Sanjay Mishra

To respond to the public panic, government and private research organizations of every country keep working on the COVID-19 pandemic, even though still there is a lack of more efficacious medicine for the choice of Coronavirus disease treatment. To counteract on this situation several approved drugs including anti-malarial (hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine), and few anti-viral (remdesvir) agents are choice of treatment for COVID-19. However, these agents suffer from certain limitation in their uses and pointed that there is no specific treatment or vaccine available to counter this contagious disease. Hence, there is urgent requirement to find a specific cure for the disease. In this view, there are several ongoing clinical trials of both western and traditional medicines. In present study, phytochemicals from Camellia sinensis were retrieved from the database and identified based on their ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Camellia sinensis entails of a massive number of phytochemicals with a good source of polyphenols such as Catechin, Epicatechin, Epigallocatechin and (–)-Epigallocatechin gallate. Molecular docking was performed using the GLIDE docking module of Schrodinger Suite software. The analysis displayed docking score for the five polyphenols i.e. theaflavin (− 8.701), 1-O-caffeoylquinic acid (− 7.795), Genistein (− 7.168), Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (− 6.282) and Ethyl trans-caffeate (− 5.356). Interestingly, theaflavin and Epigallocatechin 3-gallate have not revealed any side effects. These polyphenolic compounds had a strong binding affinity with hydrogen bonds and a good drug-likeness score. Therefore, Camellia sinensis could be the beneficial option in the prophylaxis of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Traditional ayurvedic medicine, Arjunarishta (AA) is used to treat several inflammatory conditions including dysentery associated with blood. The formulation is a decoction of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. (TA), Madhuca indica J.F.Gmel., Vitis vinifera L., Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz., and Saccharum officinarum L. Terminalia arjuna, a major constituent of this formulation has been recognized for anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed at evaluating beneficial effects of AA and probable mechanism of action in Trinitrobenzenesulphonicacid (TNBS) induced colitis model. Response to AA treatment was explored through determination of disease activity index (DAI), histological assessment and damage scores, colonic pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression and estimation of oxidative stress biomarkers. Improvement in gut microbiome and plasma zinc level was also assessed. Study findings directed therapeutic effects of AA treatment in colitis model by attenuating the colitis symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhoea, blood in stool; histological damage; and downregulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and MCP-1). Similarly reduced oxidative stress by decreased level of Nitric Oxide (NO), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and enhanced level of Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Reduced Glutathione (GSH) was also witnessed. In addition, an improved beneficial fecal microbiome profile and restored plasma zinc status was revealed compared to the TNBS control group. The present study directs that downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine expression, enhancement of antioxidant effect, increased plasma zinc status and promising role in modulating fecal microbiome might be potential mechanisms for the therapeutic effect of AA treatment against colitis. Graphic abstract

Physicochemical Characteristics, Heavy Metal Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of Jamun Honey ( Syzygium cumini L.) from Western Ghats, India

Lonar Crater lake was created by the impact of a massive meteor during the Pleistocene Epoch. Being a hypersaline and hyperalkaline soda lake, rich microbial diversity is reported earlier. Lonar lake water is used by local people and tribals against skin diseases. These observations prompted us to investigate the therapeutic potential of lake water against skin diseases. In this context, we have conducted pilot study to assess the antipsoriatic and antiangiogenic activity of the salt obtained from lake water using THP1 cell line by MTT assay and antiangiogenic activity by in vivo chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, as there is a close relation between psoriasis and angiogenesis. The results revealed that salt possess remarkable antipsoriatic and antiangiogenic activity.

Objective: The present study was initiated to screen the hydroethanolic bark extract for α-amylase inhibitory activity and standardization of the Terminalia arjuna for polyphenolic phytochemicals using high-performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array (HPLC-PDA) method.Methods: The T. arjuna bark sample was extracted with ethanol: water (70:30 v/v) using Soxhlet extraction. A Dionex P680 HPLC system was used to acquire chromatograms. The screening of extract of T. arjuna bark has performed for in vitro α-amylase inhibitory assay. Each experiment was repeated 3 times. All values were expressed mean ± standard deviation.Results: The content of arjunetin, arjungenin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and quercetin was 0.47, 8.22, 2.443, 7.901, and 3.20 mg/g, respectively, in a hydroethanolic extract of T. arjuna. The hydroethanolic extract of T. arjuna bark and acarbose has shown an inhibitory activity with an IC50 value 145.90 and 62.35 μg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: The hydroethanolic extract T. arjuna bark demonstrates α-amylase inhibitory activity due to a synergistic effect of the phytochemical constituents present in it. This study suggests that one of the mechanisms of this plant for antidiabetic activity is through the inhibition of α-amylase enzyme.