Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been emerging in the form of different variants since its first emergence in early December 2019. A new Variant of Concern (VOC) named the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was reported recently. This variant has a large number of mutations in the S protein. To date, there exists a limited information on the Omicron variant. Here we present the analyses of mutation distribution, the evolutionary relationship of Omicron with previous variants, and probable structural impact of mutations on antibody binding. Our analyses show the presence of 46 high prevalence mutations specific to Omicron. Twenty-three of these are localized within the spike (S) protein and the rest localized to the other 3 structural proteins of the virus, the envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Omicron is closely related to the Gamma (P.1) variant. The structural analyses showed that several mutations are localized to the region of the S protein that is the major target of antibodies, suggesting that the mutations in the Omicron variant may affect the binding affinities of antibodies to the S protein.

This work evaluates nano-lipid carrier of ganoderic acid (GA) and molecular docking on various cancer signaling pathways, an attempt to improve the hepatic condition associated with hepatic carcinoma (HCC) induced by diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN) in Wistar rats. Molecular docking mechanism of GA was performed through binding simulation analysis for various cancer signaling pathway, viz., Bcl-2, Pl3K, NF-κB, Akt/PKB, and Stat-3. Double emulsion solvent displacement method was implied for preparation of GA-loaded nano-lipid carrier. GA-NLCs were evaluated for drug loading capacity, entrapment efficiency, particle size, gastric stability, in vitro drug release, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and in vivo studies including macroscopical, hepatic injury markers, non-hepatic, biochemical, antioxidant parameters, and histopathological evaluation. HCC was induced by intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg). Both in vivo and molecular docking results were compatible in establishing the alteration in hepatic nodules, hepatic, non-hepatic, and antioxidant parameters, in a significant manner ( p < .001) by GA and GA-NLC along with signal alteration of Bcl-2, Pl3K, NF-κB Akt/PKB, and Stat-3 pathway. Histopathological observation confirmed and supported the above result by GA and GA-NLC. On the basis of our results, we can advocate that, GA interferes with various cancer signaling proteins involved in pathogenesis of cancer and was able to cease the progression of disease. Additionally, GA-NLCs proved its chemoprotective effect against the DEN-induced HCC by modulation of hepatic and non-hepatic parameters through various mechanisms.

BackgroundNatural products use for arthritis treatment is gaining importance in the medical worldt. Various studies reports medical importance of Melastoma malabathricum Linn. (MM) (Melastomataceae), also known as “putki,” has a broad range of health benefits, for its free radical scavenging constituents. The current investigation scrutinizes the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of MM against adjuvant-induced arthritis in experimental rats.MethodsHigh-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used for estimation of phytochemical-constituents present in the MM extract. Protective effect of MM extract in Wistar rats was estimated using CFA-induced model. The rats were divided into different groups with six rats in each group. All animals received oral administration of MM and indomethacin for 28 days. The body weight and arthritic score were scrutinized at regular intervals. At the end of experimental protocol, the rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were used for antioxidant, hematological parameters, pro-inflammatory and inflammatory mediator, respectively. Histopathological observation was used to evaluate the protective effect of MM extract.Result & discussionCurrent study confirmed the preventive effect of MM against adjuvant-induced paw edema, paw redness and arthritic progression. MM significantly (P < 0.001) modulated the oxidative stress parameters as well as hematological parameter induced by CFA. The result also altered the distorted level of proinflammatory mediators and inflammatory mediator, which further reinforce the implication of MM in CFA induced arthritis. Histological analyses of joints of rats showed a reduction in the synovial hyperplasia and mononuclear infiltration in the MM treated group which provides evidence for the antiarthritic effect of MM.ConclusionFrom above parameters our study states that the MM is capable of restraining the alteration produced via adjuvant-induced arthritis in aminals. The repressing effect of MM could be attributed, at least in part, to antioxidant, hematological and anti-inflammatory effect.Graphical abstractFigure Caption: Melastoma Malabathricum Linn Attenuates Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Chronic Inflammation in Wistar rats by Inflammation Response

Wedelia calendulacea has a long history of use in the Indian Ayurvedic System of Medicine for the treatment, prevention, and cure of a diverse range of human diseases such as diabetes obesity, and other metabolic diseases.

No abstract