selectively measured the Optical Density (OD) of the most active ones. Then, the compound exhibiting the best activity was docked against human CHK- 1 protein to get an insight into the binding affinities and a quick structure activity relationship (SAR) of the PPZs. Results: The two series of spiro and non-spiro PPZs were easily synthesized in high yields using microwave assisted synthesis and other methods. Among the synthesized compounds, most compounds showed moderate to good anticancer activity against the MTT assay. After performing the absorbance studies we found that the non-spiro molecules showed better apoptosis results and appeared to bind to DNA causing disruption in their structures. Finally, the docking results of compound 5h (having N,Ndimethylamino substituted moiety) clearly showed good binding affinities as predicted by our experimental findings. Conclusion: The paper describes a comprehensive synthesis, in-vitro and docking studies done on new PPZs. The newly synthesized series of spiro and non-spiro PPZs were found to possess antineoplasmic activity as evinced by the studies on hep3b cells. Also, the UV visible absorbance study gave clues to the possible binding of these molecules to the DNA. Docking studies corroborated well with the experimental results. Thus, these new molecules appear to be potential anticancer agents, but further studies are required to substantiate and elaborate on these findings.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1191
Author(s):  
Christian R. Gomez ◽  
Ingrid Espinoza ◽  
Fazlay S. Faruke ◽  
Mahbub Hasan ◽  
Khondaker Miraz Rahman ◽  
...  

To date very few promising leads from natural products (NP) secondary metabolites with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties have been identified for promising/potential intervention for COVID-19. Using in-silico docking studies and genome based various molecular targets, and their in vitro anti-SARS CoV-2 activities against whole cell and/or selected protein targets, we select a few compounds of interest, which can be used as potential leads to counteract effects of uncontrolled innate immune responses, in particular those related to the cytokine storm. A critical factor for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection relates to factors independent of viral infection or host response. They include population-related variables such as concurrent comorbidities and genetic factors critically relevant to COVID-19 health disparities. We discuss population risk factors related to SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we focus on virulence related to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd), the most common human enzymopathy. Review of data on the response of individuals and communities with high prevalence of G6PDd to NP, prompts us to propose the rationale for a population-specific management approach to rationalize design of therapeutic interventions of SARS-CoV-2 infection, based on use of NP. This strategy may lead to personalized approaches and improve disease-related outcomes.


Author(s):  
Quan Shi ◽  
Qi He ◽  
Weiming Chen ◽  
Jianwen Long ◽  
Bo Zhang

IntroductionOleuropein (OLP) is polyphenol obtained from olive oil; it is proved in Chinese traditional medicine for its use in disorders including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Psoriasis (PSR) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disorder triggered by T-helper-17 (Th17) cells.Material and methodsWe developed an imiquimod (IMQ)-mediated PSR model in mice to study the anti-inflammatory role of OLP in psoriasis. The mice were given 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg dose of OLP. Histology was done to assess the inflammation of lesions. Western blot analysis was done for JAK3/STAT3 in isolated T cells, expression of RORgt was done by RT-PCR. The In silico molecular docking studies were done for interaction of OLP with target protein STAT3 and JAK3.ResultsTreatment of OLP attenuated proliferation in IMQ-mediated keratinocytes, improved infiltration of CD3+ cells in the skin lesions and in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and also ameliorated the levels of cytokines. In in vitro studies in isolated T cells, OLP blocked the differentiation of Th17 cells and also the levels of IL-17 and the JAK3/STAT3 pathway. The in silico docking showed that OLP had potential binding affinity with JAK3 and STAT3 which was parallel to in vivo and in vitro findings.ConclusionsOLP ameliorates psoriasis skin lesions by blocking Th17-mediated inflammation. OLP may be an interesting molecule for treating autoimmunity in psoriasis.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5999
Author(s):  
Annita Katopodi ◽  
Evangelia Tsotsou ◽  
Triantafylia Iliou ◽  
Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou ◽  
Eleni Pontiki ◽  
...  

A series of novel multi-substituted coumarin derivatives were synthesized, spectroscopically characterized, and evaluated for their antioxidant activity, soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory ability, their influence on cell viability in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), and cytotoxicity in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) and human melanoma (A375) cells, in vitro. Coumarin analogues 4a–4f, bearing a hydroxyl group at position 5 of the coumarin scaffold and halogen substituents at the 3-phenyl ring, were the most promising ABTS•+ scavengers. 6,8-Dibromo-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (4k) and 6-bromo-3-(4,5-diacetyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (3m) exhibited significant lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (IC50 36.9 and 37.1 μM). In the DCF-DA assay, the 4′-fluoro-substituted compound 3f (100%), and the 6-bromo substituted compounds 3i (80.9%) and 4i (100%) presented the highest activity. The 3′-fluoro-substituted coumarins 3e and 4e, along with 3-(4-acetyloxyphenyl)-6,8-dibromo-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (3k), were the most potent lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors (IC50 11.4, 4.1, and 8.7 μM, respectively) while displaying remarkable hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, 85.2%, 100%, and 92.9%, respectively. in silico docking studies of compounds 4e and 3k, revealed that they present allosteric interactions with the enzyme. The majority of the analogues (100 μΜ) did not affect the cell viability of HaCaT cells, though several compounds presented over 60% cytotoxicity in A549 or A375 cells. Finally, the human oral absorption (%HOA) and plasma protein binding (%PPB) properties of the synthesized coumarins were also estimated using biomimetic chromatography, and all compounds presented high %HOA (>99%) and %PPB (60–97%) values.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
Pankaj Wadhwa ◽  
Priti Jain ◽  
Arpit Patel ◽  
Shantanu Shinde ◽  
Hemant R. Jadhav

<P>Background: A series of novel 3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-N-substituted phenyl benzamide derivatives was synthesized and tested in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus type-1 Integrase (HIV-1 IN). Methods: Out of the 18 analogues, six (compounds 16c, 16h, 16i, 16m, 16n and 16r) showed significant inhibition of strand transfer by HIV-1 integrase. For these six compounds. IC50 was below 5.0 µM. In silico docking studies revealed that the presence of 2-phenyl isoindoline-1,3-dione motif was essential as it was found to interact with active site magnesium. Results: To further confirm the results, cell-based HIV-1 and HIV-2 inhibitory assay was carried out. Conclusion: These compounds possess structural features not seen in previously reported HIV-1 integrase inhibitors and thus can help further optimization of anti-HIV-1 integrase activity.</P>


2019 ◽  
Vol 393 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-520
Author(s):  
Erzsébet Pászti-Gere ◽  
Gergely Szombath ◽  
Michael Gütschow ◽  
Torsten Steinmetzer ◽  
András Székács

Abstract Matriptase-2 (MT-2) is a type II transmembrane serine protease and predominantly attached to the surface of hepatocytes. MT-2 decreases the production of hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis. In this study, the effects of four 3-amidinophenylalanine-derived combined matriptase-1/matriptase-2 (MT-1/2) inhibitors (MI-432, MI-441, MI-460, and MI-461) on hepcidin production were investigated in hepatocyte mono- and hepatocyte-Kupffer cell co-cultures. In MI-461-treated cell cultures, the extracellular hydrogen peroxide contents and the interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8) levels were determined and compared to controls. Hepcidin overproduction was observed in hepatocytes upon treatment with MI-432, MI-441 and MI-461 at 50 μM. In contrast, extracellular hydrogen peroxide levels were not elevated significantly after matriptase inhibition with MI-461. Furthermore, MI-461 did not induce increases in IL-6 and IL-8 levels in these hepatic models. A model of the binding mode of inhibitor MI-461 in complex with MT-2 revealed numerous polar contacts contributing to the nanomolar potency of this compound. Based on the in vitro data on hepcidin regulation, treatment with MI-461 might be valuable in pathological states of iron metabolism without causing excessive oxidative stress.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 1090-1098
Author(s):  
M.R. Ezhilarasi ◽  
A.B. Senthieel Khumar ◽  
P. Elavarasan

A new series of novel 4-(furan-2-yl)-6-(4-morpholinophenyl)pyrimidine-amines (4a-c) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectral analysis like IR, 1D 1H & 13C NMR. The synthesized compounds 4a-c were evaluated for their biological studies. The zone of inhibitions were examined for synthesized compounds 4a-c besides the identical set of microbial strains, especially that compound 4a against S. aureus, S. pyogenes, E. coli, compound 4b against P. aeruginosa has excellent antibacterial activity. Compound 4c shows good inhibition against C. albicans. Also in silico molecular docking and ADME predictions were carried for all the compounds. The docking studies were examined by two different proteins like 1UAG protein and 1OQA protein. in silico docking provides of the compounds have good docking score compared with the standard. In the ADME predictions all the compounds were met criteria. The synthesized compounds all of them obeyed the drug-likeness properties.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1504-1512
Author(s):  
Manju Mathew ◽  
Muthuvel Ramanathan Ezhilarasi

A series of 4(5-(4-chlorophenyl)furan-2-yl)-6-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine derivatives (5a-h) were synthesized from 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-styrylfuran (3a-h) with guanidine nitrate in absolute ethanol under conventional method and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial activities and in silico studies. The chemical structure of the furan moiety containing substituted amino pyrimidine derivatives (5a-h) were elucidated from spectroscopic analysis like infrared, 1H & 13C NMR spectral data and CHN analysis. in silico docking studies were predicted for the synthesized compounds (5a-h) using bacterial protein 1UAG and in silico ADME predictions were also carried for the synthesized compounds (5a-h). The in vitro anticancer study was carried the compound 5b by MMT assay. Compound 5b shows the LC50 value of 120.15 ± 0.003 μg/mL. in vitro Antimicrobial activities were screened for the compounds (5a-h) using different strains. Compound 5h has electron withdrawing group in benzene ring substituted in the para position showed good antimicrobial activity against all the bacterial strains and fungal strains. in silico studies, compound 5h shows excellent docking score (-9.7 kcal/mol) compared with ciprofloxacin (-7.8 kcal/mol).


Author(s):  
Gayathri Segaran ◽  
Lokesh Ravi ◽  
Mythili Sathiavelu

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine and compare the antibacterial effect of different ornamental plants and to isolate the effective bioactive compound with antibacterial activity from Polyalthia longifolia. Methods: Petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Bougainvillea glabra, Polyalthia longifolia, Ixora coccinea Linn. ,Plumeria rubra and Euphorbia milli leaves were investigated for antimicrobial activity by performing agar well difusion method. The plant extract with the highest antibacterial activity was selected and further used for the isolation of antibacterial compounds. In silico docking studies and in vitro antibacterial assay was performed to analyze the biological activity of pure compound. Results: The highest antibacterial activity was found in the pet ether of Polyalthia longifolia against all the tested bacterial strains and the extract was further selected for compound separation. A novel compound 3,3’-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-isochromene) (PHDC) with a molecular weight of 316.35 g/mol and molecular formula C21H32O2 was identified from Polyalthia longifolia by using spectroscopic studies. In the in vitro antibacterial assay, PHDC demonstrated significant antibacterial showed against Protease mirabilis. In silico docking studies revealed that PHDC showed antibacterial activity by inhibiting tRNA Synthetase (IleRS). PHDC exhibited the lowest binding energy of - 8.7Kcal/Mol for Isoleucyl tRNA Synthetase (IleRS), the protein responsible for protein synthesis. Conclusion: The emergence of multiple antibiotics resistant microbes has become huge nowadays and the infections caused by these resistant microbes cannot be treated with antibiotics. PHDC is a novel compound extracted from Polyalthia longifolia showed significant antibacterial effect and we suggest that the compound can be further used as lead molecules to overcome the infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria.


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