Formulation, Physico-chemical Evaluation and Comparative Stability Studies of Dillenia indica (pulp) based Antidandruff and Anti Hair Fall Cream with Marketed Brand

Background: Dillenia Indica as a medicinal plant is one of the widely used herbs by the various tribes of entire North East (mostly in Assam) and traditionally the jelly like content inside the fruit was used to treat dandruff and falling hairs. Objectives: The current work was performed with an objective to assess the antidandruff and anti hair fall property of Dillenia indica (pulp), the jelly like content inside the fruit with a marketed brand. Methods: With utilization of different concentrations of Dillenia indica (pulp) as main drug and with other chemicals different cream formulations are made and optimized. All the formulations along with marketed brand are investigated for their physico-chemical properties. Stability studies of freeze-thaw, elevated temperature exposure and thermal stability study was performed. All the results of the formulations were compared with marketed brand. Results: All the result of freeze-thaw, elevated temperature exposure and thermal stability study of all formulations (F1,F2,F3) shows similar characteristic behavior with marketed brand except in elevated temperature exposure where all the formulations fails to withstand the temperature excluding the marketed brand (BRYLCREEM). Physico-chemical parameters like pH, FFA, TFM has been studied for formulations F1, F2, F3 and with brand product. All the formulations along with brand product are showing similar kind of result along with similar Spreadability and homogeneity.

In silico discovery of 3 novel quercetin derivatives against papain-like protease, spike protein, and 3C-like protease of SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND

The derivatives of quercetin is known for their immune-modulating antiviral, anti-blood clotting, antioxidant, and also for its anti-inflammatory efficacy. The current study was therefore conducted to examine the noted novel derivatives of quercetin present in plant sources as an immune modulator and as an antiviral molecule in the COVID-19 disease and also to study their affinity of binding with potential three targets reported for coronavirus, i.e., papain-like protease, spike protein receptor-binding domain, and 3C-like protease. Based on the high-positive drug-likeness score, the reported derivatives of quercetin obtained from an open-source database were further filtered. Compounds with positive and high drug-likeness scores were further predicted for their potential targets using DIGEP-Pred software, and STRING was used to evaluate the interaction between modulated proteins. The associated pathways were recorded based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway database. Docking was performed finally using PyRx having AutoDock Vina to identify the efficacy of binding between quercetin derivatives with papain-like protease, spike protein receptor-binding domain, and 3C-like protease. The ligand that scored minimum binding energy was chosen to visualize the interaction between protein and ligand. Normal mode analysis in internal coordinates was done with normal mode analysis to evaluate the physical movement and stability of the best protein-ligand complexes using the iMODS server.

RESULTS

Forty bioactive compounds with the highest positive drug-likeness scores were identified. These 40 bioactives were responsible for regulating different pathways associated with antiviral activity and modulation of immunity. Finally, three lead molecules were identified based on the molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies with the highest anti-COVID-19 and immunomodulatory potentials. Standard antiviral drug remdesivir on docking showed a binding affinity of - 5.8 kcal/mol with PLpro, - 6.4 kcal/mol with 3CLpro, and - 8.6 kcal/mol with spike protein receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, the discovered hit molecules quercetin 3-O-arabinoside 7-O-rhamnoside showed binding affinity of - 8.2 kcal/mol with PLpro, whereas quercetin 3-[rhamnosyl-(1- > 2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside] and quercetin-3-neohesperidoside-7-rhamnoside was predicted to have a binding affinity of - 8.5 kcal/mol and - 8.8 kcal/mol with spike protein receptor-binding domain and 3CLpro respectively CONCLUSION: Docking study revealed quercetin 3-O-arabinoside 7-O-rhamnoside to possess the highest binding affinity with papain-like protease, quercetin 3-[rhamnosyl-(1- > 2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside] with spike protein receptor-binding domain, and quercetin-3-neohesperidoside-7-rhamnoside with 3C-like protease and all the protein-ligand complexes were found to be stable after performing the normal mode analysis of the complexes in internal coordinates.

Quercitin as an antiviral weapon-A review

Antioxidants are substances that can prevent cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules such as free radicals. Quercetin, a plant pigment present in many fruits, vegetables, grains, and one of the most beneficial antioxidants in the diet and plays an important role in helping the body and prevent free radical damage, which is linked to chronic diseases. The antioxidant properties of quercetin may help to reduce inflammation, allergy symptoms, blood pressure. A lot of studies have been done and experiments have been conducted both in vivo and in vitro and it has been found that in cultured cells many respiratory viruses were inhibited by quercetin. At a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.03 to 0.5μg/ml in WI-38 or Hela cells, Cytopathic effects produced by echovirus type 7,11,12,19, rhinovirus, poliovirus, and coxsackievirus A21 and B1 were inhibited. The plaque formed by DNA and RNA viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus-1, Polio type 1, and parainfluenza types 3 were effectively reduced demonstrating its anti-replicative properties. This article reviews effect of quercetin on different types of viral infections.