Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has a wide range of pathophysiological effects. Curcumin, an active constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric), has several properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-thrombotic, and anti-proliferative effects, which make it a promising candidate for the symptomatic treatment of COVID-19.Objective: We aimed to determine the effects of curcumin administered with piperine (to optimize absorption) on symptoms in patients with COVID-19 in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial at a 30-bed dedicated COVID Health Center (DCHC) in Maharashtra, India.Methods: In addition to conventional COVID-19 treatment, patients in the control group received a dose of probiotics twice a day, and patients in the study group received curcumin (525 mg) with piperine (2.5 mg) in tablet form twice a day. The effects of curcumin/piperine treatment on primary and secondary outcomes were assessed for the duration of hospitalization.Results: Patients with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms who received curcumin/piperine treatment showed early symptomatic recovery (fever, cough, sore throat, and breathlessness), less deterioration, fewer red flag signs, better ability to maintain oxygen saturation above 94% on room air, and better clinical outcomes compared to patients of the control group. Furthermore, curcumin/piperine treatment appeared to reduce the duration of hospitalization in patients with moderate to severe symptoms, and fewer deaths were observed in the curcumin/piperine treatment group.Conclusions: Administration of oral curcumin with piperine as an adjuvant symptomatic therapy in COVID-19 treatment could substantially reduce morbidity and mortality, and ease the logistical and supply-related burdens on the healthcare system. Curcumin could be a safe and natural therapeutic option to prevent Post-Covid thromboembolic events.Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:CTRI/2020/05/025482

No abstract

The need to overcome human threats from pathogenic microbes, development of nanomaterials have been provoked for a new generation of antimicrobials. In the present study, biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was acquired using Comamonas acidovorans extract within 72 h under static condition. Electron microscopy studies revealed that the size of AgNPs was ranging from 6-53 nm and had spherical, oval and irregular shapes with smooth surfaces. Prepared AgNPs interacted with proteins, carbohydrates and other aromatic molecules. Biosynthesized AgNPs were bactericidal, which significantly inhibited pathogenic microbes, i.e., Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Higher concentrations of AgNPs (20 lg ml -1 ) inhibited 92-98% growth of all tested bacteria within 24 h. AgNPs-protein network studies carried out to recognize the protein interactions with AgNPs and to understand probable bactericidal mechanisms. AgNPs may penetrate into cell through membrane proteins and damage them by modifying amino acids. Due to AgNPs-protein interactions, dysfunctions in enzymes obstruct certain metabolic processes, which cause the bacteria to die eventually. In certain pathogenic microbes, cue and cus systems detoxify Ag ? ions, transport through transporter proteins and expel them to the extracellular space, which are mainly responsible for Ag resistance.

No abstract

No abstract