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Sanduzzi Zamparelli S, Sanduzzi Zamparelli A, Bocchino M. Immune-Boosting and Antiviral Effects of Antioxidants in COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Therapeutic Perspective. Life (Basel) 2025; 15:113. [PMID: 39860053 PMCID: PMC11766556 DOI: 10.3390/life15010113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2024] [Revised: 01/05/2025] [Accepted: 01/15/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has profoundly impacted global health, with pneumonia emerging as a major complication in severe cases. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 is marked by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an excessive inflammatory response, resulting in oxidative stress and significant tissue damage, particularly in the respiratory system. Antioxidants have garnered considerable attention for their potential role in managing COVID-19 pneumonia by mitigating oxidative stress and modulating immune responses. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on the use of antioxidants in hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Studies exploring antioxidants, including vitamins, trace elements, nitric oxide (NO), ozone (O3), glutathione (GSH), L-carnitine, melatonin, bromelain, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and numerous polyphenols, have yielded promising outcomes. Through their ROS-scavenging properties, these molecules support endothelial function, reduce the thrombosis risk, and may help mitigate the effects of the cytokine storm, a key contributor to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Clinical evidence suggests that antioxidant supplementation may improve patient outcomes by decreasing inflammation, supporting immune cell function, and potentially shortening recovery times. Furthermore, these molecules may mitigate the symptoms of COVID-19 by exerting direct antiviral effects that inhibit the infection process and genomic replication of SARS-CoV-2 in host cells. Moreover, antioxidants may work synergistically with standard antiviral treatments to reduce viral-induced oxidative damage. By integrating findings from the literature with real-world data from our clinical experience, we gain a more profound understanding of the role of antioxidants in managing COVID-19 pneumonia. Further research combining comprehensive literature reviews with real-world data analysis is crucial to validate the efficacy of antioxidants and establish evidence-based guidelines for their use in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandro Sanduzzi Zamparelli
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.S.Z.); (M.B.)
- UNESCO Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
- ERN Lung, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marialuisa Bocchino
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.S.Z.); (M.B.)
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Jiang M, Feng Y, Wang J, Xu X, Liu Z, Li T, Ma S, Wang Y, Guo X, Du S. Saikogenin A improves ethanol-induced liver injury by targeting SIRT1 to modulate lipid metabolism. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1547. [PMID: 39572758 PMCID: PMC11582619 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-07234-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 11/07/2024] [Indexed: 11/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol live disease (ALD). Steatosis is a critical hallmark of ALD, making it an important stage for therapeutic intervention. Saikosaponin A (SSa), a compound found in Radix Bupleuri, has previously shown promising hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, its role in ALD remains understudied. We employ cell-based screening models and a chronic-plus-binge ethanol-fed mouse model to investigate the protective mechanisms of SSa and its metabolite Saikogenin A (SGA), against ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury. Our RNA-seq analysis in mice unveils that SSa primarily acts through the mTOR and PPAR-α signaling pathways in the liver. Biophysical assays and loss of function experiments confirm SGA directly binds to and modulates the activity of SIRT1 protein, mitigating ethanol-induced cell injury via the SIRT1-mTOR-PPAR-α axis. Furthermore, SGA displays a survival prolonging advantage compared to resveratrol for treating ALD. This suggests SGA holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Jiang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Jingxian Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xiang Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Zegan Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Tongfei Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Shinan Ma
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Xingrong Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.
| | - Shiming Du
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Department of neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.
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Amtaghri S, Slaoui M, Eddouks M. Phytomedical compounds as promising therapeutic agents for COVID-19 targeting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: a review. J Pharm Pharmacol 2024; 76:1239-1268. [PMID: 39018169 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgae101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of the present review was to highlight natural product investigations in silico and in vitro to find plants and chemicals that inhibit or stimulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2). BACKGROUND The global reduction of incidents and fatalities attributable to infections with SARS-CoV-2 is one of the most public health problems. In the absence of specific therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), phytocompounds generated from plant extracts may be a promising strategy worth further investigation, motivating researchers to evaluate the safety and anti-SARS-CoV-2 effectiveness of these ingredients. OBJECTIVE To review phytochemicals in silico for anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and to assess their safety and effectiveness in vitro and in vivo. METHODS The present review was conducted using various scientific databases and studies on anti-SARS-CoV-2 phytochemicals were analyzed and summarized. The results obtained from the in silico screening were subjected to extraction, isolation, and purification. The in vitro studies on anti-SarcoV-2 were also included in this review. In addition, the results of this research were interpreted, analyzed, and documented on the basis of the bibliographic information obtained. RESULTS This review discusses recent research on using natural remedies to cure or prevent COVID-19 infection. The literature analysis shows that the various herbal preparations (extracts) and purified compounds can block the replication or entrance of the virus directly to carry out their anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. It is interesting to note that certain items can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells by blocking the ACE-2 receptor or the serine protease TMPRRS2. Moreover, natural substances have been demonstrated to block proteins involved in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, such as papain- or chymotrypsin-like proteases. CONCLUSION The natural products may have the potential for use singly or in combination as alternative drugs to treat/prevent COVID-19 infection, including blocking or stimulating ACE-2. In addition, their structures may provide indications for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smail Amtaghri
- Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
- Energy, Materials and Sustainable Development (EMDD) Team-Higher School of Technology-SALE, Center for Water, Natural Resources Environment and Sustainable Development (CERNE2D), Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Miloudia Slaoui
- Energy, Materials and Sustainable Development (EMDD) Team-Higher School of Technology-SALE, Center for Water, Natural Resources Environment and Sustainable Development (CERNE2D), Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Eddouks
- Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
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Wan Q, Lu Q, Luo S, Guan C, Zhang H. The beneficial health effects of puerarin in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: from mechanisms to therapeutics. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:7273-7296. [PMID: 38709267 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03142-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death globally that seriously threaten human health. Although novel western medicines have continued to be discovered over the past few decades to inhibit the progression of CVDs, new drug research and development for treating CVDs with less side effects and adverse reactions are continuously being desired. Puerarin is a natural product found in a variety of medicinal plants belonging to the flavonoid family with potent biological and pharmacological activities. Abundant research findings in the literature have suggested that puerarin possesses a promising prospect in treating CVDs. In recent years, numerous new molecular mechanisms of puerarin have been explored in experimental and clinical studies, providing new evidence for this plant metabolite to protect against CVDs. This article systematically introduces the history of use, bioavailability, and various dosage forms of puerarin and further summarizes recently published data on the major research advances and their underlying therapeutic mechanisms in treating CVDs. It may provide references for researchers in the fields of pharmacology, natural products, and internal medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wan
- Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 445 Bayi Avenue, Nanchang, 330006, China.
- Clinical Medical College, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 445 Bayi Avenue, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Qiwen Lu
- Graduate School, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Meiling Avenue, Nanchang, 330004, China
| | - Sang Luo
- Graduate School, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Meiling Avenue, Nanchang, 330004, China
| | - Chengyan Guan
- Graduate School, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Meiling Avenue, Nanchang, 330004, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Graduate School, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Meiling Avenue, Nanchang, 330004, China
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Emam MH, Mahmoud MI, El-Guendy N, Loutfy SA. Establishment of in-house assay for screening of anti-SARS-CoV-2 protein inhibitors. AMB Express 2024; 14:104. [PMID: 39285019 PMCID: PMC11405717 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01739-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing a potent antiviral agent to combat Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is of critical importance as we may be at risk of the emergence of new virus strains or another pandemic recurrence. The interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main protein-protein interaction (PPI) implicated in the virus entry into the host cells. Spike-ACE2 PPI represents a major target for drug intervention. We have repurposed a previously described protein-protein interaction detection method to be utilized as a drug screening assay. The assay was standardized using Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) as the drug and SARS-CoV-2 spike-ACE2 interaction as the PPI model. The assay was then used to screen four natural bioactive compounds: Curcumin (Cur), Gallic acid (GA), Quercetin (Q), and Silymarin (Sil), and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro. Production of the spike protein and the evaluation of its activity in comparison to a standard commercial protein was part of our work as well. Here we describe a novel simple immunofluorescent screening assay to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors that could assess the inhibitory effect of any ligand against any PPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merna H Emam
- Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), the British University in Egypt, Suez Desert Road, El-Shorouk City, P.O. Box 43, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
| | - Mohamed I Mahmoud
- Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), the British University in Egypt, Suez Desert Road, El-Shorouk City, P.O. Box 43, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City, 11829, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nadia El-Guendy
- Medical biochemistry and Molecular biology unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Fom El-Khalig 11796, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samah A Loutfy
- Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), the British University in Egypt, Suez Desert Road, El-Shorouk City, P.O. Box 43, Cairo, 11837, Egypt.
- Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Fom El-Khalig 11796, Cairo, Egypt.
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Sharma G, Jangra A, Sihag S, Chaturvedi S, Yadav S, Chhokar V. Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken: unravelling therapeutic potential and navigating toxicity. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 30:1413-1427. [PMID: 39310702 PMCID: PMC11413295 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-024-01509-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken, a multipurpose medicinal herb, has drawn much interest for its therapeutic qualities from both traditional and modern medicine systems. Many active secondary metabolites, such as bufadienolides, triterpenes, phenols, alkaloids, glycosides, lipids, flavonoids, and organic acids, are responsible for the plant's curative properties. B. pinnatum exhibits a noteworthy significance in oncological research by exhibiting its ability to modify numerous pathways, which may suggest a potential anticancer impact. The herb is recommended for treating lithiasis, a common cause of renal failure, due to its effectiveness in dissolving stones and avoiding crystal formation. The plant has a major impact on diabetes, especially type II diabetes. Moreover, the versatility of B. pinnatum extends to its examination in connection to COVID-19. However, caution is warranted, as B. pinnatum has been reported to possess toxicity attributed to the presence of bufadienolides in its metabolic profile. A comprehensive investigation is essential to thoroughly understand and confirm the synthesis of potentially hazardous compounds. This is crucial for minimizing their presence and ensuring the safe consumption of B. pinnatum among diverse populations of organisms. This review highlights the various medical uses of B. pinnatum, including its ability to effectively treat kidney and liver diseases, as well as its anti-leishmanial, neuropharmacological, antibacterial, immunosuppressive, anti-tumour, and cytotoxic effects. While extensively employed in both traditional and scientific domains, the plant's complete medicinal potential, molecular mechanisms, safety profile, and pharmacodynamics remain ambiguous, rendering it an ideal candidate for pioneering research endeavours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana India
| | - Alka Jangra
- Department of Agriculture Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, Haryana India
| | - Sonia Sihag
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana India
| | - Siddhant Chaturvedi
- Department of Botany, Goswami Tulsidas Government Post Graduate College (Bundelkhand University, Jhansi), Karwi, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Shalu Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana India
| | - Vinod Chhokar
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana India
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Rosal RJZ, Paderes MC. Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 viral entry by targeting spike:ACE2 interaction with O-modified quercetin derivatives. RSC Med Chem 2024:d4md00286e. [PMID: 39165908 PMCID: PMC11331306 DOI: 10.1039/d4md00286e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mediated by the interaction between the receptor-binding domain of its spike (S) protein and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Quercetin, a flavonoid found abundantly in plants, shows potential as a SARS-CoV-2 S:ACE2 inhibitor but is known to have low bioavailability. Modification of quercetin by capping its hydroxyl moieties could enhance the metabolic stability, solubility, and bioavailability, and reduce toxicity. In this study, sixteen (16) O-modified quercetin derivatives were synthesized by incorporating alkyl and acyl moieties of varying lengths, sizes, and polarities to the hydroxyl groups. The SARS-CoV-2 S:ACE2 inhibitory activity and toxicity of the synthesized derivatives were assessed in vitro, and their physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness were predicted and evaluated using the SwissADME web tool. Results showed that functionalization of the hydroxyl moieties of quercetin generally resulted in more potent inhibitors (>50% inhibition). Five (5) derivatives displayed a dose-dependent inhibition against the SARS-CoV-2 S:ACE2 interaction with promising IC50 values (i.e., 2e (IC50 = 7.52 μM), 3a (IC50 = 5.00 μM), 3b (IC50 = 25.70 μM), 3c (IC50 = 2.22 μM), and 4b (IC50 = 3.28 μM)). Moreover, these compounds exhibited low hepato-, nephro-, and cardiotoxicity, and their SwissADME profiles indicated favorable physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and drug-like properties, suggesting their potential as promising lead SARS-CoV-2 S:ACE2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben James Z Rosal
- Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines
| | - Monissa C Paderes
- Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines
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Zhang Y, Wang D, Wang X, Ma H, Liu Y, Hong Z, Zhu Z, Chen X, Lv D, Cao Y, Chai Y. A dual-target SPR screening system for simultaneous ligand discovery of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its receptor ACE2 from Chinese herbs. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 245:116142. [PMID: 38631070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a supremely valuable resource for the development of drug discovery. Few methods are capable of hunting for potential molecule ligands from TCM towards more than one single protein target. In this study, a novel dual-target surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor was developed to perform targeted compound screening of two key proteins involved in the cellular invasion process of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): the spike (S) protein receptor binding domain (RBD) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The screening and identification of active compounds from six Chinese herbs were conducted taking into consideration the multi-component and multi-target nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Puerarin from Radix Puerariae Lobatae was discovered to exhibit specific binding affinity to both S protein RBD and ACE2. The results highlight the efficiency of the dual-target SPR system in drug screening and provide a novel approach for exploring the targeted mechanisms of active components from Chinese herbs for disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Department of Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Dongyao Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiying Wang
- Suzhou Innovation Center of Shanghai University, Suzhou 215127, China
| | - Huilin Ma
- Department of Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhanying Hong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Center for Instrumental Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaofei Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Center for Instrumental Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Diya Lv
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Center for Instrumental Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Yan Cao
- Department of Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Yifeng Chai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Wang Y, Wang Q, Chen X, Li B, Zhang Z, Yao L, Liu X, Zhang R. A Natural Bioactive Peptide from Pinctada fucata Pearls Can Be Used as a Potential Inhibitor of the Interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 against COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7902. [PMID: 39063143 PMCID: PMC11277083 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The frequent occurrence of viral infections poses a serious threat to human life. Identifying effective antiviral components is urgent. In China, pearls have been important traditional medicinal ingredients since ancient times, exhibiting various therapeutic properties, including detoxification properties. In this study, a peptide, KKCH, which acts against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was derived from Pinctada fucata pearls. Molecular docking showed that it bound to the same pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and cell surface target angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). The function of KKCH was analyzed through surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays, immunofluorescence, and simulation methods using the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and live virus. The results showed that KKCH had a good affinity for ACE2 (KD = 6.24 × 10-7 M) and could inhibit the binding of the S1 protein to ACE2 via competitive binding. As a natural peptide, KKCH inhibited the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein to the surface of human BEAS-2B and HEK293T cells. Moreover, viral experiments confirmed the antiviral activity of KKCH against both the SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus and SARS-CoV-2 live virus, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 398.1 μM and 462.4 μM, respectively. This study provides new insights and potential avenues for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayu Wang
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Xinjiani Chen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Bailei Li
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, 705 Yatai Road, Jiaxing 314006, China
| | - Liping Yao
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, 705 Yatai Road, Jiaxing 314006, China
- Taizhou Innovation Center, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 318000, China
| | - Rongqing Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China; (Y.W.); (Q.W.); (X.C.); (B.L.); (Z.Z.); (L.Y.)
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, 705 Yatai Road, Jiaxing 314006, China
- Taizhou Innovation Center, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 318000, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Vollmannová A, Bojňanská T, Musilová J, Lidiková J, Cifrová M. Quercetin as one of the most abundant represented biological valuable plant components with remarkable chemoprotective effects - A review. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33342. [PMID: 39021910 PMCID: PMC11253541 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
As a consequence of environmental quality changes as well as changes in our population's lifestyle, there is rapidly increasing variability and many so-called lifestyle disorders, allergies, and food intolerances (also known as non-allergic food hypersensitivity). Unhealthy eating practices, an inappropriate food composition with an excessive energy intake, a high intake of saturated fats, simple sugars, and salt, as well as an inadequate intake of fibre, vitamins, and substances with preventive effects (such as antioxidants), are some of the factors causing this detrimental phenomenon. Enhanced consumption of plant foods rich in valuable secondary metabolites such as phenolic acids and flavonoids with the benefit on human health, food research focused on these components, and production of foods with declared higher content of biologically active and prophylactic substances are some ways how to change and improve this situation. A unique class of hydroxylated phenolic compounds with an aromatic ring structure are called flavonoids. One unique subclass of flavonoids is quercetin. This phytochemical naturally takes place in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other plants. Quercetin and its several derivates are considered to be promising substances with significant antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, which could also act preventively against cardiovascular disease, cancer, or Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Vollmannová
- Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, 94976, Slovak Republic
| | - Tatiana Bojňanská
- Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, 94976, Slovak Republic
| | - Janette Musilová
- Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, 94976, Slovak Republic
| | - Judita Lidiková
- Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, 94976, Slovak Republic
| | - Monika Cifrová
- Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, 94976, Slovak Republic
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11
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Ho WY, Shen ZH, Chen Y, Chen TH, Lu X, Fu YS. Therapeutic implications of quercetin and its derived-products in COVID-19 protection and prophylactic. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30080. [PMID: 38765079 PMCID: PMC11098804 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel human coronavirus, which has triggered a global pandemic of the coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19). Outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases continue to challenge human health worldwide. The virus conquers human cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor-driven pathway by mostly targeting the human respiratory tract. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid widely represented in the plant kingdom. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that quercetin and its derivatives have various pharmacological properties including anti-cancer, anti-hypertension, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-microbial, antiviral, neuroprotective, and cardio-protective effects, because it is a potential treatment for severe inflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, it is the main life-threatening condition in patients with COVID-19. This article provides a comprehensive review of the primary literature on the predictable effectiveness of quercetin and its derivatives docked to multi-target of SARS-CoV-2 and host cells via in silico and some of validation through in vitro, in vivo, and clinically to fight SARS-CoV-2 infections, contribute to the reduction of inflammation, which suggests the preventive and therapeutic latency of quercetin and its derived-products against COVID-19 pandemic, multisystem inflammatory syndromes (MIS), and long-COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yi Ho
- Department of Anatomy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Han Shen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, Fujian, China
| | - Yijing Chen
- Department of Dentisty, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, Fujian, China
| | - Ting-Hsu Chen
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan
| | - XiaoLin Lu
- Anatomy Section, Department of Basic Medical Science, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, Fujian, China
| | - Yaw-Syan Fu
- Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, Fujian, China
- Anatomy Section, Department of Basic Medical Science, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, Fujian, China
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12
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Du M, Li H, Guo H, Zhang X, Rong H, Hao X. Bibliometric analysis and key messages of integrating Chinese and Western Medicine for COVID-19. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27293. [PMID: 38510013 PMCID: PMC10950505 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global pandemic since it broke out, and integrated Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We aimed to analyze the published literature on ICWM for COVID-19 at home and abroad, and compare their differences on hotspots and research fronts. Methods Publications before Oct 31, 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science core database (WOS), PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), CiteSpace and VOSviewer to summarize the basic characteristics of publications, countries, institutions, keywords, and citations. Results We included 580 English papers and 1727 Chinese papers in this study. The development trends in China and other countries are relatively asynchronous and show a smooth growth trend for the future. The most productive countries were China, India, and the United States, while the most productive domestic research institution was the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The clustering analysis of high-frequency keywords showed that Chinese literature focused on clinical studies of ICWM for COVID-19, such as retrospective studies, clinical features, and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome analysis, while English literature focused on therapeutic mechanism studies and evidence-based medicine studies, such as systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and both of them paid attention to network pharmacological research and Qingfei Paidu Decoction. Sorting out the top 10 highly cited articles, Huang CL's article published in Lancet in 2020 was regarded as a cornerstone in the field. Conclusion The treatment of COVID-19 by ICWM has become a worldwide research hotspot. Although there are differences in the specific contents among countries, the development trend of research types to the mechanism of action, and the development trend of research contents to the recovery period treatment and the prevention of COVID-19 by ICWM are consistent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijiao Du
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Clinical Medical College of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Hongkai Li
- Research Institute of Beijing Tongrentang Co. Ltd., Beijing, 100079, China
| | - Huijuan Guo
- Beijing Tongrentang Technology Development Co. Ltd., Beijing, 100079, China
| | - Xiaowen Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Institute for Excellence in Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Hongguo Rong
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Institute for Excellence in Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xuezeng Hao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China
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13
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Kaffash M, Tolou-Shikhzadeh-Yazdi S, Soleimani S, Hoseinpoor S, Saberi MR, Chamani J. Spectroscopy and molecular simulation on the interaction of Nano-Kaempferol prepared by oil-in-water with two carrier proteins: An investigation of protein-protein interaction. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 309:123815. [PMID: 38154302 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
In this work, the interaction of human serum albumin (HSA) and human holo-transferrin (HTF) with the prepared Nano-Kaempferol (Nano-KMP) through oil-in-water procedure was investigated in the form of binary and ternary systems by the utilization of different spectroscopy techniques along with molecular simulation and cancer cell experiments. According to fluorescence spectroscopy outcomes, Nano-KMP is capable of quenching both proteins as binary systems by a static mechanism, while in the form of (HSA-HTF) Nano-KMP as the ternary system, an unlinear Stern-Volmer plot was elucidated with the occurrence of both dynamic and static fluorescence quenching mechanisms in the binding interaction. In addition, the two acquired Ksv values in the ternary system signified the existence of two sets of binding sites with two different interaction behaviors. The binding constant values of HSA-Nano KMP, HTF-Nano-KMP, and (HSA-HTF) Nano-KMP complexes formation were (2.54 ± 0.03) × 104, (2.15 ± 0.02) × 104 and (1.43 ± 0.04) × 104M-1at the first set of binding sites and (4.68 ± 0.05) × 104 M-1 at the second set of binding sites, respectively. The data of thermodynamic parameters confirmed the major roles of hydrogen binding and van der Waals forces in the formation of HSA-Nano KMP and HTF-Nano KMP complexes. The thermodynamic parameter values of (HSA-HTF) Nano KMP revealed the dominance of hydrogen binding and van der Waals forces in the first set of binding sites and hydrophobic forces for the second set of binding sites. Resonance light scattering (RLS) analysis displayed the existence of a different interaction behavior for HSA-HTF complex in the presence of Nano-KMP as the ternary system. Moreover, circular dichroism (CD) technique affirmed the conformational changes of the secondary structure of proteins as binary and ternary systems. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations (for 100 ns) were performed to investigate the mechanism of KMP binding to HSA, HTF, and HSA-HTF. Next to observing a concentration and time-dependent cytotoxicity, the down regulation of PI3K/AkT/mTOR pathway resulted in cell cycle arrest in SW480 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Kaffash
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Samane Soleimani
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeideh Hoseinpoor
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Saberi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jamshidkhan Chamani
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
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14
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Roy AV, Chan M, Banadyga L, He S, Zhu W, Chrétien M, Mbikay M. Quercetin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection and prevents syncytium formation by cells co-expressing the viral spike protein and human ACE2. Virol J 2024; 21:29. [PMID: 38273400 PMCID: PMC10811921 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02299-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several in silico studies have determined that quercetin, a plant flavonol, could bind with strong affinity and low free energy to SARS-CoV-2 proteins involved in viral entry and replication, suggesting it could block infection of human cells by the virus. In the present study, we examined the ex vivo ability of quercetin to inhibit of SARS-CoV-2 replication and explored the mechanisms of this inhibition. METHODS Green monkey kidney Vero E6 cells and in human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and incubated in presence of quercetin; the amount of replicated viral RNA was measured in spent media by RT-qPCR. Since the formation of syncytia is a mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 propagation, a syncytialization model was set up using human embryonic kidney HEK293 co-expressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein and human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), [HEK293(S + ACE2) cells], to assess the effect of quercetin on this cytopathic event by microscopic imaging and protein immunoblotting. RESULTS Quercetin inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells and Caco-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with a half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 166.6 and 145.2 µM, respectively. It also inhibited syncytialization of HEK293(S + ACE2) cells with an IC50 of 156.7 µM. Spike and ACE2 co-expression was associated with decreased expression, increased proteolytic processing of the S protein, and diminished production of the fusogenic S2' fragment of S. Furin, a proposed protease for this processing, was inhibited by quercetin in vitro with an IC50 of 116 µM. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that at low 3-digit micromolar concentrations of quercetin could impair SARS-CoV-2 infection of human cells partly by blocking the fusion process that promotes its propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie V Roy
- Functional Endoproteolysis Laboratory, Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michael Chan
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Logan Banadyga
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Shihua He
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Michel Chrétien
- Functional Endoproteolysis Laboratory, Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Majambu Mbikay
- Functional Endoproteolysis Laboratory, Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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15
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Saha C, Naskar R, Chakraborty S. Antiviral Flavonoids: A Natural Scaffold with Prospects as Phytomedicines against SARS-CoV2. Mini Rev Med Chem 2024; 24:39-59. [PMID: 37138419 DOI: 10.2174/1389557523666230503105053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids are vital candidates to fight against a wide range of pathogenic microbial infections. Due to their therapeutic potential, many flavonoids from the herbs of traditional medicine systems are now being evaluated as lead compounds to develop potential antimicrobial hits. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 caused one of the deadliest pandemics that has ever been known to mankind. To date, more than 600 million confirmed cases of SARS-CoV2 infection have been reported worldwide. Situations are worse due to the unavailability of therapeutics to combat the viral disease. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop drugs against SARS-CoV2 and its emerging variants. Here, we have carried out a detailed mechanistic analysis of the antiviral efficacy of flavonoids in terms of their potential targets and structural feature required for exerting their antiviral activity. A catalog of various promising flavonoid compounds has been shown to elicit inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV proteases. However, they act in the high-micromolar regime. Thus a proper leadoptimization against the various proteases of SARS-CoV2 can lead to high-affinity SARS-CoV2 protease inhibitors. To enable lead optimization, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis has been developed for the flavonoids that have shown antiviral activity against viral proteases of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. High sequence similarities between coronavirus proteases enable the applicability of the developed QSAR to SARS-CoV2 proteases inhibitor screening. The detailed mechanistic analysis of the antiviral flavonoids and the developed QSAR models is a step forward toward the development of flavonoid-based therapeutics or supplements to fight against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiranjeet Saha
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata, 700135, India
| | - Roumi Naskar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata, 700135, India
| | - Sandipan Chakraborty
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
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16
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Fauquet J, Carette J, Duez P, Zhang J, Nachtergael A. Microfluidic Diffusion Sizing Applied to the Study of Natural Products and Extracts That Modulate the SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD/ACE2 Interaction. Molecules 2023; 28:8072. [PMID: 38138562 PMCID: PMC10745392 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and ACE2 proteins is a crucial step for host cell infection by the virus. Without it, the entire virion entrance mechanism is compromised. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of various natural product classes, including flavonoids, anthraquinones, saponins, ivermectin, chloroquine, and erythromycin, to modulate this interaction. To accomplish this, we applied a recently developed a microfluidic diffusional sizing (MDS) technique that allows us to probe protein-protein interactions via measurements of the hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and dissociation constant (KD); the evolution of Rh is monitored in the presence of increasing concentrations of the partner protein (ACE2); and the KD is determined through a binding curve experimental design. In a second time, with the protein partners present in equimolar amounts, the Rh of the protein complex was measured in the presence of different natural products. Five of the nine natural products/extracts tested were found to modulate the formation of the protein complex. A methanol extract of Chenopodium quinoa Willd bitter seed husks (50 µg/mL; bisdesmoside saponins) and the flavonoid naringenin (1 µM) were particularly effective. This rapid selection of effective modulators will allow us to better understand agents that may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Fauquet
- Unit of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Mons (UMONS), 7000 Mons, Belgium; (J.F.); (P.D.); (A.N.)
| | - Julie Carette
- Unit of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Mons (UMONS), 7000 Mons, Belgium; (J.F.); (P.D.); (A.N.)
| | - Pierre Duez
- Unit of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Mons (UMONS), 7000 Mons, Belgium; (J.F.); (P.D.); (A.N.)
| | - Jiuliang Zhang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Amandine Nachtergael
- Unit of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Mons (UMONS), 7000 Mons, Belgium; (J.F.); (P.D.); (A.N.)
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Pan B, Fang S, Wang L, Pan Z, Li M, Liu L. Quercetin: A promising drug candidate against the potential SARS-CoV-2-Spike mutants with high viral infectivity. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:5092-5098. [PMID: 37881508 PMCID: PMC10597750 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2-Spike mutants not only enhances viral infectivity but also lead to treatment failure. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the molecular binding mode between the mutant SARS-CoV-2-Spike and human ACE2 receptor is crucial for therapeutic development against this virus. Building upon our previous predictions and verifications regarding heightened viral infectivity of six potential SARS-CoV-2-Spike mutants, this study aims to further investigate the potential disruption of the interaction between these mutants and ACE2 by quercetin, a Chinese herbal compound. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations results reveal that the binding sites of quercetin particularly enriched around a specific "cavity" at the interface of Spike/ACE2 complex, indicating a favorable region for quercetin to interfere with Spike/ACE2 interaction. Virus infection assay confirms that quercetin not only attenuates wild-type virus infectivity but also suppresses the infectivity of all six tested SARS-CoV-2-Spike mutants. Therefore, quercetin represents a promising therapeutic candidate against both wild-type and potential future variants of SARS-CoV-2 exhibiting high viral infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Pan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Senbiao Fang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering; Central South University, Changsha 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Liangjiao Wang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Zhanyu Pan
- Department of Integrative Oncology; Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Min Li
- School of Computer Science and Engineering; Central South University, Changsha 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Liren Liu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
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Elste J, Kumari S, Sharma N, Razo EP, Azhar E, Gao F, Nunez MC, Anwar W, Mitchell JC, Tiwari V, Sahi S. Plant Cell-Engineered Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated to Quercetin Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 Entry. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14792. [PMID: 37834240 PMCID: PMC10573121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed considerable promise in the antiviral properties of metal nanomaterials, specifically when biologically prepared. This study demonstrates for the first time the antiviral roles of the plant cell-engineered gold nanoparticles (pAuNPs) alone and when conjugated with quercetin (pAuNPsQ). We show here that the quercetin conjugated nanoparticles (pAuNPsQ) preferentially inhibit the cell entry of two medically important viruses-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) using different mechanisms. Interestingly, in the case of SARS-CoV-2, the pre-treatment of target cells with pAuNPsQ inhibited the viral entry, but the pre-treatment of the virus with pAuNPsQ did not affect viral entry into the host cell. In contrast, pAuNPsQ demonstrated effective blocking capabilities against HSV-1 entry, either during the pre-treatment of target cells or by inducing virus neutralization. In addition, pAuNPsQ also significantly affected HSV-1 replication, evidenced by the plaque-counting assay. In this study, we also tested the chemically synthesized gold nanoparticles (cAuNPs) of identical size and shape and observed comparable effects. The versatility of plant cell-based nanomaterial fabrication and its modification with bioactive compounds opens a new frontier in therapeutics, specifically in designing novel antiviral formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Elste
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (J.E.); (E.A.)
| | - Sangeeta Kumari
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, University City Campus, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA; (S.K.); (W.A.)
| | - Nilesh Sharma
- Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA;
| | - Erendira Palomino Razo
- College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (E.P.R.); (F.G.); (M.C.N.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Eisa Azhar
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (J.E.); (E.A.)
| | - Feng Gao
- College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (E.P.R.); (F.G.); (M.C.N.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Maria Cuevas Nunez
- College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (E.P.R.); (F.G.); (M.C.N.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Wasim Anwar
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, University City Campus, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA; (S.K.); (W.A.)
| | - John C. Mitchell
- College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (E.P.R.); (F.G.); (M.C.N.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Vaibhav Tiwari
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (J.E.); (E.A.)
- College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (E.P.R.); (F.G.); (M.C.N.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Shivendra Sahi
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, University City Campus, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA; (S.K.); (W.A.)
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19
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Ma J, Wei J, Chen G, Yan X, Sun H, Li N. Extracts of Thesium chinense inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and inflammation in vitro. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2023; 61:1446-1453. [PMID: 37675874 PMCID: PMC10486283 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2253841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still spreading rapidly. Relevant research based on the antiviral effects of Thesium chinense Turcz (Santalaceae) was not found. OBJECTIVE To investigate the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of extracts of T. chinense. MATERIALS AND METHODS To investigate the anti-entry and replication effect of the ethanol extract of T. chinense (drug concentration 80, 160, 320, 640, 960 μg/mL) against the SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir (20.74 μM) was used as positive control, and Vero cells were used as host cells to detect the expression level of nucleocapsid protein (NP) in the virus by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. RAW264.7 cells were used as an anti-inflammatory experimental model under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction, and the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS The ethanol extract of T. chinense significantly inhibited the replication (half maximal effective concentration, EC50: 259.3 μg/mL) and entry (EC50: 359.1 μg/mL) of SARS-CoV-2 into Vero cells, and significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α produced by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Petroleum ether (EC50: 163.6 μg/mL), ethyl acetate (EC50: 22.92 μg/mL) and n-butanol (EC50: 56.8 μg/mL) extracts showed weak inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero cells, and reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α produced by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSION T. chinense can be a potential candidate to fight SARS-CoV-2, and is becoming a traditional Chinese medicine candidate for treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juncheng Ma
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Juanru Wei
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaowei Yan
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hechun Sun
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ning Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Li J, Guo S, Tan Y, Zhang J, Wu Z, Stalin A, Zhang F, Huang Z, Wu C, Liu X, Huang J, Wu J. Integrated network pharmacology analysis and in vitro validation revealed the underlying mechanism of Xiyanping injection in treating coronavirus disease 2019. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34866. [PMID: 37653800 PMCID: PMC10470725 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide, leading to a pandemic. In China, Xiyanping injection (XYP) has been recommended as a drug for COVID-19 treatment in the Guideline on Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 by the National Health Commission of the People Republic of China and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Trial eighth Edition). However, the relevant mechanisms at the molecular-level need to be further elucidated. METHODS In this study, XYP related active ingredients, potential targets and COVID-19 related genes were searched in public databases. Protein-protein interaction network and module analyzes were used to screen for key targets. gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes were performed to investigate the potentially relevant signaling pathways. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock Tools and Vina. For the validation of potential mechanism, PolyI:C was used to induce human lung epithelial cells for an inflammation model. Subsequently, CCK-8 assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were employed to determine the effect of XYP on the expression of key genes. RESULTS Seven effective active ingredients in XYP were searched for 123 targets in the relevant databases. Furthermore, 6446 COVID-19 disease targets were identified. Sodium 9-dehydro-17-hydro-andrographolide-19-yl sulfate was identified as the vital active compounds, and IL-6, TNF, IL-1β, CXCL8, STAT3, MAPK1, MAPK14, and MAPK8 were considered as the key targets. In addition, molecular docking revealed that the active compound and the targets showed good binding affinities. The enrichment analysis predicted that the XYP could regulate the IL-17, Toll-like receptor, PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Consistently, further in vitro experiments demonstrated that XYP could slow down the cytokine storm in the lung tissue of COVID-19 patients by down-regulating IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, CXCL8, and p-STAT3. CONCLUSION Through effective network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking, this study suggests that XYP contains many effective compounds that may target COVID-19 related signaling pathways. Moreover, the in vitro experiment confirmed that XYP could inhibit the cytokine storm by regulating genes or proteins related to immune and inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Li
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University-Daqing, Daqing, China
| | - Siyu Guo
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Tan
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyuan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhishan Wu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Antony Stalin
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Fanqin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Huang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xinkui Liu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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21
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Zhao T, Sun S, Gao Y, Rong Y, Wang H, Qi S, Li Y. Luteolin and triptolide: Potential therapeutic compounds for post-stroke depression via protein STAT. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18622. [PMID: 37600392 PMCID: PMC10432979 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Post stroke depression (PSD) is a common neuropsychiatric complication following stroke closely associated with the immune system. The development of medications for PSD remains to be a considerable challenge due to the unclear mechanism of PSD. Multiple researches agree that the functions of gene ontology (GO) are efficient for the investigation of disease mechanisms, and DeepPurpose (DP) is extremely valuable for the mining of new drugs. However, GO terms and DP have not yet been applied to explore the pathogenesis and drug treatment of PSD. This study aimed to interpret the mechanism of PSD and discover important drug candidates targeting risk proteins, based on immune-related risk GO functions and informatics algorithms. According to the risk genes of PSD, we identified 335 immune-related risk GO functions and 37 compounds. Based on the construction of the GO function network, we found that STAT protein may be a pivot protein in underlying the mechanism of PSD. Additionally, we also established networks of Protein-Protein Interaction as well as Gene-GO function to facilitate the evaluation of key genes. Based on DP, a total of 37 candidate compounds targeting 7 key proteins were identified with a potential for the therapy of PSD. Furthermore, we noted that the mechanisms by which luteolin and triptolide acting on STAT-related GO function might involve three crucial pathways, including specifically hsa04010 (MAPK signaling pathway), hsa04151 (PI3K-Akt signaling pathway) and hsa04060 (Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction). Thus, this study provided fresh and powerful information for the mechanism and therapeutic strategies of PSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyang Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Siqi Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yueyue Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuting Rong
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hanwenchen Wang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Sihua Qi
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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22
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Giroux E, Oake A, Lewis T, Martic S. Aptamer-, heparin- or cocktail-based inhibition of S1-ACE2 protein complexes. Anal Biochem 2023:115223. [PMID: 37385465 PMCID: PMC10299842 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The Spike protein (S1) from the Severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 virus binds to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to initiate infection. Hence, antiviral therapeutic targeting the S1-ACE2 interface is of interest. Herein, we compare the inhibition efficacy of an aptamer to heparin or their cocktail, against wild-type (WT), Omicron, Delta, and Lambda S1-ACE2 complexes. The aptamer-protein complexes had the dissociation constant KD values in the 2-13 nM range. The aptamer half-maximal inhibitory concentration against WT S1-ACE was 17 nM, with the % inhibition in the 12-35% range. Several aptamer-S1 protein complexes were also stable at low pH with 60% inhibition. Despite the similarity in S1 sequences, the extent of inhibition (2-27%) with heparin was highly dependent on the type of S1 protein. More importantly, heparin did not inhibit the WT S1-ACE2 complex but was effective with mutants. The aptamer-heparin cocktail was less effective compared to aptamer or heparin, individually. Modelling data show that either a direct or proximal binding to RBD sites by aptamer or heparin prevents the ACE2 binding. Overall, heparin was as an effective inhibitor as aptamer against certain variants, and represents the more cost-effective neutralizing agent against emerging coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Giroux
- Department of Forensic Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - A Oake
- Flemming College, Peterborough, Canada
| | - T Lewis
- Environmental and Life Science Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - S Martic
- Department of Forensic Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada; Environmental and Life Science Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada.
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23
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Romani A, Sergi D, Zauli E, Voltan R, Lodi G, Vaccarezza M, Caruso L, Previati M, Zauli G. Nutrients, herbal bioactive derivatives and commensal microbiota as tools to lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1152254. [PMID: 37324739 PMCID: PMC10267353 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1152254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has infected a vast population across the world, causing more than 664 million cases and 6.7 million deaths by January 2023. Vaccination has been effective in reducing the most critical aftermath of this infection, but some issues are still present regarding re-infection prevention, effectiveness against variants, vaccine hesitancy and worldwide accessibility. Moreover, although several old and new antiviral drugs have been tested, we still lack robust and specific treatment modalities. It appears of utmost importance, facing this continuously growing pandemic, to focus on alternative practices grounded on firm scientific bases. In this article, we aim to outline a rigorous scientific background and propose complementary nutritional tools useful toward containment, and ultimately control, of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In particular, we review the mechanisms of viral entry and discuss the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from α-linolenic acid and other nutrients in preventing the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with its entry gateways. In a similar way, we analyze in detail the role of herbal-derived pharmacological compounds and specific microbial strains or microbial-derived polypeptides in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 entry. In addition, we highlight the role of probiotics, nutrients and herbal-derived compounds in stimulating the immunity response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Romani
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Domenico Sergi
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Rebecca Voltan
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giada Lodi
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mauro Vaccarezza
- Curtin Medical School & Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Previati
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Halma MTJ, Plothe C, Marik P, Lawrie TA. Strategies for the Management of Spike Protein-Related Pathology. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1308. [PMID: 37317282 PMCID: PMC10222799 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, a need has arisen to prevent and treat two related conditions, COVID-19 vaccine injury and long COVID-19, both of which can trace at least part of their aetiology to the spike protein, which can cause harm through several mechanisms. One significant mechanism of harm is vascular, and it is mediated by the spike protein, a common element of the COVID-19 illness, and it is related to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Given the significant number of people experiencing these two related conditions, it is imperative to develop treatment protocols, as well as to consider the diversity of people experiencing long COVID-19 and vaccine injury. This review summarizes the known treatment options for long COVID-19 and vaccine injury, their mechanisms, and their evidentiary basis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christof Plothe
- Center for Biophysical Osteopathy, Am Wegweiser 27, 55232 Alzey, Germany
| | - Paul Marik
- Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), 2001 L St. NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, USA;
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25
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Hanson EK, Whelan RJ. Application of the Nicoya OpenSPR to Studies of Biomolecular Binding: A Review of the Literature from 2016 to 2022. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:4831. [PMID: 37430747 DOI: 10.3390/s23104831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The Nicoya OpenSPR is a benchtop surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument. As with other optical biosensor instruments, it is suitable for the label-free interaction analysis of a diverse set of biomolecules, including proteins, peptides, antibodies, nucleic acids, lipids, viruses, and hormones/cytokines. Supported assays include affinity/kinetics characterization, concentration analysis, yes/no assessment of binding, competition studies, and epitope mapping. OpenSPR exploits localized SPR detection in a benchtop platform and can be connected with an autosampler (XT) to perform automated analysis over an extended time period. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive survey of the 200 peer-reviewed papers published between 2016 and 2022 that use the OpenSPR platform. We highlight the range of biomolecular analytes and interactions that have been investigated using the platform, provide an overview on the most common applications for the instrument, and point out some representative research that highlights the flexibility and utility of the instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza K Hanson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Rebecca J Whelan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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26
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Treatment with quercetin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 N protein-induced acute kidney injury by blocking Smad3-dependent G1 cell-cycle arrest. Mol Ther 2023; 31:344-361. [PMID: 36514292 PMCID: PMC9743779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 can infect kidneys and cause acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill COVID-19 patients. However, mechanisms through which COVID-19 induces AKI are largely unknown, and treatment remains ineffective. Here, we report that kidney-specific overexpressing SARS-CoV-2 N gene can cause AKI, including tubular necrosis and elevated levels of serum creatinine and BUN in 8-week-old diabetic db/db mice, which become worse in those with older age (16 weeks) and underlying diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Treatment with quercetin, a purified product from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that shows effective treatment of COVID-19 patients, can significantly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 N protein-induced AKI in diabetic mice with or without underlying DKD. Mechanistically, quercetin can block the binding of SARS-CoV-2 N protein to Smad3, thereby inhibiting Smad3 signaling and Smad3-mediated cell death via the p16-dependent G1 cell-cycle arrest mechanism in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 N protein is pathogenic and can cause severe AKI in diabetic mice, particularly in those with older age and pre-existing DKD, via the Smad3-dependent G1 cell-cycle arrest mechanism. Importantly, we identify that quercetin may be an effective TCM compound capable of inhibiting COVID-19 AKI by blocking SARS-CoV-2 N-Smad3-mediated cell death pathway.
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27
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Risener CJ, Woo S, Samarakoon T, Caputo M, Edwards E, Klepzig K, Applequist W, Zandi K, Goh SL, Downs-Bowen JA, Schinazi RF, Quave CL. Botanical inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry: a phylogenetic perspective. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1244. [PMID: 36690683 PMCID: PMC9868516 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28303-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the use of botanical dietary supplements in the United States has increased, yet their safety and efficacy against COVID-19 remains underexplored. The Quave Natural Product Library is a phylogenetically diverse collection of botanical and fungal natural product extracts including popular supplement ingredients. Evaluation of 1867 extracts and 18 compounds for virus spike protein binding to host cell ACE2 receptors in a SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus system identified 310 extracts derived from 188 species across 76 families (3 fungi, 73 plants) that exhibited ≥ 50% viral entry inhibition activity at 20 µg/mL. Extracts exhibiting mammalian cytotoxicity > 15% and those containing cardiotoxic cardiac glycosides were eliminated. Three extracts were selected for further testing against four pseudotyped variants and infectious SARS-CoV-2 and were then further chemically characterized, revealing the potent (EC50 < 5 µg/mL) antiviral activity of Solidago altissima L. (Asteraceae) flowers and Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae) rhizomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin J Risener
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sunmin Woo
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Marco Caputo
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily Edwards
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Keivan Zandi
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shu Ling Goh
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jessica A Downs-Bowen
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raymond F Schinazi
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cassandra L Quave
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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28
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Ujjan ID, Khan S, Nigar R, Ahmed H, Ahmad S, Khan A. The possible therapeutic role of curcumin and quercetin in the early-stage of COVID-19-Results from a pragmatic randomized clinical trial. Front Nutr 2023; 9:1023997. [PMID: 36742008 PMCID: PMC9889936 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1023997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Curcumin (CUR) and quercetin (QUE), two natural polyphenols, possess diverse biological activities including broad-spectrum antiviral, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Both CUR and QUE have shown inhibition of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in in vitro assays. Objective In the present study we aimed to assess the possible treatment benefits of a combined curcumin and quercetin (CUR-QUE) oral supplement, alongside standard of care (SOC), in the early-stage COVID-19 infection. Methods This was an exploratory, pragmatic, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial, conducted at the Department of Pathology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, PK. The study compared the treatment effect of an oral CUR-QUE supplement plus SOC vs. SOC alone, in the early-stage/mild to moderately symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to CUR-QUE (n = 25) and control (n = 25) treatment groups. The CUR-QUE supplementation consisted of a daily intake of 168 mg curcumin and 260 mg quercetin, as two soft capsules, to be taken twice a day at home for 14 days. Results After one-week of treatment, most of the patients in the CUR-QUE group showed an expedited clearance of the viral infection i.e., 18 (72.0%) vs. 6 (24.0%) patients in the control group tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal-oropharyngeal swab reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis (p = 0.0002). In addition, COVID-19-associated acute symptoms were also speedily resolved in the CUR-QUE treated patients, i.e., 10 (40.0%) vs. 4 (16.0%) patients in the control group (p = 0.061). The CUR-QUE supplementation therapy was well-tolerated by all 25 patients and no treatment-emergent effects or serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion The results revealed in this exploratory study suggest a possible therapeutic role of curcumin and quercetin in the early-stage of COVID-19. It is proposed that the two agents possibly acting in synergy, interfere the SARS-CoV-2 replication, and thus help a speedy recovery in the early-stage of COVID-19. Further research is highly encouraged. Clinical trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier NCT04603690.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikram Din Ujjan
- Department of Pathology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Saeed Khan
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Roohi Nigar
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Bilawal Medical College, LUMHS, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | | | - Sagheer Ahmad
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Amjad Khan
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Amjad Khan,
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Li R, Bi R, Cai H, Zhao J, Sun P, Xu W, Zhou Y, Yang W, Zheng L, Chen XL, Wang G, Wang D, Liu J, Teng H, Li G. Melatonin functions as a broad-spectrum antifungal by targeting a conserved pathogen protein kinase. J Pineal Res 2023; 74:e12839. [PMID: 36314656 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin is a low-cost natural small indole molecule with versatile biological functions. However, melatonin's fungicidal potential has not been fully exploited, and the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that melatonin broadly inhibited 13 plant pathogens. In the rice blast fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, melatonin inhibited fungal growth, formation of infection-specific structures named appressoria, and plant infection, reducing disease severity. Melatonin entered fungal cells efficiently and colocalized with the critical mitogen-activated protein kinase named Mps1, suppressing phosphorylation of Mps1. Melatonin's affinity for Mps1 via two hydrogen bonds was demonstrated using surface plasmon resonance and chemical modifications. To improve melatonin's efficiency, we obtained 20 melatonin derivatives. Tert-butyloxycarbonyl melatonin showed a 25-fold increase in fungicidal activities, demonstrating the feasibility of chemical modifications in melatonin modification. Our study demonstrated the broad-spectrum fungicidal effect of melatonin by suppressing Mps1 as one of the targets. Through further systematic modifications, developing an eco-friendly melatonin derivative of commercial values for agricultural applications appears promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruiqing Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huanyu Cai
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weilong Xu
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaru Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guanghui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dongli Wang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory for Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory for Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Huailong Teng
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guotian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Naidu SAG, Tripathi YB, Shree P, Clemens RA, Naidu AS. Phytonutrient Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2/NSP5-Encoded Main Protease (M pro) Autocleavage Enzyme Critical for COVID-19 Pathogenesis. J Diet Suppl 2023; 20:284-311. [PMID: 34821532 DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2021.2006388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The genomic reshuffling, mutagenicity, and high transmission rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen highlights an urgent need for effective antiviral interventions for COVID-19 control. Targeting the highly conserved viral genes and/or gene-encoded viral proteins such as main proteinase (Mpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicases are plausible antiviral approaches to prevent replication and propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are prone to extensive mutagenesis; however, any genetic alteration to its highly conserved Mpro enzyme is often detrimental to the viral pathogen. Therefore, inhibitors that target the Mpro enzyme could reduce the risk of mutation-mediated drug resistance and provide effective antiviral protection. Several existing antiviral drugs and dietary bioactives are currently repurposed to treat COVID-19. Dietary bioactives from three ayurvedic medicinal herbs, 18 β-glycyrrhetinic acid (ΔG = 8.86 kcal/mol), Solanocapsine (ΔG = 8.59 kcal/mol), and Vasicoline (ΔG = 7.34 kcal/mol), showed high-affinity binding to Mpro enzyme than the native N3 inhibitor (ΔG = 5.41 kcal/mol). Flavonoids strongly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with comparable or higher potency than the antiviral drug, remdesivir. Several tannin hydrolysates avidly bound to the receptor-binding domain and catalytic dyad (His41 and Cys145) of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro through H-bonding forces. Quercetin binding to Mpro altered the thermostability of the viral protein through redox-based mechanism and inhibited the viral enzymatic activity. Interaction of quercetin-derivatives with the Mpro seem to be influenced by the 7-OH group and the acetoxylation of sugar moiety on the ligand molecule. Based on pharmacokinetic and ADMET profiles, several phytonutrients could serve as a promising redox nutraceutical for COVID-19 management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreus A G Naidu
- N-terminus Research Laboratory, Yorba Linda, California, USA
| | - Yamini B Tripathi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Priya Shree
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Roger A Clemens
- Department of International Regulatory Science, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Che Z, Song Y, Xu C, Li W, Dong Z, Wang C, Ren Y, So KF, Tipoe GL, Wang F, Xiao J. Melatonin alleviates alcoholic liver disease via EGFR-BRG1-TERT axis regulation. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:100-112. [PMID: 36815038 PMCID: PMC9939303 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic alcohol consumption causes liver steatosis, cell death, and inflammation. Melatonin (MLT) is reported to alleviate alcoholic liver disease (ALD)-induced injury. However, its direct regulating targets in hepatocytes are not fully understood. In the current study, a cell-based screening model and a chronic ethanol-fed mice ALD model were used to test the protective mechanisms of MLT. MLT ameliorated ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury in both cell and animal models (optimal doses of 10 μmol/L and 5 mg/kg, respectively), including lowered liver steatosis, cell death, and inflammation. RNA-seq analysis and loss-of-function studies in AML-12 cells revealed that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) was a key downstream effector of MLT. Biophysical assay found that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the hepatocyte surface was a direct binding and regulating target of MLT. Liver specific knock-down of Tert or Egfr in the ALD mice model impaired MLT-mediated liver protection, partly through the regulation of nuclear brahma-related gene-1 (BRG1). Long-term administration (90 days) of MLT in healthy mice did not cause evident adverse effect. In conclusion, MLT is an efficacious and safe agent for ALD alleviation. Its direct regulating target in hepatocytes is EGFR and downstream BRG1-TERT axis. MLT might be used as a complimentary agent for alcoholics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaodi Che
- Clinical Medicine Research Institute and Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yali Song
- Clinical Medicine Research Institute and Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Chengfang Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Wei Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Chiba 2748510, Japan
| | - Zhiyong Dong
- Clinical Medicine Research Institute and Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Cunchuan Wang
- Clinical Medicine Research Institute and Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yixing Ren
- Department of General Surgery, and Institute of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreas and Intestinal Disease, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- GMH Institute of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - George L. Tipoe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Jia Xiao
- Clinical Medicine Research Institute and Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Yang F, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Lu H, Li J, Bai N, Geng N. Efficacy and safety of Qi and Blood Tonic Chinese Medicines in the treatment of COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e32136. [PMID: 36626419 PMCID: PMC9750632 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) is a sudden public event affecting all human beings, with the rapid transmission, extensive groups affected, many complications, and high mortality. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history of preventing and treating infectious diseases, and numerous studies have shown that Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially herbal medicine, has a positive effect on the prevention, treatment, and post-healing recovery of this COVID-19, and herbal medicines to supplement qi and blood often occupy a certain proportion of it. However, there is no relevant meta-analysis to date. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of qi and blood tonic herbal medicines in the treatment of COVID-19 through Systematic Review and meta-analysis to provide a reference basis for widespread clinical application. METHODS We will search from the following databases for the period from the time of database construction to March 1st, 2023. The English databases include: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, WOS, Google Scholar, and CENTRAL; The Chinese databases include: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biomedical Literature Database, Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang. Randomized controlled trials in English or Chinese that include Chinese herbal medicines for tonifying Qi and Blood in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 will be included. Data were independently screened and collected by 2 investigators. The risk of bias for each trial was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis of the data. Primary outcome indicators included cure, mortality, and exacerbation rates (change in disease severity category, patient admission to ICU, etc.). Secondary outcome indicators included recovery rate or duration of major symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, fatigue, and weakness, etc.), rate or duration of nucleic acid conversion for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, improvement or recovery of chest CT performance, length of hospital stay, and other adverse events. RESULTS This protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-P guidelines to ensure clarity and completeness of reporting in all phases of the systematic review. CONCLUSION This study will provide evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Qi and Blood Tonic Chinese Medicines for the treatment of COVID-19. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022361822 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022361822).
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Yang
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaosi Zhang
- Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Tianshui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianshui, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Ning Bai
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Naizhi Geng
- First Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
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Lei S, Chen X, Wu J, Duan X, Men K. Small molecules in the treatment of COVID-19. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:387. [PMID: 36464706 PMCID: PMC9719906 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 has become a global crisis, and brought severe disruptions to societies and economies. Until now, effective therapeutics against COVID-19 are in high demand. Along with our improved understanding of the structure, function, and pathogenic process of SARS-CoV-2, many small molecules with potential anti-COVID-19 effects have been developed. So far, several antiviral strategies were explored. Besides directly inhibition of viral proteins such as RdRp and Mpro, interference of host enzymes including ACE2 and proteases, and blocking relevant immunoregulatory pathways represented by JAK/STAT, BTK, NF-κB, and NLRP3 pathways, are regarded feasible in drug development. The development of small molecules to treat COVID-19 has been achieved by several strategies, including computer-aided lead compound design and screening, natural product discovery, drug repurposing, and combination therapy. Several small molecules representative by remdesivir and paxlovid have been proved or authorized emergency use in many countries. And many candidates have entered clinical-trial stage. Nevertheless, due to the epidemiological features and variability issues of SARS-CoV-2, it is necessary to continue exploring novel strategies against COVID-19. This review discusses the current findings in the development of small molecules for COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, their detailed mechanism of action, chemical structures, and preclinical and clinical efficacies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Jieping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingmei Duan
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Ke Men
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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Pu Y, He X, Chen L, Wang H, Ma Y, Jiang W. Apple polyphenols attenuate the binding ability of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 to viral proteins: Computer simulation and in vitro experiments. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Shabir I, Kumar Pandey V, Shams R, Dar AH, Dash KK, Khan SA, Bashir I, Jeevarathinam G, Rusu AV, Esatbeyoglu T, Pandiselvam R. Promising bioactive properties of quercetin for potential food applications and health benefits: A review. Front Nutr 2022; 9:999752. [PMID: 36532555 PMCID: PMC9748429 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.999752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring phytochemicals with promising biological properties are quercetin and its derivatives. Quercetin has been thoroughly studied for its antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-arthritic, antioxidant, cardiovascular, and wound-healing properties. Anticancer activity of quercetin against cancer cell lines has also recently been revealed. The majority of the Western diet contains quercetin and its derivatives, therefore consuming them as part of a meal or as a food supplement may be sufficient for people to take advantage of their preventive effects. Bioavailability-based drug-delivery systems of quercetin have been heavily studied. Fruits, seeds, vegetables, bracken fern, coffee, tea, and other plants all contain quercetin, as do natural colors. One naturally occurring antioxidant is quercetin, whose anticancer effects have been discussed in detail. It has several properties that could make it an effective anti-cancer agent. Numerous researches have shown that quercetin plays a substantial part in the suppression of cancer cells in the breast, colon, prostate, ovary, endometrial, and lung tumors. The current study includes a concise explanation of quercetin's action mechanism and potential health applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irtiqa Shabir
- Department of Food Technology, Islamic University of Science and Technology Kashmir, Pulwama, India
| | - Vinay Kumar Pandey
- Department of Bioengineering, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Axis Institute of Higher Education, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rafeeya Shams
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Aamir Hussain Dar
- Department of Food Technology, Islamic University of Science and Technology Kashmir, Pulwama, India
| | - Kshirod Kumar Dash
- Department of Food Processing Technology, Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology (GKCIET), Malda, West Bengal, India
| | - Shafat Ahmad Khan
- Department of Food Technology, Islamic University of Science and Technology Kashmir, Pulwama, India
| | - Iqra Bashir
- Division of Food Science and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, Kashmir, India
| | - G. Jeevarathinam
- Department of Food Technology, Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Alexandru Vasile Rusu
- Life Science Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Animal Science and Biotechnology Faculty, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tuba Esatbeyoglu
- Department of Food Development and Food Quality, Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - R. Pandiselvam
- Physiology, Biochemistry and Post-Harvest Technology Division, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala, India
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36
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Neurological disorders of COVID-19: insights to applications of natural products from plants and microorganisms. Arch Pharm Res 2022; 45:909-937. [PMCID: PMC9702705 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-022-01420-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In addition to the typical respiratory manifestations, various disorders including involvement of the nerve system have been detected in COVID-19 ranging from 22 to 36%. Although growing records are focusing on neurological aspects of COVID-19, the pathophysiological mechanisms and related therapeutic methods remain obscure. Considering the increased concerns of SARS-CoV-2 potential for more serious neuroinvasion conditions, the present review attempts to focus on the neuroprotective effects of natural compounds as the principle source of therapeutics inhibiting multiple steps of the SARS-CoV-2 infection cycle. The great majority of the natural products with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity mainly inhibit the attachment, entry and gene expression rather than the replication, assembly, or release. Although microbial-derived natural products comprise 38.5% of the known natural products with neuroprotective effects following viral infection, the neuroprotective potential of the majority of microorganisms is still undiscovered. Among natural products, chrysin, huperzine A, ginsenoside Rg1, pterostilbene, and terrein have shown potent in vitro neuroprotective activity and can be promising for new or repurpose drugs for neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2.
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Takayama S, Namiki T, Arita R, Ono R, Kikuchi A, Ohsawa M, Saito N, Suzuki S, Nakae H, Kobayashi S, Yoshino T, Ishigami T, Tanaka K, Nochioka K, Takagi A, Mimura M, Yamaguchi T, Ishii T, Hisanaga A, Mitani K, Ito T. Multicenter, randomized controlled trial of traditional Japanese medicine, kakkonto with shosaikotokakikyosekko, for mild and moderate coronavirus disease patients. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1008946. [PMID: 36438822 PMCID: PMC9682103 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1008946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine, kakkonto with shosaikotokakikyosekko, has antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. In this randomized trial, patients with mild and moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were randomly allocated to the control group receiving conventional treatment for symptom relief such as antipyretics and antitussives or the Kampo group receiving mixed extract granules of kakkonto (2.5 g) and shosaikotokakikyosekko (2.5 g) three times a day for 14 days in addition to conventional treatment. The main outcome was the number of days until total symptom relief. The secondary outcome was the number of days until each symptom's relief and whether the disease progressed to respiratory failure. We enrolled a total of 161 patients (Kampo group, n = 81; control group, n = 80). The results from Kaplan-Meier estimates of symptom relief showed that there are no significant differences between the groups. However, covariate-adjusted cumulative incidence of fever relief considering competitive risk showed that the recovery was significantly faster in the Kampo group than in the control group (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03-3.01). Additionally, the risk of disease progression to moderate COVID-19 requiring oxygen inhalation was lower in the Kampo group than in the control group (Risk Difference -0.13, 95% CI -0.27-0.01). No significant drug-related side effects were observed. Kakkonto with shosaikotokakikyosekko is effective for fever relief with suppression of disease progression in COVID-19 patients. Clinical Trial Registration: https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs021200020, identifier [jRCTs021200020].
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Takayama
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takao Namiki
- Department of Japanese-Oriental (Kampo) Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Arita
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rie Ono
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akiko Kikuchi
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Minoru Ohsawa
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Natsumi Saito
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Satoko Suzuki
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hajime Nakae
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan
| | - Seiichi Kobayashi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki, Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Yoshino
- Center for Kampo Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Ishigami
- Department of Cardiology, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Koichiro Tanaka
- Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kotaro Nochioka
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Airi Takagi
- Clinical Research Data Center, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masaru Mimura
- Center for Kampo Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuhiro Yamaguchi
- Division of Biostatistics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tadashi Ishii
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine (General and Kampo medicine), Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Kazuo Mitani
- Medical Corporation Mitani Family Clinic, Osaka, Japan
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Wang D, Bu T, Li Y, He Y, Yang F, Zou L. Pharmacological Activity, Pharmacokinetics, and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:2121. [PMID: 36358493 PMCID: PMC9686758 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As a kind of medicine and food homologous plant, kudzu root (Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi) is called an "official medicine" in Chinese folk medicine. Puerarin is the main active component extracted from kudzu root, and its structural formula is 8-β-D-grapes pyranose-4, 7-dihydroxy isoflavone, with a white needle crystal; it is slightly soluble in water, and its aqueous solution is colorless or light yellow. Puerarin is a natural antioxidant with high health value and has a series of biological activities such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor effects, immunity improvement, and cardio-cerebrovascular and nerve cell protection. In particular, for the past few years, it has also been extensively used in clinical study. This review focuses on the antioxidant activity of puerarin, the therapy of diverse types of inflammatory diseases, various new drug delivery systems of puerarin, the "structure-activity relationship" of puerarin and its derivatives, and pharmacokinetic and clinical studies, which can provide a new perspective for the puerarin-related drug research and development, clinical application, and further development and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Tong Bu
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yangqian Li
- Asset and Laboratory Management Department, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yueyue He
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Academic Affairs Office, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Liang Zou
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
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Chemical Constituents, Quantitative Analysis, Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Antioxidant Activities of Herbal Formula “Ping An Fang Yu Yin”. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10112213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a global pandemic infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The herbal formula, Ping An Fang Yu Yin (PAFYY), has been used to prevent respiratory viral infections for many years. This study aims to evaluate the effect of PAFYY on SARS-CoV-2 infection, oxidative stress, and inflammation via in vitro, investigate the chemical composition by full constituent quantitative analysis, and verify its anti-viral potential against SARS-CoV-2 using in silico. In this study, a total of eleven compounds, twenty amino acids, saccharide compositions, and trace elements were found and quantitatively determined by chromatographic techniques. PAFYY displayed free radical scavenging activity (DPPH, SC50: 1.24 ± 0.09 mg/mL), SOD activity (68.71 ± 1.28%), inhibition of lipoxygenase activity (75.96 ± 7.64 mg/mL) and interfered the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (48.04 ± 3.18%). Furthermore, in-silico analysis results supported that liquiritin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside with the highest affinity between SARS-CoV-2 RBD and human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (hACE2) receptor. Our findings suggest that PAFYY has the potential for anti-SARS-CoV-2 infection, anti-oxidation stress, and anti-inflammation, and may be used as supplements for amelioration or prevention of COVID-19 symptoms, as well as the representative compounds can be used for quality control of PAFYY in the future.
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Deciphering the Mechanism of YuPingFeng Granules in Treating Pneumonia: A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4161235. [PMID: 36285159 PMCID: PMC9588365 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4161235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective YuPingFeng Granules (YPFGs) is an herbal formula clinically used in China for more than 100 years to treat pneumonia. Nevertheless, the mechanism of YPFG in pneumonia treatment has not been established. This network pharmacology-based strategy has been performed to elucidate active compounds as well as mechanisms of YPFG in pneumonia treatment. Methods First, active compounds of YPFG were identified in the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and then the targets related to the active compounds were obtained from TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction databases. Next, using DisGeNET, DrugBank, and GeneCards databases, we got therapeutic targets of pneumonia and common targets between pneumonia targets and YPFG. After that, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of pneumonia composed of common targets was built to analyze the interactions among these targets, which focused on screening for hub targets by topology. Then, online software and the ClusterProfiler package were utilized for the enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) data. Finally, the visualization software of Autodock was used for molecular docking among the hub target proteins. Results 10 hub genes were selected by comparing the GO and KEGG functions of pneumonia targets with those of the common targets of YPFG and pneumonia. By using molecular docking technology, a total of 3 active ingredients have been verified as being able to combine closely with 6 hub targets and contribute to their therapeutic effects. Conclusion This research explored the multigene pharmacological mechanism of action of YPFG against pneumonia through network pharmacology. The findings present new ideas for studying the mechanism of action of Chinese medicine against pneumonia caused by bacteria.
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Pan B, Xia Y, Fang S, Ai J, Wang K, Zhang J, Du C, Chen Y, Liu L, Yan S. Integrated network pharmacology and serum metabolomics approach deciphers the anti-colon cancer mechanisms of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1043252. [PMID: 36313348 PMCID: PMC9607907 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1043252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD), as a classic Chinese herbal decoction, has been widely used in treating various diseases for hundreds of years. However, systematically elucidating its mechanisms of action remains a great challenge to the field. In this study, taking advantage of the network pharmacology approach, we discovered a potential new use of HGWD for patients with colon cancer (CC). Our in vivo result showed that orally administered HGWD markedly inhibited the growth of CC xenografts in mice. The subsequent enrichment analyses for the core therapeutic targets revealed that HGWD could affect multiple biological processes involving CC growth, such as metabolic reprogramming, apoptosis and immune regulation, through inhibiting multiple cell survival-related signalings, including MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways. Notably, these in silico analysis results were most experimentally verified by a series of in vitro assays. Furthermore, our results based on serum metabolomics showed that the lipid metabolic pathways, including fatty acid biosynthesis and cholesterol metabolism, play key roles in delivery of the anti-CC effect of HGWD on tumor-bearing mice, and that cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily E member 1 (CYP2E1) is a potential therapeutic target. Together, our integrated approach reveals a therapeutic effect of HGWD on CC, providing a valuable insight into developing strategies to predict and interpret the mechanisms of action for Chinese herbal decoctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Pan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, ITCWM Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yafei Xia
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, ITCWM Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Senbiao Fang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Ai
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kunpeng Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Chunshuang Du
- Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuzhou Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Shu Yan, ; Liren Liu, ; Yuzhou Chen,
| | - Liren Liu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Shu Yan, ; Liren Liu, ; Yuzhou Chen,
| | - Shu Yan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, ITCWM Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Shu Yan, ; Liren Liu, ; Yuzhou Chen,
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Cao JF, Gong Y, Wu M, Yang X, Xiong L, Chen S, Xiao Z, Li Y, Zhang L, Zan W, Zhang X. Exploring the mechanism of action of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19 through bioinformatics analysis and molecular dynamics simulation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1003310. [PMID: 36120307 PMCID: PMC9481297 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1003310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The rapid worldwide spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become not only a global challenge, but also a lack of effective clinical treatments. Studies have shown that licorice can significantly improve clinical symptoms such as fever, dry cough and shortness of breath in COVID-19 patients with no significant adverse effects. However, there is still a lack of in-depth analysis of the specific active ingredients of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19 and its mechanism of action. Therefore, we used molecular docking and molecular dynamics to explore the mechanism of action of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19.Methods: We used bioinformatics to screen active pharmaceutical ingredients and potential targets, the disease-core gene target-drug network was established and molecular docking was used for verification. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to verify that active ingredients were stably combined with protein targets. The supercomputer platform was used to measure and analyze stability of protein targets at the residue level, solvent accessible surface area, number of hydrogen bonds, radius of gyration and binding free energy.Results: Licorice had 255 gene targets, COVID-19 had 4,628 gene targets, the intersection gene targets were 101. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that licorice played an important role mainly through the signaling pathways of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress. Molecular docking showed that Glycyrol, Phaseol and Glyasperin F in licorice may playe a role in treating COVID-19 by acting on STAT3, IL2RA, MMP1, and CXCL8. Molecular dynamics were used to demonstrate and analyze the binding stability of active ingredients to protein targets.Conclusion: This study found that Phaseol in licorice may reduce inflammatory cell activation and inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of CXCL8 and IL2RA; Glycyrol may regulate cell proliferation and survival by acting on STAT3. Glyasperin F may regulate cell growth by inhibiting the activation of MMP1, thus reducing tissue damage and cell death caused by excessive inflammatory response and promoting the growth of new tissues. Therefore, licorice is proposed as an effective candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 through STAT3, IL2RA, MMP1, and CXCL8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Feng Cao
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu Medical College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunli Gong
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Wu
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingyu Yang
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyan Chen
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Zixuan Xiao
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry Sciences, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
| | - Wang Zan
- Chengdu Medical College of Pharmacy, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Chengdu Medical College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
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43
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Gao M, Zhang Z, Lai K, Deng Y, Zhao C, Lu Z, Geng Q. Puerarin: A protective drug against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:927611. [PMID: 36091830 PMCID: PMC9449408 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.927611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a pathological process that occurs in numerous organs throughout the human body and is frequently associated with severe cellular damage and death. Puerarin is an isoflavone compound extracted from the root of Pueraria lobata and has pharmacological effects such as dilating cerebral vessels and anti-free radical generation in cerebral ischemic tissues. With the deepening of experimental research and clinical research on puerarin, it has been found that puerarin has a protective effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of the heart, brain, spinal cord, lung, intestine and other organs. In summary, puerarin has a vast range of pharmacological effects and significant protective effects, and it also has obvious advantages in the clinical protection of patients with organ IRI. With the deepening of experimental pharmacological research and clinical research, it is expected to be an effective drug for IRI treatment. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the protective effect of puerarin on I/R organ injury and its possible underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minglang Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziyao Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Lai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanbing Zhao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zilong Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Geng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Zhou S, Yang B, Xu Y, Gu A, Peng J, Fu J. Understanding gilteritinib resistance to FLT3-F691L mutation through an integrated computational strategy. J Mol Model 2022; 28:247. [PMID: 35932378 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05254-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) serves as an important drug target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and gene mutations of FLT3 have been closely associated with AML patients with an incidence rate of ~ 30%. However, the mechanism of the clinically relevant F691L gatekeeper mutation conferred resistance to the drug gilteritinib remained poorly understood. In this study, multiple microsecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, end-point free energy calculations, and dynamic correlated and network analyses were performed to investigate the molecular basis of gilteritinib resistance to the FLT3-F691L mutation. The simulations revealed that the resistant mutation largely induced the conformational changes of the activation loop (A-loop), the phosphate-binding loop, and the helix αC of the FLT3 protein. The binding abilities of the gilteritinib to the wild-type and the F691L mutant were different through the binding free energy prediction. The simulation results further indicated that the driving force to determine the binding affinity of gilteritinib was derived from the differences in the energy terms of electrostatic and van der Waals interactions. Moreover, the per-residue free energy decomposition suggested that the four residues (Phe803, Gly831, Leu832, and Ala833) located at the A-loop of FLT3 had a significant impact on the binding affinity of gilteritinib to the F691L mutant. This study may provide useful information for the design of novel FLT3 inhibitors specially targeting the F691L gatekeeper mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yufeng Xu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Aihua Gu
- Department of Medicine, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Juan Peng
- Department of Ultrasonography, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinfeng Fu
- Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
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Sezer A, Halilović-Alihodžić M, Vanwieren AR, Smajkan A, Karić A, Djedović H, Šutković J. A review on drug repurposing in COVID-19: from antiviral drugs to herbal alternatives. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2022; 20:78. [PMID: 35608704 PMCID: PMC9127474 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-022-00353-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is an illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Due to its rapid spread, in March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared pandemic. Since the outbreak of pandemic many governments, scientists, and institutions started to work on new vaccines and finding of new and repurposing drugs. Drug repurposing is an excellent option for discovery of already used drugs, effective against COVID-19, lowering the cost of production, and shortening the period of delivery, especially when preclinical safety studies have already been performed. There are many approved drugs that showed significant results against COVID-19, like ivermectin and hydrochloroquine, including alternative treatment options against COVID-19, utilizing herbal medicine. SHORT CONCLUSION This article summarized 11 repurposing drugs, their positive and negative health implications, along with traditional herbal alternatives, that harvest strong potential in efficient treatments options against COVID-19, with small or no significant side effects. Out of 11 repurposing drugs, four drugs are in status of emergency approval, most of them being in phase IV clinical trials. The first repurposing drug approved for clinical usage is remdesivir, whereas chloroquine and hydrochloroquine approval for emergency use was revoked by FDA for COVID-19 treatment in June 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abas Sezer
- Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | - Annissa Rachel Vanwieren
- Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Adna Smajkan
- Fakultät Chemie und Pharmazie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Amina Karić
- Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Husein Djedović
- Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Jasmin Šutković
- Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Du Y, Yuan Y, Xu L, Zhao F, Wang W, Xu Y, Tian X. Discovery of METTL3 Small Molecule Inhibitors by Virtual Screening of Natural Products. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:878135. [PMID: 35571106 PMCID: PMC9093036 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.878135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification in mammalian cells that is mainly catalyzed by the methyltransferase complex of methyltransferase-like 3 and methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL3-METTL14). Many lines of evidence suggest that METTL3 plays important roles in several diseases such as cancers and viral infection. In the present study, 1,042 natural products from commercially available sources were chosen to establish a screening library, and docking-based high-throughput screening was performed to discover potential METTL3 inhibitors. The selected compounds were then further validated by an in vitro methyltransferase inhibition assay in which m6A content was determined by LC-MS/MS. A cellular assay of the inhibition of m6A methylation was performed to determine the METTL3 inhibitory activity of the selected compound. CCK-8 assay was applied to evaluate the effects of the selected compound on tumor cell viability. Additionally, binding mode analysis, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and binding free energy analysis were performed to study the process and characteristics of inhibitor binding. Finally, quercetin was identified as a METTL3 inhibitor with an IC50 value of 2.73 μM. The cellular assay of m6A methylation inhibition showed that quercetin decreased m6A level in a dose-dependent manner in MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells. CCK-8 assay showed quercetin efficiently inhibited the proliferation of MIA PaCa-2 and Huh7 tumor cells, with IC50 values 73.51 ± 11.22 μM and 99.97 ± 7.03 μM, respectively. Molecular docking studies revealed that quercetin filled the pocket of the adenosine moiety of SAM but not the pocket of the SAM methionine in the METTL3 protein, and hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and pi-stacking were formed. The values of the root mean square deviation (RMSD), the root mean square fluctuations (RMSF), and binding free energy suggested that quercetin can efficiently bind to the pocket of the METTL3 protein and form a stable protein-ligand complex. The present study is the first to identify METTL3 inhibitors from natural products, thus providing a basis for subsequent research and facilitating the development of METTL3-targeting drugs for diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongliang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Le Xu
- Departments of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fang Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenbin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiping Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xin Tian
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Liu Y, Yan H, Jia HB, Pan L, Liu JZ, Zhang YW, Wang J, Qin DG, Ma L, Wang T. Jiedu Huoxue Decoction for Cytokine Storm and Thrombosis in Severe COVID-19: A Combined Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry Approach. Nat Prod Commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x221096966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Jiedu Huoxue Decoction (JHD), a recommended traditional prescription for patients with severe COVID-19, has appeared in the treatment protocols in China. Based on bioinformatics and computational chemistry methods, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) calculation, we aimed to reveal the mechanism of JHD in treating severe COVID-19. The compounds in JHD were obtained and screened on TCMSP, SwissADME, and ADMETLab platforms. The compound targets were obtained from TCMSP and STITCH, while COVID-19 targets were obtained from Genecards and NCBI. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by using STRING. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment were performed with ClueGO and R language. AutoDock vina was employed for molecular docking. 100 ns MD simulation of the optimal docking complex was carried out with AmberTools 20. A total of 84 compounds and 29 potential targets of JHD for COVID-19 were collected. The key phytochemicals included quercetin, luteolin, β-sitosterol, puerarin, stigmasterol, kaempferol, and wogonin, which could regulate the immune system. The hub genes included IL6, IL10, VEGFA, IL1B, CCL2, HMOX1, DPP4, and ACE2. ACE2 and DPP4 were related to SARS-CoV-2 entering cells. GO and KEGG analysis showed that JHD could intervene in cytokine storm and endothelial proliferation and migration related to thrombosis. The molecular docking, 100 ns MD simulation, and MM/GBSA calculation confirmed that targets enriched in the COVID-19 pathway had high affinities with related compounds, and the conformations of the puerarin-ACE2, quercetin-EGFR, luteolin-EGFR, and quercetin-IL1B complexes were stable. In a word, JHD could treat COVID-19 by intervening in cytokine storm, thrombosis, and the entry of SARS-CoV-2, while regulating the immune system. These mechanisms were consistent with JHD's therapeutic concept of “detoxification” and “promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis” in treating COVID-19. The research provides a theoretical basis for the development and application of JHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Pediatrics of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Han Yan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Pediatrics of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Hui-bin Jia
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Li Pan
- Department of Central Laboratory, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Jia-zheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Ya-wen Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Pediatrics of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Pediatrics of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Dao-gang Qin
- Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Lei Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Pediatrics of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China
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Zhou H, Ni WJ, Huang W, Wang Z, Cai M, Sun YC. Advances in Pathogenesis, Progression, Potential Targets and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies in SARS-CoV-2-Induced COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:834942. [PMID: 35450063 PMCID: PMC9016159 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.834942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
As the new year of 2020 approaches, an acute respiratory disease quietly caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China. Subsequently, COVID-19 broke out on a global scale and formed a global public health emergency. To date, the destruction that has lasted for more than two years has not stopped and has caused the virus to continuously evolve new mutant strains. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been shown to cause multiple complications and lead to severe disability and death, which has dealt a heavy blow to global development, not only in the medical field but also in social security, economic development, global cooperation and communication. To date, studies on the epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism and pathological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-induced COVID-19, as well as target confirmation, drug screening, and clinical intervention have achieved remarkable effects. With the continuous efforts of the WHO, governments of various countries, and scientific research and medical personnel, the public's awareness of COVID-19 is gradually deepening, a variety of prevention methods and detection methods have been implemented, and multiple vaccines and drugs have been developed and urgently marketed. However, these do not appear to have completely stopped the pandemic and ravages of this virus. Meanwhile, research on SARS-CoV-2-induced COVID-19 has also seen some twists and controversies, such as potential drugs and the role of vaccines. In view of the fact that research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 has been extensive and in depth, this review will systematically update the current understanding of the epidemiology, transmission mechanism, pathological features, potential targets, promising drugs and ongoing clinical trials, which will provide important references and new directions for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wei-Jian Ni
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory of Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Huang
- The Third People’s Hospital of Hefei, The Third Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University-Anhui Campus, Hefei, China
| | - Ming Cai
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yan-Cai Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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Kouznetsova VL, Zhang A, Miller MA, Tatineni M, Greenberg JP, Tsigelny IF. Potential SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-ACE2 Interface Inhibitors: Repurposing FDA-approved Drugs. JOURNAL OF EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 7:17-29. [DOI: 10.14218/jerp.2021.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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50
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Pan B, Xia Y, Gao Z, Zhao G, Wang L, Fang S, Liu L, Yan S. Cinnamomi Ramulus inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells via Akt/ERK signaling pathways. Chin Med 2022; 17:36. [PMID: 35264225 PMCID: PMC8905814 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-022-00588-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colon cancer (CC) ranks the second highest mortality rate among malignant tumors worldwide, and the current mainstream treatment regimens are not very effective. The unique efficacy of Chinese herb medicine (CHM) for cancer has recently attracted increasing attention. Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR), as a classic CHM, has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of diseases for hundreds of years in China, but its specific pharmacological mechanism against CC needs to be fully evaluated. Methods TCMSP and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database were utilized to predict the candidate ingredients of CR, and TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction database were also employed to predict the drug targets of the candidate ingredients from CR. We subsequently evaluated the therapeutic effect of CR by orally administrating it on CC-bearing mice. Next, we further identified the potential CC-related targets by using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Based on these obtained targets, the drug/disease-target PPI networks were constructed using Bisogenet plugin of Cytoscape. The potential core therapeutic targets were then identified through topological analysis using CytoNCA plugin. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to predict the underlying mechanism of CR against CC. Furthermore, these in silico analysis results were validated by a series of cellular functional and molecular biological assays. UPLC–MS/MS method and molecular docking analysis were employed to identify the potential key components from CR. Results In this study, we firstly found that CR has potential therapeutic effect on cancer. Then, oral administration of CR could inhibit the growth of CC cells in C57BL/6 mice, while inhibiting the viability and motility of CC cells in vitro. We obtained 111 putative core therapeutic targets of CR. Subsequent enrichment analysis on these targets showed that CR could induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in CC cells by blocking Akt/ERK signaling pathways, which was further experimentally verified. We identified 5 key components from the crude extract of CR, among which taxifolin was found most likely to be the key active component against CC. Conclusions Our results show that CR as well as its active component taxifolin holds great potential in treatment of CC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-022-00588-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Pan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, ITCWM Hospital, Tianjin University, No.92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yafei Xia
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, ITCWM Hospital, Tianjin University, No.92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zilu Gao
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Liangjiao Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Senbiao Fang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China.
| | - Liren Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Shu Yan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, ITCWM Hospital, Tianjin University, No.92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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