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Medicinal Plants Against COVID-19
Published in Hanadi Talal Ahmedah, Muhammad Riaz, Sagheer Ahmed, Marius Alexandru Moga, The Covid-19 Pandemic, 2023
Binish Khaliq, Naila Ali, Ahmed Akrem, M. Yasin Ashraf, Arif Malik, Arifa Tahir, M. Zia-Ul-Haq
All types of coronavirus such as COVID-19, NL63 Coronavirus and SARS Coronavirus attack on the human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor [74]. Therefore, phytochemicals from the plants have the ability to prevent hACE2 receptor with the interaction of COVID-19 and also increase the strengthen of this receptor to combat against the COVID-19 infection. Luteolin flavonoid, scutellarin, polyphenolic compounds such as tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose extracted from V. linariifolia and Gallachinensis [75, 76], seeds of soybean and other plant seeds have the iron chelator like nicotianamine [77], baicalin is a flavone glycoside obtain from the extract of S. baicalensis [78], genus Polygonum and Rheum has an emodin [23] which has the ability to interact with ACE2 host and SARS Coronavirus S protein. In another study, cannabinoid phytochemicals were docked with viral S protein and these results indicated that these phytochemicals have the binding sites and inhibit the function of S protein [79].
Agriculture and Micronutrient Availability
Published in Bill Pritchard, Rodomiro Ortiz, Meera Shekar, Routledge Handbook of Food and Nutrition Security, 2016
Biofortification of the rice endosperm with iron using genetic engineering also shows promise. Genetic variability in iron concentration in the rice kernel is small, making it difficult to biofortify using conventional plant breeding. Moreover, more that 50 per cent of the iron in rice grains is removed when the rice is milled. Rice genetically engineered to increase expression of nicotianamine synthase (NAS), an iron transporter in rice plants, had 2.6-fold more iron in the polished grains compared to wild type rice (Bhullar and Gruisem 2013).
Global impact of trace non-essential heavy metal contaminants in industrial cannabis bioeconomy
Published in Toxin Reviews, 2022
Louis Bengyella, Mohammed Kuddus, Piyali Mukherjee, Dobgima J. Fonmboh, John E. Kaminski
Cannabis reproductive structures such as seed and flower are arguably highly valued on the market for phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, rich protein sources, and omega-6 and omega-3 oil-rich in a desirable range between 1:2 and 1:3 (Callaway 2004). Understanding the fate of HMs homeostasis in these reproductive structures is thus critical for consumer safety as more than 500 different compounds characterized in Cannabis species are used for several medical interventions (Alves et al. 2020). Plants often counter the destructive effects of HMs by: (i) inactivating the HMs and preventing them from forming a complex with metal chelators such as phytochelatins (PCs) and metallothioneins, and (ii) compartmentation of HMs in idioblasts, vacuoles, and cells walls (Mazen and El Maghraby 1997, Harada et al. 2010). Plants, therefore, rely on low-molecular-weight proteins, the metallochaperones or chelators (such as spermine, spermidine, putrescine, nicotianamine, glutathione, phytochelatins, and other organic acids), metallothioneins, phenylpropanoid compounds (such as flavonoids and anthocyanins), amino acids (proline and histidine), stress-responsive phytohormones and even heat shock proteins (Dalvi and Bhalerao 2013) to effectively counter HMs. Glandular trichomes in cannabis species are microscopic protrusion of variable sizes on flower and leaf surfaces that often-entrap phytocannabinoids (Figure 3) could potentially play a critical role in HMs homeostasis.
Efficacy of the current investigational drugs for the treatment of COVID-19: a scoping review
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2021
Ahmed Wadaa-Allah, Marwa S. Emhamed, Mohammed A. Sadeq, Nesrine Ben Hadj Dahman, Irfan Ullah, Nesrine S. Farrag, Ahmed Negida
Despite the extensive research on COVID-19, little is known about the virus. The exact pathology leading to death has not been elucidated. The variations between worldwide countries in terms of the infection and death rates are still unexplained. The questions about (1) whether the virus has genetic preferences, (2) whether the virus transmission and course are affected by temperature and (3) whether the disease course is influenced by prior vaccination history, are to be examined in future research. Recent studies found that ivermectin, baricitinib, baicalin, scutellarin, hesperetin, glycyrrhizin, nicotianamine and saikosaponins are potential compounds that might be promising in the prevention of viral entry or the inhibition of viral replication of COVID-19. Future research should translate the in vivo and in vitro results to the first-in-human trials of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, there is a need for reliable, specific serological tests to detect COVID-19-specific antibodies and, therefore, determine the exact burden of the disease and determine the immune individuals who can return to work and restore the normal life.