Context: To find bioactive medicinal herbs exerting anti-asthmatic activity, we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) leaves (UD), the closest extract to the Algerian traditional use.Objective: In this study, we investigated the in vivo anti-asthmatic and antioxidant activities of nettle extract.Materials and methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Group I: negative control; group II: Ovalbumin sensitized/challenged rats (positive control); group III: received UD extract (1.5 g/kg/day) orally along the experimental protocol; group IV: received UD extract (1.5 g/kg/day) orally along the experimental protocol and sensitized/challenged with ovalbumin. After 25 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for haematological and histopathological analysis, respectively. The oxidative stress parameters were evaluated in the lungs, liver and erythrocytes. Then, correlations between markers of airway inflammation and markers of oxidative stress were explored.Results: UD extract significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited eosinophilia increases in BALF (−60%) and the levels of leucocytes (−32.75%) and lymphocytes (−29.22%) in serum, and effectively suppressed inflammatory cells recruitment in the asthmatic rat model. Besides, the lipid peroxidation generated by allergen administration was significantly (p < 0.05) diminished by UD treatment in lung tissue (−48.58%). The nettle extract was also investigated for the total phenolic content (30.79 ± 0.96 mg gallic acid/g dry extract) and shows DPPH radical scavenging activity with 152.34 ± 0.37 μg/mL IC50 value.Conclusions: The results confirmed that UD administration might be responsible for the protective effects of this extract against airway inflammation.

COVID-19 is rapidly spreading and there are currently no specific clinical treatments available. The absence of an immediate available vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 made it hard for health professionals to tackle the problem. Thus, the need of ready to use prescription drugs or herbal remedies is urgent. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme2 (ACE2) protein structure are made available to facilitate finding solutions to the present problem. In this brief research, we compare the efficacy of some natural compounds against COVID-19 Mpro and ACE2 to that of Hydroxy-Chloroquine in silico.<br>Molecular docking investigations were carried out using AutoDock. Virtual screening was performed using AutoDock Vina and the best ligand / protein mode was identified based on the binding energy. Amino Acids residues of ligands interactions were identified using PyMOL. According to present research results, Quercetin, Hispidulin, Cirsimaritin, Sulfasalazine, Artemisin and Curcumin exhibited better potential inhibition than Hydroxy-Chloroquine against COVID-19 main protease active site and ACE2. Our provided docking data of these compounds may help pave a way for further advanced research to the synthesis of novel drug candidate for COVID-19.<br>

COVID-19 is rapidly spreading and there are currently no specific clinical treatments available. The absence of an immediate available vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 made it hard for health professionals to tackle the problem. Thus, the need of ready to use prescription drugs or herbal remedies is urgent. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme2 (ACE2) protein structure are made available to facilitate finding solutions to the present problem. In this brief research, we compare the efficacy of some natural compounds against COVID-19 Mpro and ACE2 to that of Hydroxy-Chloroquine in silico.<br>Molecular docking investigations were carried out using AutoDock. Virtual screening was performed using AutoDock Vina and the best ligand / protein mode was identified based on the binding energy. Amino Acids residues of ligands interactions were identified using PyMOL. According to present research results, Quercetin, Hispidulin, Cirsimaritin, Sulfasalazine, Artemisin and Curcumin exhibited better potential inhibition than Hydroxy-Chloroquine against COVID-19 main protease active site and ACE2. Our provided docking data of these compounds may help pave a way for further advanced research to the synthesis of novel drug candidate for COVID-19.<br>

Chronic hyperglycemia and excess reactive oxygen species overproduced in diabetes were associated with oxidative stress, led to continuous injury and functions damage to different organs: eyes, kidneys, neural and cardiovascular system. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of Artemisia herba alba (AHA) leaf powder against alloxane-induced oxidative damage in diabetic rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group I controls received saline solution 9%; Group II was treated with 150 mg alloxane/(kg body weight) administered by intraperitoneal. Rats of Group III have received saline solution and treated with 400 mg AHA/(kg body weight). Animals of Group IV were treated with alloxane and AHA. Alloxane exposure led to increased blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde, and a decrease in the antioxidants enzymes activities (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase). Administration of AHA aqueous extract ameliorated these parameters. These results demonstrate that AHA ameliorates hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative damage in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats.

Background and aim In the present study, we investigate the phytochemical composition and the nephroprotective effects as well as the antioxidant properties of Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract in alloxan-induced experimental diabetes in rats. Experimental procedure Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each: Group I: Normal control (NC) received saline solution at 9‰ given by intraperitoneal way; Group II: Diabetic control (DC) received alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w) intraperitoneally; Group III: Normal control (NC + AHA) received saline solution at 9‰ and treated orally by AHA aqueous extract (400 mg/kg/b.w); Group IV: Diabetic control (DC + AHA) received alloxan solution (150 mg/kg b.w) intraperitoneally and treated by aqueous extract of AHA (400 mg/kg/b.w/day) orally after one week of alloxan administration. After 30 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis, respectively. Glomerular damage markers, including creatinine, serum urea, urine creatinine and urine urea levels were estimated. Creatinine clearance was also assessed. Oxidative stress parameters were assessed in the kidney homogenate. Results and conclusion Alloxan-exposure resulted in significant increase in blood glucose and serum level of glomerular damage markers. The antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly downregulated associated with an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level over the baseline values. Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract supplementation significantly improved the studied parameters. In concluding, the results obtained suggests that Artemisia herbs-alba aqueous extract supplementation reduces alloxan-induced free radical generation, potentiates the antioxidant defense system and alleviates renal sensitivity to oxidative stress.