In Silico Screening of Natural Products Isolated from Mexican Herbal Medicines Against COVID-19

<p>We performed a chemoinformatic screening with 100 compounds isolated from Mexican natural products to seek active molecules with the potential to be implemented in the pharmacological treatment of such disease (either as a drug itself or as an inspiring molecule to developed active compounds against SARS-CoV-2). We found ten compounds with leadlikeness and Lipinski's potential. However, after the docking and toxicoinformatic analysis, only Cichoriin was safe and docked with high affinity to the main targets of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally we performed a PBPK simulation which showed that this compound might reach acceptable levels in plasma and highest concentration in the lung when administered IV at 100 mg/Kg. Our work suggests that Cichoriin may be a potential candidate in treating severe COVID-19.</p>

In Silico Screening of Natural Products Isolated from Mexican Herbal Medicines Against COVID-19

<p>We performed a chemoinformatic screening with 100 compounds isolated from Mexican natural products to seek active molecules with the potential to be implemented in the pharmacological treatment of such disease (either as a drug itself or as an inspiring molecule to developed active compounds against SARS-CoV-2). We found ten compounds with leadlikeness and Lipinski's potential. However, after the docking and toxicoinformatic analysis, only Cichoriin was safe and docked with high affinity to the main targets of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally we performed a PBPK simulation which showed that this compound might reach acceptable levels in plasma and highest concentration in the lung when administered IV at 100 mg/Kg. Our work suggests that Cichoriin may be a potential candidate in treating severe COVID-19.</p>

Preparation of Hot-Melt Extruded Dosage Form for Enhancing Drugs Absorption Based on Computational Simulation

The aim of this study was to control the dissolution rate and permeability of cilostazol. To enhance the dissolution rate of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology was applied to prepare a solid dispersion (SD). To control permeability in the gastrointestinal tract regardless of food intake, the HME process was optimized based on physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) simulation. The extrudates were produced using a laboratory-scale twin-screw hot-melt extruder with co-rotatory screws and a constant feeding rate. Next, for PBPK simulation, parameter-sensitive analysis (PSA) was conducted to determine the optimization approach direction. As demonstrated by the dissolution test, the solubility of extrudate was enhanced comparing cilostazol alone. Based on the PSA analysis, the surfactant induction was a crucial factor in cilostazol absorption; thus, an extrudate with an even distribution of lipids was produced using hot-melt extrusion technology, for inducing the bile salts in the gastrointestinal tract. In vivo experiments with rats demonstrated that the optimized hot-melt extruded formulation was absorbed more rapidly with lower deviation and regardless of the meal consumed when compared to marketed cilostazol formulations.