Chowdhury Lutfun Nahar Metu

To identify novel bioactive compounds, the methanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana was investigated for its antibacterial and selective cytotoxic activities using integrated in vitro and in silico approaches. Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities were evaluated using agar well diffusion and MTT assays, respectively. S. rebaudiana phytochemicals were evaluated by docking, ADMET/toxicity prediction, 100 ns MD simulations, and MM/PBSA analysis. The methanolic extract exhibited concentration‐dependent antibacterial activity, with the highest inhibition zone observed against S. rubidaea (22.1 ± 0.13 mm at 150 µg/mL). The extract also showed selective cytotoxicity toward HeLa cells (IC ₅₀ ≈ 7.1 mg/mL), whereas Vero cells retained more than 85% viability at the highest tested concentration. Molecular docking identified glutinol acetate and octamethyl picen‐3‐ol as the most favorable phytochemicals. MD simulations revealed complex stability, and MM/PBSA revealed favorable binding with glutinol acetate exhibiting the strongest binding energy (ΔG_bind ‐24.11 kcal/mol) for its binding to Bcl‐2. ADMET and toxicity analyses revealed some drug‐likeness and toxicity concerns, justifying experimental validation. Overall, methanolic S. rebaudiana leaf extract showed antibacterial activity and preferential cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. The predicted interactions with selected protein targets were favorable for glutinol acetate and octamethyl picen‐3‐ol, and they should be further investigated.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with a wide range of neurological complications, among which persistent cognitive impairment and memory deficits are increasingly recognized as key symptoms of the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or long COVID). Although clinical and epidemiological studies have documented these symptoms across diverse patient populations, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Growing evidence from human studies, neuropathological analyses, and experimental models indicates that neuroimmune and inflammatory processes plays a central role in COVID-19-associated cognitive dysfunction. As the brain’s resident immune cells, microglia are vital for synaptic health, neuroplasticity, and memory, yet these processes may be compromised after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Systemic inflammation, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, endothelial injury, and cytokine signaling can induce sustained microglial activation and priming, leading to inflammasome activation, complement-mediated synaptic remodeling, oxidative stress, and impaired hippocampal neurogenesis. These processes collectively disrupt neural circuits involved in learning and memory and may underlie the persistent “brain fog” reported by COVID-19 survivors. This review synthesizes clinical, biomarker, neuroimaging, and mechanistic evidence linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and memory impairment. In contrast to prior reviews that broadly describe neuroinflammation in COVID-19, we integrate multidimensional evidence into a microglia-centric immunovascular framework that highlights converging pathogenic pathways underlying cognitive symptoms. We further discuss emerging biomarkers of glial activation and evaluate current and prospective therapeutic strategies targeting microglial and neuroimmune pathways. Understanding the role of microglial dysregulation in post-COVID cognitive impairment may facilitate the development of targeted interventions to mitigate long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19.

Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb) (A. latifolia) belongs to the Grape family and subfamily of Vitoideae, and it has several pharmacological activities. This study aims to review the future perspective of the pharmacological potentiality of A. latifolia due to its distinct chemical constituents and functions. In vitro and in vivo study data were compiled from reputable sources, including PubMed, Springer Link, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies have revealed that the extract of A. latifolia lowered inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin (PGs) and kinin synthesis. It has also demonstrated antimicrobial activity by disrupting bacterial protein synthesis. Additionally, it has antioxidant properties of this plant by lowering the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in the DPPH assay and FRAP assay. However, several studies also suggest that it showed cytotoxicity, antiproliferative, and apoptotic activity. This review underscores that A. latifolia has pharmacological promise using different cell lines, cell assays, and animal models.