In response to the urgent need to control Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), this study aims to explore potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents from natural sources. Moreover, cytokine immunological responses to the viral infection could lead to acute respiratory distress which is considered a critical and life-threatening complication associated with the infection. Therefore, the anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agents can be key to the management of patients with COVID-19. Four bioactive compounds, namely ferulic acid 1, rutin 2, gallic acid 3, and chlorogenic acid 4 were isolated from the leaves of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr (ethyl acetate extract) and identified using spectroscopic evidence. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed for the isolated and identified compounds (1–4) against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) as a proposed mechanism of action. Furthermore, all compounds were tested for their half-maximal cytotoxicity (CC50) and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory concentrations (IC50). Additionally, lung toxicity was induced in rats by mercuric chloride and the effects of treatment with P. dioca aqueous extract, ferulic acid 1, rutin 2, gallic acid 3, and chlorogenic acid 4 were recorded through measuring TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-10, G-CSF, and genetic expression of miRNA 21-3P and miRNA-155 levels to assess their anti-inflammatory effects essential for COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, rutin 2, gallic acid 3, and chlorogenic acid 4 showed remarkable anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities with IC50 values of 31 µg/mL, 108 μg/mL, and 360 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects were found to be better in ferulic acid 1 and rutin 2 treatments. Our results could be promising for more advanced preclinical and clinical studies especially on rutin 2 either alone or in combination with other isolates for COVID-19 management.

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Context: Genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) comprises about 360 species of flowering plants. Verbascum has been used in traditional medicine as an astringent, antitussive, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Objective: Nothing was found in the available literature concerning Verbascum nubicum Murb; therefore, the study evaluates the biological activities, isolated compounds and HPLC profile. Materials and methods: Methanol extract (VME) and butanol fraction (VBF) of air-dried powdered V. nubicum were obtained. Four compounds were isolated from VBE and identified by 1 H- and 13 C-NMR. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profile was determined for (VME). LD 50 , in vitro antioxidant, in vivo antiulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as hepatoprotective activity were assessed. Anti-ulcerogenic and hepatoprotective activities were supported by histopathological examinations. Results: HPLC analysis of VME revealed the presence of luteolin 7-glucoside (2215.43 mg/100 g), hesperidin (954.51 mg/100 g) and apigenin (233.15 mg/100 g) as major compounds. Four compounds were isolated and confirmed by NMR data, were identified as gentiopicroside, luteolin, aucubin and gallic acid. The LD 50 of VME and VBF extracts were calculated to be 8200 and 4225 mg/kg b.w., respectively. IC 50 values of VBE and VMF as measured by DPPH·method were 43.6 and 50 µg/mL, respectively. Also, anti-inflammatory effect of VME (400 mg/kg b.w.) and VBF (200 mg/kg b.w.) induced edema model after 120 min were 61.93 and 56.13%, respectively. Antiulcerogenic activity of VME (400 mg/kg b.w.) and VBF (200 mg/kg b.w.) in albino rats were 65.14 and 84.57%, respectively. Conclusions: The V. nubicum extracts displayed safe and promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties. It can be also applied in the pharmacy industry, food industry and healthcare.

These results suggested that mechanistic-based evidence substantiating the traditional claims of cucurbitacin E glucoside (1) and its derivatives (2 and 3) to be applied for the treatment of inflammation-related disorders, such as oxidative liver damage and inflammation diseases.

Parkia roxburghii belongs to the family Mimosaceae; it has been used since ancient times as a cure for different health complications; such as inflammatory and gynecological diseases and hemiplegia. In this investigation, a reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) profile was carried out for P. roxburghii; also, the isolated bioactive compounds including quercetin, catechin, and biochaninA were individually and/or in combination investigated for their inhibitory effects on scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice, implying that they have the ability to reduce the neurodegenerative effects of scopolamine and thus could be employed as a more effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans. The possible interactions of Parkia flavonoids with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor, alpha5 (GABA A α5), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAP-kinase), signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and protein-serine/threonine kinase (Akt) were then determined using molecular docking.