scholarly journals Nanotechnology Applications of Flavonoids for Viral Diseases

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1895
Author(s):  
Khoshnur Jannat ◽  
Alok K. Paul ◽  
Tohmina A. Bondhon ◽  
Anamul Hasan ◽  
Muhammad Nawaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Nipah Virus ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Efficient Delivery ◽  
Effective Drugs ◽  
Dietary Flavonoids

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of several viral diseases, including various zoonotic diseases such as the current pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Other viruses, which possess pandemic-causing potential include avian flu, Ebola, dengue, Zika, and Nipah virus, as well as the re-emergence of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronaviruses. Notably, effective drugs or vaccines against these viruses are still to be discovered. All the newly approved vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2-induced disease COVID-19 possess real-time possibility of becoming obsolete because of the development of ‘variants of concern’. Flavonoids are being increasingly recognized as prophylactic and therapeutic agents against emerging and old viral diseases. Around 10,000 natural flavonoid compounds have been identified, being phytochemicals, all plant-based. Flavonoids have been reported to have lesser side effects than conventional anti-viral agents and are effective against more viral diseases than currently used anti-virals. Despite their abundance in plants, which are a part of human diet, flavonoids have the problem of low bioavailability. Various attempts are in progress to increase the bioavailability of flavonoids, one of the promising fields being nanotechnology. This review is a narrative of some anti-viral dietary flavonoids, their bioavailability, and various means with an emphasis on the nanotechnology system(s) being experimented with to deliver anti-viral flavonoids, whose systems show potential in the efficient delivery of flavonoids, resulting in increased bioavailability.

PREVALENCE OF CERTAIN VIRAL DISEASES AND DIROFILARIA IMMITIS INFECTION IN STRAY DOGS IN BANGLADESH

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tarafder
Keyword(s):  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Small Animals ◽  
Antigen Test ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Canine Influenza

Background: Stray and pet dogs constitute the dog population in Bangladesh without any established dog statistics. Diseases of dogs are not only associated with morbidity and mortality in dogs but also associated with human health problems as zoonotic diseases. Inland reports on the prevalence of dog diseases are limited in Bangladesh and there is need to investigate diseases in both stray and pet dog populations. Objectives: The main objective is to determine the prevalence of Canine distemper (CD), Canine adenovirus- 1 (CAV-1), CAV-2, Canine influenza (CI) and Dirofilaria immitis (Heart worm infection = HWI) infection in stray dogs in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: Blood, ocular and nasal samples were collected from each of 30 randomly caught stray dogs (11 male and 19 female) and of different ages, including growing (n = 3) and adult (n = 27) dogs in the district of Mymensingh in Bangladesh from January to June 2010. These samples were tested by using Antigen Test Kits (RapiGEN Inc, Korea). Results: All the 30 stray dogs showed negative results to CD, CAV-1 and CAV-2, whereas an overall high prevalence of CI (4/30; 13.33%) and HWI (15/30; 50.0%) were recorded. The higher prevalence of CI was recorded in growing (n = 2/3; 66.67%) than adult (n = 2/27; 7.41%) but it did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between male (n = 2/11; 18.18%) and female (n = 2/19; 10.53%) dogs. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher prevalence of D. immitis infection was recorded in adult (n = 15/27; 55.56%) than growing (0/3; 0.0%), male (n = 8/11; 72.73%) than female (n = 7/19; 36.84%) dogs. Conclusions: Further studies on CI and D. immitis are necessary on a large population of stray and pet small animals along with humans to ascertain their importance on health and zoonotic significance in Bangladesh. Key words: Viral diseases, Dirofilariasis, Stray dogs, Antigen test kits

Design and Delivery of Therapeutic siRNAs: Application to MERS-Coronavirus

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed Sartaj Sohrab ◽  
Sherif Aly El-Kafrawy ◽  
Zeenat Mirza ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Kamal ◽  
Esam Ibraheem Azhar
Keyword(s):  
Enzymatic Degradation ◽  
Polymeric Nanoparticles ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Inorganic Nanoparticles ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Efficient Delivery ◽  
Disease Therapy ◽  
Target Sites

Background: The MERS-CoV is a novel human coronavirus causing respiratory syndrome since April 2012. The replication of MERS-CoV is mediated by ORF 1ab and viral gene activity can be modulated by RNAi approach. The inhibition of virus replication has been documented in cell culture against multiple viruses by RNAi approach. Currently, very few siRNA against MERS-CoV have been computationally designed and published. Methods: In this review, we have discussed the computational designing and delivery of potential siRNAs. Potential siRNA can be designed to silence a desired gene by considering many factors like target site, specificity, length and nucleotide content of siRNA, removal of potential off-target sites, toxicity and immunogenic responses. The efficient delivery of siRNAs into targeted cells faces many challenges like enzymatic degradation and quick clearance through renal system. The siRNA can be delivered using transfection, electroporation and viral gene transfer. Currently, siRNAs delivery has been improved by using advanced nanotechnology like lipid nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles and polymeric nanoparticles. Conclusion: The efficacy of siRNA-based therapeutics has been used not only against many viral diseases but also against non-viral diseases, cancer, dominant genetic disorders, and autoimmune disease. This innovative technology has attracted researchers, academia and pharmaceuticals industries towards designing and development of highly effective and targeted disease therapy. By using this technology, effective and potential siRNAs can be designed, delivered and their efficacy with toxic effects and immunogenic responses can be tested against MERS-CoV.

Possible Targets and Therapies of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 1900-1907
Author(s):  
Kasturi Sarkar ◽  
Parames C. Sil ◽  
Seyed Fazel Nabavi ◽  
Ioana Berindan-Neagoe ◽  
Cosmin Andrei Cismaru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Repurposed Drugs

The global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 has become a source of grave medical and socioeconomic concern to human society. Since its first appearance in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019, the most effective measures of managing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been social distancing and lockdown of human activity; the level of which has not been seen in our generations. Effective control of the viral infection and COVID-19 will ultimately depend on the development of either a vaccine or therapeutic agents. This article highlights the progresses made so far in these strategies by assessing key targets associated with the viral replication cycle. The key viral proteins and enzymes that could be targeted by new and repurposed drugs are discussed.

scholarly journals Brain-specific inhibition of mTORC1 eliminates side effects resulting from mTORC1 blockade in the periphery and reduces alcohol intake in mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann Ehinger ◽  
Ziyang Zhang ◽  
Khanhky Phamluong ◽  
Drishti Soneja ◽  
Kevan M. Shokat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Inhibitory Action ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Adverse Side Effects ◽  
Mtorc1 Activation ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Heavy Alcohol Intake ◽  
Alcohol Dependent

AbstractAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD) affects a large portion of the population. Unfortunately, efficacious medications to treat the disease are limited. Studies in rodents suggest that mTORC1 plays a crucial role in mechanisms underlying phenotypes such as heavy alcohol intake, habit, and relapse. Thus, mTORC1 inhibitors, which are used in the clinic, are promising therapeutic agents to treat AUD. However, chronic inhibition of mTORC1 in the periphery produces undesirable side effects, which limit their potential use for the treatment of AUD. To overcome these limitations, we designed a binary drug strategy in which male mice were treated with the mTORC1 inhibitor RapaLink-1 together with a small molecule (RapaBlock) to protect mTORC1 activity in the periphery. We show that whereas RapaLink-1 administration blocked mTORC1 activation in the liver, RapaBlock abolished the inhibitory action of Rapalink-1. RapaBlock also prevented the adverse side effects produced by chronic inhibition of mTORC1. Importantly, co-administration of RapaLink-1 and RapaBlock inhibited alcohol-dependent mTORC1 activation in the nucleus accumbens and attenuated alcohol seeking and drinking.

scholarly journals Overview on the Effects of N-Acetylcysteine in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Tardiolo ◽  
Placido Bramanti ◽  
Emanuela Mazzon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Nutritional Supplement ◽  
Medical Applications ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is an acetylated cysteine compound, has aroused scientific interest for decades due to its important medical applications. It also represents a nutritional supplement in the human diet. NAC is a glutathione precursor and shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition to the uses quoted in the literature, NAC may be considered helpful in therapies to counteract neurodegenerative and mental health diseases. Furthermore, this compound has been evaluated for its neuroprotective potential in the prevention of cognitive aging dementia. NAC is inexpensive, commercially available and no relevant side effects were observed after its administration. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview on the effects and applications of NAC in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disorders and in neuropathic pain and stroke.

scholarly journals Anti-COVID drugs: repurposing existing drugs or search for new complex entities, strategies and perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 1743-1757
Author(s):  
Anna Pawełczyk ◽  
Lucjusz Zaprutko
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Computational Chemistry ◽  
Structural Modification ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Complex Molecules ◽  
Active Complex ◽  
Novel Virus ◽  
Effective Drugs

At the end of 2019, a novel virus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome to spread globally. There are currently no effective drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2. In this study, based on the analysis of numerous references and selected methods of computational chemistry, the strategy of integrative structural modification of small molecules with antiviral activity into potential active complex molecules has been presented. Proposed molecules have been designed based on the structure of triterpene oleanolic acid and complemented by structures characteristic of selected anti-COVID therapy assisted drugs. Their pharmaceutical molecular parameters and the preliminary bioactivity were calculated and predicted. The results of the above analyses show that among the designed complex substances there are potential antiviral agents directed mainly on SARS-CoV-2.

The use of phytotherapy in diseases caused by parasitic protozoa

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Derda ◽  
Edward Hadaś
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Conventional Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Pharmaceutical Market ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Plant Origin ◽  
Parasitic Protozoa ◽  
Herbal Preparations ◽  
Increasing Demand

AbstractThe paper presents an overview of the use of natural therapeutic agents in combating parasitic diseases. Nowadays there is increasing demand for proven plant therapies, which often are found to be more effective than synthetic pharmaceuticals in chronic diseases. In many cases herbal preparations perfectly supplement the conventional treatment and at the same time do not cause side effects. On the pharmaceutical market there are many drugs of plant origin which have been applied in the treatment of parasitic diseases. However, researchers are still looking for new plants, or specific substances isolated from them, which can be used in therapy. In this paper, drugs of plant origin used in the treatment of amoebiasis, giardiasis, malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and acanthamoebiasis are described.

scholarly journals To study the role of guduchyadi kashaya on viral diseases.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshay Vaidya
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Herbal Extracts

Viral infections remain major “worldwide” cause of morbidity and mortality.  Herbal extracts or wholesome drugs have been in use for medicinal purposes since ancient time and are known for their antiviral properties and more tolerable side effects. Thus, naturally based pharmacotherapy is a proper alternative for treating viral diseases. Hence this article describes potential antiviral properties of medicinal plants against diverse group of viruses and suggests screening the potential of plants possessing broad spectrum anti-viral effects against viral diseases. Guduchyadi Kwath is a polyherb ayurvedic preparation useful in various diseases. It is useful in pitta vikar, shleshma vikar, Jwara, Chardi, Daha, Trushna, and Agnimandya1. According to modern science it showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, wound healing and immune-modulatory action. The study is aim to the effect of “Guduchyadi kashaya” on viral diseases.

scholarly journals CURCUMIN, A NATURAL GOLDEN DRUG AND ITS ANTICANCER ASPECTS FROM SYNTHESIS TO DELIVERY: A REVIEW

2020 ◽  
pp. 70-84
Author(s):  
GEETA KRISHNAMURTHY ◽  
DEEPTI ROY ◽  
JYOTSNA KUMAR
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Anticancer Activity ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agent ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Curcuma Longa ◽  
Structure Modification ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
Effective Drugs ◽  
Novel Delivery Systems

Cancer is a dreadful disease and, in most cases, leads to death even when it is being treated. Even though synthetic drugs are still in use for the treatment of cancer, the seriousness of the side effects of these drugs has boggled researcher’s mind to find more effective drugs which will help to overcome the side effects and have greater potency in trying to make the patient completely free of the disease. Recently, researchers turned their attention towards bio-components present in natural products. Curcumin, a polyphenol and the main constituent of a rhizome Curcuma longa, has geared significant interest due to its wide spectrum of therapeutics values, especially anticancer activity. Paper summarizes the chemistry and bio-metabolism of curcumin in the human body. Aim of this review article is to gather the dispersed efforts of researchers predominantly in improving the bioavailability of curcumin. In the present review, comprehensive literature on anticancer activity of Curcumin via combination therapy, structure modification, synthesis of analogues, novel delivery systems have been highlighted. Besides, the review paper explicated several challenges associated with Curcumin as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent and emphasizes more on clinical studies.

scholarly journals Is hydroxychloroquine beneficial for COVID-19 patients?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Li ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Patrizia Agostinis ◽  
Arnold Rabson ◽  
Gerry Melino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Effective Drugs

Abstract The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019. As similar cases rapidly emerged around the world1–3, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 and pronounced the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 20204. The virus has reached almost all countries of the globe. As of June 3, 2020, the accumulated confirmed cases reached 6,479,405 with more than 383,013 deaths worldwide. The urgent and emergency care of COVID-19 patients calls for effective drugs, in addition to the beneficial effects of remdesivir5, to control the disease and halt the pandemic.

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