Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Dec 2021

Since time immemorial, humans have identified several herbs to treat various ailments. With the advancement of science and state-of-the-art technologies, different herbal extracts and chemical constituents of herbs were identified as therapeutic targets. Cyperus rotundus, also called mustaka, is one of the most ancient herbs widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe. The tuberous and aerial parts of the herb were identified to possess various pharmacological properties.

This review focuses on the various phytocompounds of mustaka and how these compounds exert pharmacological effects and their mode of action. The molecular and cellular effects of mustaka were also discussed based on the preclinical and clinical reports available using an array of in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo methodologies.

The information from Google Scholar, Science direct, PUBMED, were reviewed with a special focus on the mode of action of C. rotundus from the data on animal and pre-clinical experiments to treat various diseases.

Based on the literature available on C. rotundus in Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed, the pharmacological properties of mustaka were reviewed with a particular focus on its neuropharmacological activities. The mode of action of C. rotundus and its bioactive metabolites at the molecular biology level were demonstrated based on animal and preclinical experiments to cure various ailments. These diverse effects prove C. rotundus as a valuable traditional medicine for treating various disorders.

In late December 2019, a kind of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This virus rapidly spread worldwide and infected 195 countries and territories, including Iran. By March 22, 2020, the virus had affected more than 40000 people worldwide and caused more than 19000 deaths. Pregnant women are a vulnerable group to viral infections because partial immune suppression occurs during pregnancy. Therefore, the COVID-19 epidemic may cause a rising global concern about its consequences for pregnant women and fetuses. 

In this case study, we report the delivery of a pregnant woman after her COVID-19 confirmation.

We report a 44-year-old pregnant woman (32 weeks gestation) with COVID-19 who gave birth to a healthy baby with no evidence of COVID-19. We did not observe any worse clinical outcomes, such as maternal mortality, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and preterm delivery.

A preterm baby girl with 2500 g weight and Apgar scores at 5 minutes and 10 minutes were 9 and 10 was delivered. The preterm baby was normocephalic, had no icteric sclera, and the heart sounded normal without murmurs, Lung ventilation was normal. 

Viral pneumonia may severely be presented in pregnancy because of physiological and immunological changes and shift from cell-mediated to humoral-mediated immunity during the pregnancy period. Vertical transmission of COVID-19 from mother to child, short-term and long-term adverse effects on mother and newborn are still unclear and controversial.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To increase the success in treating patients with COVID-19, many drug suggestions and some clinical studies are shared in the literature. However, the combination of several drugs with other clinical care has improved patients' conditions. And this review discusses some side effects of Covid-19 drugs' adverse effects.

Here, we have shortly reported the recent updates on the most common and plausible drugs for treating COVID-19 patients. We also compare these treatment options based on their impact on symptom management, inpatient length of stay, and overall morbidity and mortality.

An extensive literature search was performed through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Most of the keywords used were: "COVID-19", "Side effects of used drugs," "Treatment of COVID-19", "Risk factors," "Organ damage," and "Methods of diagnosis and treatment."

Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and vitamin supplements do not have obvious benefits, but there is limited information to consider. Other factors and drugs such as improved plasma, eculizumab, immunoglobulins, IgG1-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, remidseiver, steroids, and tosilizumab have shown potential effects on patient's length of hospital stay and mortality. Currently, there is no evidence that any other vaccines, apart from those specifically designed for the SARS-Cov-2 virus, will protect against COVID-19. 

Since the prevention of the COVID-19 virus is a new issue in the medical world, there is no known effective treatment option in this area, and the prevention of its adverse side effects has not been conclusively proven. Of course, the occurrence of side effects in patients undergoing treatment such as hepatotoxicity, retinal damage, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity proves that the necessary caution should be used in drug combination methods.

The membrane form of a cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) is anchored to the phospholipid bilayer via glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. This molecule is expressed on the intrinsic surface of monocytes and neutrophils. This protein is not expressed on the HL-60 cell surface. It is believed that the differentiation of HL-60 cells stops in the promyelocytic stage. The differentiation of HL-60 cells with compounds such as vitamin A, D, E results in membrane CD14 expression.

The objective of this study was an evaluation of CD14 expression by Honey Bee Venom (HBV) in HL60 cells treated by D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (D-α-TS).

HL-60 cells were cultured in RPMI Media 1640 medium and treated with different concentrations of D-α-TS and HBV. Cellular differentiation was tested by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry. The studied data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and InStat 3 software.

HL-60 cells were cultured in RPMI medium and treated with different concentrations of D-α-TS and HBV. Cellular differentiation was tested by NBT staining, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry. The studied data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and InStat 3 software.

MTT assay demonstrated that HBV and D-alpha-tocopheryl induce death in HL-60 cell lines in a time and dose-dependent manner. Also, Wright-Giemsa, NBT staining showed morphologically differentiation. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis shows that cells treated with 6 µg/mL D-α-TS and 2.5 µg/mL HBV for 5 days significantly increase the expression of CD14 in HL-60 compared to cells treated with D-α-TS.

HBV can induce cell death and inhibit cell proliferation. Also, increase differentiation potency of D-α-TS via HBV can increase the differentiation by inhibiting NF-κB and COX-2 and increasing the expression of P21 that plays an essential role in increasing CD14 protein expression and subsequently induce differentiation in HL-60 cells to monocytes.​​​​​​

Potentilla species have traditionally been used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents in Iran and other countries. 

This study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effect of Potentilla reptans L., which has a wide distribution in the north of Iran.

The biological activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of P. reptans aerial parts have been investigated using the acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate, and rotarod tests in the male mice. In addition, the phytochemical profile of the extract has been evaluated.

The phytochemical investigation detected secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, and tannins in the extract. Moreover, the Mean±SD total phenolic and tannin contents of the extract were 251±2.08 and 111.5±1.3 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dried extract, respectively. Also, the Mean±SD total flavonoid content was 29.42±3.31 mg quercetin equivalents per gram of dried extract. Oral administration of the extract (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the number of writhing responses induced by acetic acid and increased the reaction time in the hot-plate test. The antinociceptive effect of the extract, similar to morphine, was significantly antagonized by naloxone (4 mg/kg; IP) in the writhing test. In the rotarod test, none of the extract doses used in the experiment caused a loss of locomotor activity. 

In this study, the hydroalcoholic extract of P. reptans showed a practical antinociceptive effect in hot plate and writhing tests. It seems that opioid receptors mediate the observed effect.

GABAergic drugs have extensive interference with morphine’s pharmacological effects, including dependence. 

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of isoniazid, a GABAergic agent, on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced dependence in male mice.

Sixty-four male mice were used. The mice became dependent on morphine by administrating ten doses of morphine in four days. For the precipitation of the morphine withdrawal signs (jumping, diarrhea, and weight loss), two hours after the last dose of morphine, the mice received naloxone (4 mg/kg, IP). In the expression experiment, four groups of mice received saline or isoniazid (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg, IP) one hour before naloxone. In the acquisition experiment, the other four groups, one hour before the first six doses of morphine, received saline or isoniazid (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg, IP). 

In the expression experiment, all doses of isoniazid decreased the number of jumping in mice, but only the lowest dose influenced diarrhea (increased weight of diarrheal stool) significantly. The higher doses of isoniazid (50 and 75 mg/kg, IP) caused a significant reduction in the percentage of weight loss, but its lowest dose (25 mg/kg, IP) significantly increased the sign. In the acquisition experiment, isoniazid (25, 50 mg/kg IP) decreased the number of jumping and the percentage of weight loss, but not the weight of diarrheal stool.

Isoniazid may be a good candidate to prevent morphine withdrawal signs.

Oxidative Stress (OS) can result in several diseases, such as cancer or neurodegenerative illnesses. Plant antioxidants can supplement the body’s antioxidant system, thereby reducing cell oxidation resulting from OS. 

In this research, the antioxidant potential of aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera was evaluated and compared.

Total Phenolic Contents (TPCs), iron-chelating ability, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging antioxidant activity of aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera are determined spectrophotometrically at varying concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100, 125µg/mL) and 1-sample t test statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism. The statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

The aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera possess antioxidant activities at all tested concentrations. Significant increases were observed in TPCs, iron-chelating ability, and FRAP of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera compared with aqueous husk extracts of Cocos nucifera at the same concentration. In contrast, a significant decrease in DPPH scavenging activities was observed.

Both aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera are potent antioxidant agents and could be useful in supplementing the endogenous antioxidant system. Albeit, the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera is a more powerful antioxidant agent.

Dental caries and periodontal diseases are among the most common oral diseases, and research to achieve an effective strategy to overcome these diseases is necessary. One of these strategies is to use anti-septics and disinfectants, including mouthwashes. Although chlorhexidine was the first and most common mouthwash and the gold standard of anti-plaque treatments, it bears many side effects. However, herbal mouthwashes with anti-microbial properties and fewer side effects can effectively treat many of these diseases.

This study aimed to compare the efficiency of the two herbal types of mouthwash produced in Iran.

The present in vitro study was conducted to investigate the anti-bacterial effects of persica and propolis mouthwashes on three strains of oral streptococci. The Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) was measured by the Disk Diffusion Method (DDM). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of each mouthwash was determined for all microorganisms using the macrodilution method.

Statistical analysis of data of DDM showed that the anti-bacterial effect of persica was significantly higher than propolis against Streptococcus. salivarius and Streptococcus. mutans (P<0.001), and these two types of mouthwash had similar anti-bacterial effects on Streptococcus. sanguis. Local propolis exhibited better MIC results than persica against S. salivarius and S. mutans, and these two types of mouthwash showed similar results against S. sanguis.

Local propolis was more potent than persica in preventing the growth of oral streptococci.

Plants have diverse phytochemicals with different solubility levels and medicinal efficacy. This study aimed to determine the presence of phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant activity of methanol root extract of Anthocleista nobilis.

Determining the bioactive principles and free radical scavenging properties of A. nobilis root.

The preliminary phytochemical investigations were performed using standard analytical procedures. The in vitro antioxidant properties were assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity.

The phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of several compounds: saponins, reducing sugar, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and mucilages. The concentrations of these compounds were different. A considerable quantity of phytochemicals was found in the methanol extract. The impact of the extract on DPPH, NO, FRAP, TAC, H2O2 radicals were dependently and ascendingly concentrated. Solvent extract demonstrated better antioxidant activity, with DPPH and NO showing maximum antioxidant capability in conjunction with IC50 values of 5.45 µg/mL.

The study results prove that A. nobilis is a possible source of natural antioxidants, justifying its use in indigenous medicine.