La raiz de Desmostachya bipinnata ha sido utilizada en el sistema tradicional de medicina Hindu para el tratamiento de diarrea y disenteria. El efecto antidiarreico de los extractos alcoholicos y acuosos de los extractos de la raiz de Desmostachya bipinnata fueron estudiados en ratas, utilizando la diarrea inducida por aceite de castor y el ensayo de la prueba por carbon en dosis de 200 y 400 mg/kg de peso corporal. El extracto alcoholico y en menor grado, el extracto acuoso, redujeron significativamente la propulsion de carbon a traves del tracto gastrointestinal. El analisis de los extractos mostraron la presencia de alcaloides, glicosidos, flavonoides, taninos, fitoesterol, terpenoides, polifenoles, proteinas y carbohidratos. Estos resultados pueden apoyar el hecho de que esta planta sea usada tradicionalmente para curar la diarrea.

Assessment of antidiarrhoeal activity of Desmostachya bipinnata L. (Poaceae) root extracts [Evaluación de la actividad de antidiarreica de extractos de la raíz de Desmostachya bipinnata L. (Poaceae)]

The interim results of the large, multinational trials on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) using a combination of antiviral drugs appear to have little to no effect on the 28‐day mortality or the in‐hospital course. Therefore, there is a still vivid interest in finding alternate re‐purposed drugs and nutrition supplements, which can halt or slow the disease severity. We review here the multiple preclinical studies, partially supported by clinical evidence showing the quercetin's possible therapeutic/prophylaxis efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) as well as comorbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus, obesity, coagulopathy, and hypertension. Currently, 14 interventional clinical trials are underway assessing the efficacy of quercetin along with other antiviral drugs/nutritional supplements as prophylaxis/treatment option against COVID‐19. The present review is tempting to suggest that, based on circumstantial scientific evidence and preliminary clinical data, the flavonoid quercetin can ameliorate COVID‐19 infection and symptoms acting in concert on two parallel and independent paths: inhibiting key factors responsible for SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and mitigating the clinical manifestations of the disease in patients with comorbid conditions. Despite the broad therapeutic properties of quercetin, further high power randomized clinical trials are needed to firmly establish its clinical efficacy against COVID‐19.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/ptr.7461

A critical evaluation of risk to reward ratio of quercetin supplementation for COVID‐19 and associated comorbid conditions

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the disease a as global public health hazard on 11 March 2020. Currently, there are no adequate measures to combat viral infections, including COVID-19, and the medication guidelines for the management of COVID-19 are dependent on previous findings from SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV research. Natural products have achieved widespread acceptance around the world as a means of enhancing healthcare and disease prevention. Plants are a potential source of antiviral factors such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and others. Some of these agents exhibit a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. This study aimed to screen herbal leads for possible inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 ADP Ribose Phosphatase enzyme (ARP). Guggulsterone was found to be highly stabilized within the active site of the viral ARP enzyme by molecular dynamic simulation with very little fluctuation throughout the simulation timeframe of 100 ns. Thus, guggulsterone can be further used to develop a safe and competent medication for evolving therapy against SARS-CoV-2 in post-preclinical and clinical trials.

/pdf/computational-bioprospecting-guggulsterone-against-adp-268zpzdh.pdf

Computational Bioprospecting Guggulsterone against ADP Ribose Phosphatase of SARS-CoV-2

Liver diseases are the major medical problems faced by the people all over the world. About 20, 000 deaths occur every year due to liver disorders Liver diseases are mainly caused by toxic chemicals, excessive intake of alcohol, infections and autoimmune disorders. Hepatotoxicity mainly implies chemical-driven liver damage. Certain drugs when taken in overdose and sometimes even when administered within therapeutic ranges may injure many organs. Some chemical agents including those that are used in laboratories (CCl4, paracetamol) and industries (Lead, arsenic) and natural chemicals (microcystine, aflatoxins) and herbal remedies (Cascara sagrada, Ephedra) can also cause hepatotoxicity Chemicals which cause liver injury are collectively known as hepatotoxins.

Evaluation of Anti-Oxidant and Hepatoprotective activity of Desmostachya bipinnata Leaf Extracts by Various Hepatotoxin Induced Albino Rat Models

Pyrazole and pyrazoline derivatives as antimalarial agents: A key review.

In early December 2019, a large pneumonia epidemic occurred in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization is concerned about the outbreak of another coronavirus with the powerful, rapid, and contagious transmission. Anyone with minor symptoms like fever and cough or travel history to contaminated places might be suspected of having COVID-19. COVID-19 therapy focuses on treating the disease's symptoms. So far, no such therapeutic molecule has been shown effective in treating this condition. So the treatment is mostly supportive and plasma. Globally, numerous studies and researchers have recently started fighting this virus. Vaccines and chemical compounds are also being investigated against infection. COVID-19 was successfully diagnosed using RNA detection and very sensitive RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). The evolution of particular vaccinations is required to reduce illness severity and spread. Numerous computational analyses and molecular docking have predicted various target compounds that might stop this condition. This paper examines the main characteristics of coronavirus and the computational analyses necessary to avoid infection. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104125

Modern drug discovery applications for the identification of novel candidates for COVID-19 infections

Objective: Anxiety is a widespread psychiatric disorder affecting around 5% of the population. Furthermore, it is difficult to predict patient’s response to any given treatment. In the traditional systems of medicine, many plants have been used to treat anxiety and depression for thousands of years. Desmostachyabipinnata belongs to the family Poaceae, have pharmacological actions like dysentery  and  menorrhagia , and as a  diuretic . The present study was designed to evaluate the antianxiety activity of the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Desmostachyabipinnata leaves in rodents. Methods: Antianxiety activity was screened by different methods like elevated plus maze model and actophotometer. Results: The results infer that reduced aversion fear elicits anti-anxiety activity. Conclusion: It was concluded that alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Desmostachyabipinnata leaves are having anti-anxiety activity among which alcoholic extract of Desmostachyabipinnata leaves showing more significant activity over the aqueous extract.

/pdf/pharmacological-evaluation-of-antianxiety-activity-of-4h8yy9vjjg.pdf

Pharmacological evaluation of antianxiety activity of desmostachya bipinnata leaves in animal models

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in the neurodegeneration processes. Increased oxidative stress damages lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in brain tissue, and it is tied to the loss of biometal homeostasis. For this reason, attention has been focused on transition metals involved in several biochemical reactions producing ROS. Even though a bulk of evidence has uncovered the role of metals in the generation of the toxic pathways at the base of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), this matter has been sidelined by the advent of the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis. However, the link between metals and AD has been investigated in the last two decades, focusing on their local accumulation in brain areas known to be critical for AD. Recent evidence revealed a relation between iron and AD, particularly in relation to its capacity to increase the risk of the disease through ferroptosis. In this review, we briefly summarize the major points characterizing the function of iron in our body and highlight why, even though it is essential for our life, we have to monitor its dysfunction, particularly if we want to control our risk of AD.

/pdf/iron-in-alzheimers-disease-from-physiology-to-disease-24pt18b8.pdf

I Veena Rani

Papers

A critical evaluation of risk to reward ratio of quercetin supplementation for COVID‐19 and associated comorbid conditions

Computational Bioprospecting Guggulsterone against ADP Ribose Phosphatase of SARS-CoV-2

Modern drug discovery applications for the identification of novel candidates for COVID-19 infections

Pharmacological evaluation of antianxiety activity of desmostachya bipinnata leaves in animal models

Iron in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Physiology to Disease Disabilities