The sol-gel technique was used to fabricate ZnO Nano-swirlings (ZNsw) at a predetermined agitatio... more The sol-gel technique was used to fabricate ZnO Nano-swirlings (ZNsw) at a predetermined agitation rate (of >> 1900 rpm), with around 21.94 gm of zinc acetate dihydrate and 0.2 g cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) and a cationic surfactant (drop-wise). The impact of the predetermined agitation condition on the molecular size and morphology of ZNsw is examined, and the outcomes are dissected by useful characterization tools and techniques viz. XRD, SEM embedded with EDS, TEM, FT-IR and UV–visible. The SEM and TEM results suggest that the product formed into a big cluster of adequate ZNsw, containing a significant quantity of folded long thread-lengths. Each group indicated a fair amount of the volume of these lengths. The photocatalytic process of ZNsw was carried out as a result of the irradiation time due to the deterioration of Azo Dye AR183, resulting in approximately 79 percent dye discoloration following an 80-min UV light irradiation in the presence of ZNsw. Additional...
Therapeutic drugs based on natural products for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 are currently unavail... more Therapeutic drugs based on natural products for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 are currently unavailable. This study was conducted to develop an anti-SARS-CoV-2 herbal medicine to face the urgent need for COVID-19 treatment. The bioactive components from ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera fruits (MOFs) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Molecular-docking analyses elucidated the binding effects of identified phytocomponents against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VYB) and human ACE2 receptor (PDB ID: 1R42) through the Glide module of Maestro software. GC-MS analysis unveiled the presence of 33 phytocomponents. Eighteen phytocomponents exhibited good binding affinity toward ACE2 receptor, and thirteen phytocomponents had a high affinity with spike glycoprotein. This finding suggests that the top 11 hits (Docking score ≥ -3.0 kcal/mol) could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 propagation. Intriguingly, most of the phytoconstituents displayed drug-likeness with no predicted toxicity. However, further studies are needed to validate their effects and mechanisms of action. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Moringa oleifera (MO) also called "drumstick tree" has been used as an alternative food source to combat malnutrition and may act as an immune booster. GC-MS analysis unveiled that ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera fruits (MOFs) possessed 33 active components of pyridine, aromatic fatty acid, oleic acid, tocopherol, methyl ester, diterpene alcohol, triterpene and fatty acid ester and their derivatives, which have various pharmacological and medicinal values. Virtual screening study of phytocomponents of MOF with human ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein exhibited good binding affinity. Based on molecular docking, the top 11 hits (Docking score ≥-3.0 kcal/mol) might serve as potential lead molecules in antiviral drug development. Intriguingly, most of the phytoconstituents displayed drug-likeness with no predicted toxicity. Thus, MOF might be used as a valuable source for antiviral drug development to combat COVID-19, an ongoing pandemic.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most prevalent form of dement... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most prevalent form of dementia. The generation of oxygen free radicals and oxidative damage is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. It has been suggested that date palm, a plant rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, can provide an alternative treatment to fight memory loss and cognitive dysfunction due to its potent antioxidant activity. Thus, we studied the effect of flavonoids present in date palm on Aβ1−40 amyloid formation using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. AutoDock. Myricetin was used as a positive control drug. The flavonoids Diosmetin, Luteolin, and Rutin were found to be potent inhibitors of aggregation (docking energies ≤ −8.05 kcal mol−1) targeting Aβ1−40 fibrils (both 2LMO and 6TI5), simultaneously. Further screening by physicochemical properties and drug-likeness analysis suggested that all flavonoids except Rutin followed Lipinski's rule of five. Rutin was...
Neurodegenerative disorders involve various pathophysiological pathways, and finding a solution f... more Neurodegenerative disorders involve various pathophysiological pathways, and finding a solution for these issues is still an uphill task for the scientific community. In the present study, a combination of molecular docking and dynamics approaches was applied to target different pathways leading to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, abrineurin natural inducers were screened using physicochemical properties and toxicity assessment. Out of five screened compounds, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, i.e., Soyasapogenol B appeared to be the most promising after molecular docking and simulation analysis. Soyasapogenol B showed low TPSA (60.69), high absorption (82.6%), no Lipinski rule violation, and no toxicity. Docking interaction analysis revealed that Soyasapogenol B bound effectively to all of the targeted proteins (AChE, BuChE MAO-A, MAO-B, GSK3β, and NMDA), in contrast to other screened abrineurin natural inducers and inhibitors. Importantly, Soyasapogeno...
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 2022
: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city of Wuhan, China triggered by s... more : Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city of Wuhan, China triggered by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late November 2019 has spread to more than 200 countries of the world. The ensuing pandemic led us to enormous loss of lives mainly with the older population possessing comorbidities like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, and hypertension. Amongst these immune-debilitating diseases, SARS-CoV-2 infection is most common in diabetic patients due to the absence of a normal active immune system to fight the COVID-19. Recovery of patients having a history of diabetes from COVID-19 has several complications, and their management becomes cumbersome. During COVID-19 treatments antiviral medications, glucose-lowering agents, and steroids are carefully evaluated. In the present review, we discuss the crosstalk between SARS-CoV-2 infection and patients with a history of diabetes. We mainly emphasize the molecular factors that are involved in diabetic individuals who were recently infected by SARS-CoV-2 and develop COVID-19. Lastly, we present the medications available for the long-term management of diabetic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Abstract The study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying concentrations of ion-carriers ... more Abstract The study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying concentrations of ion-carriers on the synthesis of zinc oxide nano-particles (ZONs). We also evaluated the anti-proliferative activity, morphological changes, ROS generation, nuclear apoptosis and caspase-3 activity of two ZON samples in human skin cancer cell line A431. The XRD analysis of both samples confirmed the crystallinity and pure nature of ZONs. SEM analysis showed spider chrysanthemum-like shape, while the TEM data determined the diameter size of nanostructures as 40 nm (ZON-1) and
Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, which necessitates sa... more Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, which necessitates safe and potential therapeutic agents. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the antiproliferative effect of ethanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. (CQ) against human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cell line and in silico analysis of selected active agents against apoptosis executioner enzyme caspase-3. Methods: Cell viability was analyzed in HeLa cells at different concentrations (25-300 μg/ml) of CQ extract. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cellular apoptosis, cell cycle analysis and caspases-3 activation were evaluated. In silico structure-based virtual screening analysis was carried out using AutoDock Vina and iGEMDOCK. Results: Cell viability was analyzed in HeLa cells at different concentrations (25-300 μg/ml) of CQ extract. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cellular apoptosis, cell cycle analysis and caspases-3 activation were evaluated. In silico, ...
Authentication of meat products is critical in the food industry. Meat adulteration may lead to r... more Authentication of meat products is critical in the food industry. Meat adulteration may lead to religious apprehensions, financial gain and food-toxicities such as meat allergies. Thus, empirical validation of the quality and constituents of meat is paramount. Various analytical methods often based on protein or DNA measurements are utilized to identify meat species. Protein-based methods, including electrophoretic and immunological techniques, are at times unsuitable for discriminating closely related species. Most of these methods have been replaced by more accurate and sensitive detection methods, such as DNA-based techniques. Emerging technologies like DNA barcoding and mass spectrometry are still in their infancy when it comes to their utilization in meat detection. Gold nanobiosensors have shown some promise in this regard. However, its applicability in small scale industries is distant. This article comprehensively reviews the recent developments in the field of analytical methods used for porcine identification.
Nanotechnology exploits materials and devices with a functional organization that has been engine... more Nanotechnology exploits materials and devices with a functional organization that has been engineered at the nanometre scale. The application of nanotechnology in neuroscience involves specific interactions with neurons and glial cells. This property is used for delivering drugs and other small molecules (such as genes, oligonucleotides and contrasting agents) across the blood brain barrier (BBB), an important requirement for delivering the drug successfully to the brain. Nanotechnology based approaches (NBA) favoured transcytosis-mediated delivery of nanoparticles to the brain by crossing the BBB. The last 5 years have witnessed the successful applications of NBA to treat neurological disorders. It is expected that the development of novel NBA will result in important insights on the brain mechanisms, and eventually provide better medical care to patients suffering from neurological disorders. This brief review introduces the emerging work in this area and summarizes the successful...
Higher animals, especially the human beings have the privilege of employing advanced central nerv... more Higher animals, especially the human beings have the privilege of employing advanced central nervous system (CNS) as well as the evolved immune system to ward off various onslaughts throughout their life. Alterations in inflammatory and neural regulatory pathways lead to several disorders that are now becoming the cause of concern across the world. Deregulation in bidirectional network, particularly in aging population, leads to several neurodegenerative diseases such as having dementia as a one of the major characteristics. Interestingly, research updates have signified the role of abrupt immune regulation in several brain diseases, establishing a link between altered immune system and CNS related diseases. In the later period of life time, the role has altered the immune response in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, which has become more visible. Recent research advances have indicated a close relationship between emotion and psychology to diseases and immunology, p...
Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, Jan 14, 2017
For design of a subunit vaccine for tuberculosis, identification of antigenic T-cell epitope is o... more For design of a subunit vaccine for tuberculosis, identification of antigenic T-cell epitope is of utmost importance. Several MHC prediction server are available that can accurately predict antigenic peptide of variable lengths. However, peptides predicted from one server not necessarily are predicted form another server, thus creating a confusing situation for scientists to choose a best epitope. Keeping the above problem in mind, we developed a comprehensive database of peptides of Mycobacterial proteins. Each protein was taken from PubMed and was run through different MHC prediction servers, with the results being compiled into one database. For each protein, PeMtb generates a set of three different mers of variable lengths (12 mer or 13-mer) based on their ranking; with each mer being predicted for a plethora of MHC alleles. Researcher can choose the peptide (mers) that gives best binding affinity from most of the servers. The database relieves the investigators of the painstaki...
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Antibodies occupy a central position when it comes to binding proteins with desired antigenic spe... more Antibodies occupy a central position when it comes to binding proteins with desired antigenic specificities. During the past decade, a plethora of recombinant or humanized versions of antibodies have entered clinical settings with outstanding accomplishments. Yet, they suffer from several drawbacks such as high molecular weight, limited tissue penetration, instability, high production cost, requirement for large doses and potential cytotoxicity. As a result, new generation of receptor proteins has been developed, that are derived from small and robust immunoglobulin (Ig) or non-immunoglobulin based "scaffolds". Combinatorial protein engineering has tremendous scope in the development of these protein scaffolds with immunoglobulin like specificity and/or prescribed binding functions. The advancement made in this regard can boast of developing various validated Ig based and non-Ig protein scaffolds with desirable therapeutic potential. The newly emerging technology has profound scope in translational biology and offer matching replacement for existing immunotherapeutic agents. Only few data from early clinical studies are available yet, but many more are likely to come in the near future. Here, we provide a glimpse of recent clinical advances in the field of existing protein scaffolds.
The sol-gel technique was used to fabricate ZnO Nano-swirlings (ZNsw) at a predetermined agitatio... more The sol-gel technique was used to fabricate ZnO Nano-swirlings (ZNsw) at a predetermined agitation rate (of >> 1900 rpm), with around 21.94 gm of zinc acetate dihydrate and 0.2 g cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) and a cationic surfactant (drop-wise). The impact of the predetermined agitation condition on the molecular size and morphology of ZNsw is examined, and the outcomes are dissected by useful characterization tools and techniques viz. XRD, SEM embedded with EDS, TEM, FT-IR and UV–visible. The SEM and TEM results suggest that the product formed into a big cluster of adequate ZNsw, containing a significant quantity of folded long thread-lengths. Each group indicated a fair amount of the volume of these lengths. The photocatalytic process of ZNsw was carried out as a result of the irradiation time due to the deterioration of Azo Dye AR183, resulting in approximately 79 percent dye discoloration following an 80-min UV light irradiation in the presence of ZNsw. Additional...
Therapeutic drugs based on natural products for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 are currently unavail... more Therapeutic drugs based on natural products for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 are currently unavailable. This study was conducted to develop an anti-SARS-CoV-2 herbal medicine to face the urgent need for COVID-19 treatment. The bioactive components from ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera fruits (MOFs) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Molecular-docking analyses elucidated the binding effects of identified phytocomponents against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VYB) and human ACE2 receptor (PDB ID: 1R42) through the Glide module of Maestro software. GC-MS analysis unveiled the presence of 33 phytocomponents. Eighteen phytocomponents exhibited good binding affinity toward ACE2 receptor, and thirteen phytocomponents had a high affinity with spike glycoprotein. This finding suggests that the top 11 hits (Docking score ≥ -3.0 kcal/mol) could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 propagation. Intriguingly, most of the phytoconstituents displayed drug-likeness with no predicted toxicity. However, further studies are needed to validate their effects and mechanisms of action. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Moringa oleifera (MO) also called "drumstick tree" has been used as an alternative food source to combat malnutrition and may act as an immune booster. GC-MS analysis unveiled that ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera fruits (MOFs) possessed 33 active components of pyridine, aromatic fatty acid, oleic acid, tocopherol, methyl ester, diterpene alcohol, triterpene and fatty acid ester and their derivatives, which have various pharmacological and medicinal values. Virtual screening study of phytocomponents of MOF with human ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein exhibited good binding affinity. Based on molecular docking, the top 11 hits (Docking score ≥-3.0 kcal/mol) might serve as potential lead molecules in antiviral drug development. Intriguingly, most of the phytoconstituents displayed drug-likeness with no predicted toxicity. Thus, MOF might be used as a valuable source for antiviral drug development to combat COVID-19, an ongoing pandemic.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most prevalent form of dement... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most prevalent form of dementia. The generation of oxygen free radicals and oxidative damage is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. It has been suggested that date palm, a plant rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, can provide an alternative treatment to fight memory loss and cognitive dysfunction due to its potent antioxidant activity. Thus, we studied the effect of flavonoids present in date palm on Aβ1−40 amyloid formation using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. AutoDock. Myricetin was used as a positive control drug. The flavonoids Diosmetin, Luteolin, and Rutin were found to be potent inhibitors of aggregation (docking energies ≤ −8.05 kcal mol−1) targeting Aβ1−40 fibrils (both 2LMO and 6TI5), simultaneously. Further screening by physicochemical properties and drug-likeness analysis suggested that all flavonoids except Rutin followed Lipinski's rule of five. Rutin was...
Neurodegenerative disorders involve various pathophysiological pathways, and finding a solution f... more Neurodegenerative disorders involve various pathophysiological pathways, and finding a solution for these issues is still an uphill task for the scientific community. In the present study, a combination of molecular docking and dynamics approaches was applied to target different pathways leading to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, abrineurin natural inducers were screened using physicochemical properties and toxicity assessment. Out of five screened compounds, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, i.e., Soyasapogenol B appeared to be the most promising after molecular docking and simulation analysis. Soyasapogenol B showed low TPSA (60.69), high absorption (82.6%), no Lipinski rule violation, and no toxicity. Docking interaction analysis revealed that Soyasapogenol B bound effectively to all of the targeted proteins (AChE, BuChE MAO-A, MAO-B, GSK3β, and NMDA), in contrast to other screened abrineurin natural inducers and inhibitors. Importantly, Soyasapogeno...
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 2022
: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city of Wuhan, China triggered by s... more : Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city of Wuhan, China triggered by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late November 2019 has spread to more than 200 countries of the world. The ensuing pandemic led us to enormous loss of lives mainly with the older population possessing comorbidities like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, and hypertension. Amongst these immune-debilitating diseases, SARS-CoV-2 infection is most common in diabetic patients due to the absence of a normal active immune system to fight the COVID-19. Recovery of patients having a history of diabetes from COVID-19 has several complications, and their management becomes cumbersome. During COVID-19 treatments antiviral medications, glucose-lowering agents, and steroids are carefully evaluated. In the present review, we discuss the crosstalk between SARS-CoV-2 infection and patients with a history of diabetes. We mainly emphasize the molecular factors that are involved in diabetic individuals who were recently infected by SARS-CoV-2 and develop COVID-19. Lastly, we present the medications available for the long-term management of diabetic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Abstract The study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying concentrations of ion-carriers ... more Abstract The study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying concentrations of ion-carriers on the synthesis of zinc oxide nano-particles (ZONs). We also evaluated the anti-proliferative activity, morphological changes, ROS generation, nuclear apoptosis and caspase-3 activity of two ZON samples in human skin cancer cell line A431. The XRD analysis of both samples confirmed the crystallinity and pure nature of ZONs. SEM analysis showed spider chrysanthemum-like shape, while the TEM data determined the diameter size of nanostructures as 40 nm (ZON-1) and
Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, which necessitates sa... more Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, which necessitates safe and potential therapeutic agents. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the antiproliferative effect of ethanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. (CQ) against human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cell line and in silico analysis of selected active agents against apoptosis executioner enzyme caspase-3. Methods: Cell viability was analyzed in HeLa cells at different concentrations (25-300 μg/ml) of CQ extract. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cellular apoptosis, cell cycle analysis and caspases-3 activation were evaluated. In silico structure-based virtual screening analysis was carried out using AutoDock Vina and iGEMDOCK. Results: Cell viability was analyzed in HeLa cells at different concentrations (25-300 μg/ml) of CQ extract. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cellular apoptosis, cell cycle analysis and caspases-3 activation were evaluated. In silico, ...
Authentication of meat products is critical in the food industry. Meat adulteration may lead to r... more Authentication of meat products is critical in the food industry. Meat adulteration may lead to religious apprehensions, financial gain and food-toxicities such as meat allergies. Thus, empirical validation of the quality and constituents of meat is paramount. Various analytical methods often based on protein or DNA measurements are utilized to identify meat species. Protein-based methods, including electrophoretic and immunological techniques, are at times unsuitable for discriminating closely related species. Most of these methods have been replaced by more accurate and sensitive detection methods, such as DNA-based techniques. Emerging technologies like DNA barcoding and mass spectrometry are still in their infancy when it comes to their utilization in meat detection. Gold nanobiosensors have shown some promise in this regard. However, its applicability in small scale industries is distant. This article comprehensively reviews the recent developments in the field of analytical methods used for porcine identification.
Nanotechnology exploits materials and devices with a functional organization that has been engine... more Nanotechnology exploits materials and devices with a functional organization that has been engineered at the nanometre scale. The application of nanotechnology in neuroscience involves specific interactions with neurons and glial cells. This property is used for delivering drugs and other small molecules (such as genes, oligonucleotides and contrasting agents) across the blood brain barrier (BBB), an important requirement for delivering the drug successfully to the brain. Nanotechnology based approaches (NBA) favoured transcytosis-mediated delivery of nanoparticles to the brain by crossing the BBB. The last 5 years have witnessed the successful applications of NBA to treat neurological disorders. It is expected that the development of novel NBA will result in important insights on the brain mechanisms, and eventually provide better medical care to patients suffering from neurological disorders. This brief review introduces the emerging work in this area and summarizes the successful...
Higher animals, especially the human beings have the privilege of employing advanced central nerv... more Higher animals, especially the human beings have the privilege of employing advanced central nervous system (CNS) as well as the evolved immune system to ward off various onslaughts throughout their life. Alterations in inflammatory and neural regulatory pathways lead to several disorders that are now becoming the cause of concern across the world. Deregulation in bidirectional network, particularly in aging population, leads to several neurodegenerative diseases such as having dementia as a one of the major characteristics. Interestingly, research updates have signified the role of abrupt immune regulation in several brain diseases, establishing a link between altered immune system and CNS related diseases. In the later period of life time, the role has altered the immune response in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, which has become more visible. Recent research advances have indicated a close relationship between emotion and psychology to diseases and immunology, p...
Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, Jan 14, 2017
For design of a subunit vaccine for tuberculosis, identification of antigenic T-cell epitope is o... more For design of a subunit vaccine for tuberculosis, identification of antigenic T-cell epitope is of utmost importance. Several MHC prediction server are available that can accurately predict antigenic peptide of variable lengths. However, peptides predicted from one server not necessarily are predicted form another server, thus creating a confusing situation for scientists to choose a best epitope. Keeping the above problem in mind, we developed a comprehensive database of peptides of Mycobacterial proteins. Each protein was taken from PubMed and was run through different MHC prediction servers, with the results being compiled into one database. For each protein, PeMtb generates a set of three different mers of variable lengths (12 mer or 13-mer) based on their ranking; with each mer being predicted for a plethora of MHC alleles. Researcher can choose the peptide (mers) that gives best binding affinity from most of the servers. The database relieves the investigators of the painstaki...
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Antibodies occupy a central position when it comes to binding proteins with desired antigenic spe... more Antibodies occupy a central position when it comes to binding proteins with desired antigenic specificities. During the past decade, a plethora of recombinant or humanized versions of antibodies have entered clinical settings with outstanding accomplishments. Yet, they suffer from several drawbacks such as high molecular weight, limited tissue penetration, instability, high production cost, requirement for large doses and potential cytotoxicity. As a result, new generation of receptor proteins has been developed, that are derived from small and robust immunoglobulin (Ig) or non-immunoglobulin based "scaffolds". Combinatorial protein engineering has tremendous scope in the development of these protein scaffolds with immunoglobulin like specificity and/or prescribed binding functions. The advancement made in this regard can boast of developing various validated Ig based and non-Ig protein scaffolds with desirable therapeutic potential. The newly emerging technology has profound scope in translational biology and offer matching replacement for existing immunotherapeutic agents. Only few data from early clinical studies are available yet, but many more are likely to come in the near future. Here, we provide a glimpse of recent clinical advances in the field of existing protein scaffolds.
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