bims-antpol 2023-07-30 papers

Issue of 2023–07–30
five papers selected by
Rick Sheridan, EMSKE Phytochem

Molecules. 2023 Jul 10. pii: 5312. [Epub ahead of print]28(14):

Phenolic Compounds in Salicornia spp. and Their Potential Therapeutic Effects on H1N1, HBV, HCV, and HIV: A Review.

Malthe Fredsgaard, Samba Evelyne Kabemba Kaniki, Io Antonopoulou, Tanmay Chaturvedi, Mette Hedegaard Thomsen.

Despite public health risk mitigation measures and regulation efforts by many countries, regions, and sectors, viral outbreaks remind the world of our vulnerability to biological hazards and the importance of mitigation actions. The saltwater-tolerant plants in the Salicornia genus belonging to the Amaranthaceae family are widely recognized and researched as producers of clinically applicable phytochemicals. The plants in the Salicornia genus contain flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, and hydroxycinnamic acids, including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, isoquercitrin, and myricitrin, which have all been shown to support the antiviral, virucidal, and symptom-suppressing activities. Their potential pharmacological usefulness as therapeutic medicine against viral infections has been suggested in many studies, where recent studies suggest these phenolic compounds may have pharmacological potential as therapeutic medicine against viral infections. This study reviews the antiviral effects, the mechanisms of action, and the potential as antiviral agents of the aforementioned phenolic compounds found in Salicornia spp. against an influenza A strain (H1N1), hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), as no other literature has described these effects from the Salicornia genus at the time of publication. This review has the potential to have a significant societal impact by proposing the development of new antiviral nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals derived from phenolic-rich formulations found in the edible Salicornia spp. These formulations could be utilized as a novel strategy by which to combat viral pandemics caused by H1N1, HBV, HCV, and HIV-1. The findings of this review indicate that isoquercitrin, myricetin, and myricitrin from Salicornia spp. have the potential to exhibit high efficiency in inhibiting viral infections. Myricetin exhibits inhibition of H1N1 plaque formation and reverse transcriptase, as well as integrase integration and cleavage. Isoquercitrin shows excellent neuraminidase inhibition. Myricitrin inhibits HIV-1 in infected cells. Extracts of biomass in the Salicornia genus could contribute to the development of more effective and efficient measures against viral infections and, ultimately, improve public health.

Keywords: H1N1; HBV; HCV; HIV; Salicornia spp.; antiviral nutraceuticals; enzymatic inhibition; flavonoids; phenolic compounds

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145312

J Public Health Afr. 2023 Mar 30. 14(Suppl 1): 2514

Promising alkaloids and flavonoids compounds as anti-hepatitis c virus agents: a review.

Gusti Rizaldi, Achmad Fuad Hafid, Tutik Sri Wahyuni.

Background: Virus infections are presently seen as a major public health problem. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is recognized as a "silent killer" because the acute infection has no symptoms, and it develops as a chronic infection that causes hepatocellular carcinoma and liver damage. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that between 130-170 million people are estimated to have chronic Hepatitis C. Plants have various phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids and flavonoids that have prominent antiviral effects especially anti-HCV. The current HCV treatment still has limitations related to side effects and can lead to viral resistance. Therefore, it is necessary for the discovery and development of novel anti-HCV drugs for alternative and complementary medicine.
Objective: This review intends to evaluate the alkaloids and flavonoids that have the potential to be used against HCV by looking at their classification and their mechanism of action.
Methods: Twenty-one articles from 2010 to 2022 obtained from PUBMED database using keywords such as isolated compounds, alkaloids, flavonoids, hepatitis C virus.
Results: 21 alkaloids and 37 flavonoids reported active against HCV. Alkaloids include quinoline, quinolizidine and isoquinoline. In addition, flavanone, flavonol, flavone, flavan-3-ol, flavonolignan, anthocyanidin and proanthocyanidin comprise flavonoids. The berberine alkaloids and eriodictyol 7-O-(6″-caffeoyl)-β-Dglucopyranoside flavonoids had the lowest IC50 with values of 0.49 mM and 0.041 nM.
Conclusions: Alkaloids and flavonoids compound had good activity against HCV with various mechanisms. Our results provide information of alkaloids and flavonoids to the researcher for the development of alternative and complementary medicine of hepatitis C.

Keywords: Alkaloid; Alternative and Complementary Medicine; Flavonoid; Hepatitis C Virus; Mechanism Action

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2514

Pharmaceutics. 2023 Jul 04. pii: 1881. [Epub ahead of print]15(7):

Research Progress of Neutrophil-Mediated Drug Delivery Strategies for Inflammation-Related Disease.

Yang Zhao, Haigang Zhang, Qixiong Zhang, Hui Tao.

As the most abundant white blood cells in humans, neutrophils play a key role in acute and chronic inflammation, suggesting that these cells are a key component of targeted therapies for various inflammation-related diseases. Specific enzyme-responsive or specific ligand-modified polymer nanoparticles are beneficial for improving drug efficacy, reducing toxicity, and enhancing focal site retention. However, there remain significant challenges in biomedical applications of these synthetic polymer nanoparticles, mainly due to their rapid clearance by the reticuloendothelial system. In recent years, biomimetic drug delivery systems such as neutrophils acting directly as drug carriers or neutrophil-membrane-coated nanoparticles have received increasing attention due to the natural advantages of neutrophils. Thus, neutrophil-targeted, neutrophil-assisted, or neutrophil-coated nanoparticles exhibit a prolonged blood circulation time and improved accumulation at the site of inflammation. Despite recent advancements, further clinical research must be performed to evaluate neutrophil-based delivery systems for future biomedical application in the diagnosis and treatment of related inflammatory diseases. In this review, we have summarized new exciting developments and challenges in neutrophil-mediated drug delivery strategies for treating inflammation-related diseases.

Keywords: biomedical application; inflammation; neutrophil; targeted drug delivery

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15071881

Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Jul 21. pii: S0753-3322(23)00950-2. [Epub ahead of print]165 115159

Genkwanin: An emerging natural compound with multifaceted pharmacological effects.

Naoual El Menyiy, Sara Aboulaghras, Saad Bakrim, Rania Moubachir, Doaue Taha, Asaad Khalid, Ashraf N Abdalla, Alanood S Algarni, Andi Hermansyah, Long Chiau Ming, Marius Emil Rusu, Abdelhakim Bouyahya.

Plant bioactive molecules could play key preventive and therapeutic roles in chronological aging and the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases, often accompanied by increased oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation. Dietary antioxidants, including genkwanin, could decrease oxidative stress and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines or pathways. The present study is the first comprehensive review of genkwanin, a methoxyflavone found in several plant species. Indeed, natural sources, and pharmacokinetics of genkwanin, the biological properties were discussed and highlighted in detail. This review analyzed and considered all original studies related to identification, isolation, quantification, investigation of the biological and pharmacological properties of genkwanin. We consulted all published papers in peer-reviewed journals in the English language from the inception of each database to 12 May 2023. Different phytochemical demonstrated that genkwanin is a non-glycosylated flavone found and isolated from several medicinal plants such as Genkwa Flos, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Leonurus sibiricus. In vitro and in vivo biological and pharmacological investigations showed that Genkwanin exhibits remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, genkwanin, via activation of glucokinase, has shown antihyperglycemic activity with a potential role against metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Additionally, it revealed cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and assisting against neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, genkwanin showed other biological properties like antitumor capability, antibacterial, antiviral, and dermato-protective effects. The involved mechanisms include sub-cellular, cellular and molecular actions at different levels such as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Despite the findings from preclinical studies that have demonstrated the effects of genkwanin and its diverse mechanisms of action, additional research is required to comprehensively explore its therapeutic potential. Primarily, extensive studies should be carried out to enhance our understanding of the molecule's pharmacodynamic actions and pharmacokinetic pathways. Moreover, toxicological and clinical investigations should be undertaken to assess the safety and clinical efficacy of genkwanin. These forthcoming studies are of utmost importance in fully unlocking the potential of this molecule in the realm of therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Anticancer; Antioxidants; Bioactive compounds; Communicable diseases; Genkwanin; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Oxidative stress

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115159

Plants (Basel). 2023 Jul 23. pii: 2732. [Epub ahead of print]12(14):

Flavonoids: Overview of Biosynthesis, Biological Activity, and Current Extraction Techniques.

Sergio Liga, Cristina Paul, Francisc Péter.

Recently, increased attention has been paid to natural sources as raw materials for the development of new added-value products. Flavonoids are a large family of polyphenols which include several classes based on their basic structure: flavanones, flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanols, and anthocyanins. They have a multitude of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Current trends of research and development on flavonoids relate to identification, extraction, isolation, physico-chemical characterization, and their applications to health benefits. This review presents an up-to-date survey of the most recent developments in the natural flavonoid classes, the biological activity of representative flavonoids, current extraction techniques, and perspectives.

Keywords: bioactive compounds; biological activity; current extraction techniques; flavonoids; natural compound

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142732