Medicinal plants are not only popular for their ample store of active ingredients but also boast of several pharmacological properties including the modulation of components of the immune system. An adequate immune response is vital in counteracting the unwanted activities of pathogens such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Some diseases caused by viral pathogens such as measles, chickenpox, Ebola, and human immunodeficiency virus may result in death or dire consequences in mammals with inadequate immunity. Ever since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) boisterously announced itself to the world in December 2019, there has been a surge in the number of researches targeting medicinal plants as candidates for a potent vaccine and antiviral drug. COVID-19 is a member of a family of coronaviruses that have been responsible for past pandemics such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreaks. However, the nascent COVID-19 defeated existing pharmaceutical advances and nonpharmacological measures such as high personal hygiene, physical distancing, and lockdown to stop the vicious mortality arising from the viral outbreak. Consequently, the battle against this virus relies majorly on a vibrant immune system. It is therefore imperative to promote interest in the use of medicinal plants that will significantly assist in the management of COVID-19 infection by boosting body's immune responses or arresting symptoms/molecules associated with COVID-19 pathogenesis. This review underscores the need for the exploration of plant-based agents that may prove effective in fighting COVID-19 based on scientific evidence of their positive immunomodulatory effects.
Background and Objective: Medicinal plants are widely known as sources of potential that are used in traditional medicine. The effect of Crinum glaucum (C. glaucum) aqueous extract on the lipid profile of endotoxin-induced rats was evaluated. Methodology: Fifty Wistar rats (male and female) were divided randomly into five groups (n = 5). Group 1 is the control group. Group 2 was administered C. glaucum aqueous extract (1000 mg/kg body weight). Group 3 was endotoxin-induced with 1 ml/kg body weight single dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 hours. Group 4 was given LPS (4 hours) and treated with C. glaucum aqueous extract. Group 5 was administered C. glaucum aqueous extract, LPS, and C. glaucum aqueous extract. At the end of administration, blood and organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidney) were harvested for the lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid) assay analysis using a spectrophotometric method. Results: The reduction of cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid concentrations is the hallmark of endotoxin, as revealed in this study. While C. glaucum administration significantly (p<0.05) reduced cholesterol concentrations, there was an up- or down-regulation of triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations in the male compartments compared to the control. A similar trend was observed in the female compartment. Data also revealed that while LPS causes a reduction in lipid profiles, the administration of C. glaucum reverses the effect. Conclusion: The findings of the research suggest that C. glaucum has an ameliorative and therapeutic effect in improving lipid dysfunctions.
Introduction: Soursop (Annona muricataLinn) is an edible lowland tropical fruit-bearing tree that is widely cultivated across regions of the world. It has been extensively researched as a result of its store of acetogenin; a potent anticancer agent. However, there is a dearth of information on the precise mechanism of action of acetogenin; thereby subjecting it to rigorous scrutiny. It is therefore imperative to investigate this plant in the hope of discovering a different class of anticancer agent inherent in it. Various studies have demonstrated that cysteine protease inhibitors (CPIs) have considerable therapeutic potential which can be utilized in a variety of disease states including cancer. Aim: Study was designed to isolate, purify and characterize CPI from the fruits and seeds of Soursop. Method: Isolation and purification of CPI was achieved by simple methods consisting of ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. Mode of inhibition, optimum pH and temperature, as well as the effect of metals on the enzyme activity were determined using spectrophotometry. Result: The purified CPI from seeds and fruits exhibited competitive and noncompetitive inhibition against papain respectively. However, maximal inhibitory activities for both fruit and seed samples were observed at similar optimal pH and temperature of 8 and 40°C respectively. Although, metal cations such as cobalt (Co2+), copper (Cu2+) and zinc (Zn2+) did not effect a considerable decrease on the inhibitory activity of the CPI; Lead (Pb2+), Magnesium (Mg2+) and manganese (Mn2+) significantly inhibited CPI at a very low concentration (1mM). Conclusion: The antagonistic properties exhibited by the purified CPI certainly indicate its likely suitability for pharmaceutical application in the treatment of some pathological conditions such as cancer in which uncontrolled proteolytic activities of cysteine proteases are implicated. There is an ample scope for further research on structure elucidation and protein engineering to facilitate its usage in wide range of application.
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