Computational Docking as a Tool in Guiding the Drug Design of Rutaecarpine Derivatives as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors.

COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. This is mainly because new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge due to genomic mutations, evade the immune system and result in the effectiveness of current therapeutics being reduced. We previously established a series of detection platforms, comprising computational docking analysis, S-protein-based ELISA, pseudovirus entry, and 3CL protease activity assays, which allow us to screen a large library of phytochemicals from natural products and to determine their potential in blocking the entry of SARS-CoV-2.

The Ethanol Extract of Evodiae Fructus and Its Ingredient, Rutaecarpine, Inhibit Infection of SARS-CoV-2 and Inflammatory Responses.

COVID-19, derived from SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in millions of deaths and caused unprecedented socioeconomic damage since its outbreak in 2019. Although the vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2 provide some protection, they have unexpected side effects in some people. Furthermore, new viral mutations reduce the effectiveness of the current vaccines.

Neuromasts and Olfactory Organs of Zebrafish Larvae Represent Possible Sites of SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus Host Cell Entry.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the acute respiratory disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has resulted in millions of deaths globally. Here, we explored the mechanism of host cell entry of a luciferase-ZsGreen spike (SARS-CoV-2)-pseudotyped lentivirus using zebrafish embryos/larvae as an model. Successful pseudovirus entry was demonstrated via the expression of the luciferase () gene, which was validated by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).

The Extracts of Root and Rhizome Block the Entry of SARS-CoV-2 Wild-Type and Omicron Pseudotyped Viruses via Inhibition of the S-Protein and 3CL Protease.

COVID-19, resulting from infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, caused a contagious pandemic. Even with the current vaccines, there is still an urgent need to develop effective pharmacological treatments against this deadly disease. Here, we show that the water and ethanol extracts of the root and rhizome of (Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix), a common Chinese herbal medicine, blocked the entry of wild-type and the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus into fibroblasts or zebrafish larvae, with IC values ranging from 0.

Resveratrol, an Inhibitor Binding to VEGF, Restores the Pathology of Abnormal Angiogenesis in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in Mice: Application by Intravitreal and Topical Instillation.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a severe eye disease leading to blindness. Abnormal vessel formation is the pathological hallmark of neovascular ROP. In forming vessels, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important stimulator.

Polygoni multiflori radix extracts inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus entry in HEK293T cells and zebrafish larvae.

Background: Globally, COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths and led to unprecedented socioeconomic damage. There is therefore, in addition to vaccination, an urgent need to develop complementary effective treatments and/or protective and preventative therapies against this deadly disease.

Methods: Here, a multi-component testing platform was established to screen a library of herbal extracts from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), to identify potent herbal extracts/phytochemicals as possible therapeutics for COVID-19.

The Cholinesterase Inhibitory Properties of Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix.

Stephaniae tetrandrae radix (STR) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in alleviating edema by inducing diuresis. In the clinic, STR extracts or its components are widely used in the treatment of edema, dysuria, and rheumatism for the regulation of water metabolism. Furthermore, STR has been used in treating emotional problems for years by combining with other Chinese herbs.

Ginseng extracts modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics of live cardiomyoblasts: a functional comparison of different extraction solvents.

Background: The root of , a member of Araliaceae family, has been used as herbal medicine and functional food in Asia for thousands of years. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is the most widely used "Qi-invigorating" herbs, which provides tonic and preventive effects by resisting oxidative stress, influencing energy metabolism, and improving mitochondrial function. Very few reports have systematically measured cell mitochondrial bioenergetics after ginseng treatment.

The Chinese medicinal herbs of spleen-meridian property regulate body temperature in yeast-induced fever rats.

Background: According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the herbal property is the most important guiding principle of ancient medication in China. The classification of warm- and cold-stimulating TCM is defined mainly based on the effects of herbs in regulating body temperature; however, the underlying mechanism of such distinction has not been fully identified.

Methods: Here, four commonly used spleen-meridian herbs, Ginseng Radix and Astragali Radix as typical warm-stimulating herbs, and Nelumbinis Semen and Coicis Semen as typical cold-stimulating herbs, were selected to test their effects in regulating body temperature, as well as its triggered thermo-regulatory factors and energy related metabolites, in yeast-induced fever rats.

The Yin-Yang Property of Chinese Medicinal Herbs Relates to Chemical Composition but Not Anti-Oxidative Activity: An Illustration Using Spleen-Meridian Herbs.

"Yin-Yang" and "Five Elements" theories are the basis theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). To probe and clarify the theoretical basis of these ancient Chinese wisdoms, extensive efforts have been taken, however, without a full success. In the classification of TCM herbs, hot, cold and neutral herbs are believed to possess distinct profile of chemical compositions of which the compounds should have different polarity and mass: this view provides a new perspective for further illustration.

The Extracts and Major Compounds Derived from Astragali Radix Alter Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Cultured Cardiomyocytes: Comparison of Various Polar Solvents and Compounds.

Astragali Radix (AR) is a widely used "Qi-invigorating" herb in China for its tonic effects in strengthening biological tissues. The extract of AR contains abundant antioxidants, including astragalosides and isoflavonoids. However, very few reports have systematically measured the effects of the major components of AR on cell mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Isorhamnetin, A Flavonol Aglycone from Ginkgo biloba L., Induces Neuronal Differentiation of Cultured PC12 Cells: Potentiating the Effect of Nerve Growth Factor.

Flavonoids, a group of compounds mainly derived from vegetables and herbal medicines, share a chemical resemblance to estrogen, and indeed some of which have been used as estrogen substitutes. In searching for possible functions of flavonoids, the neuroprotective effect in brain could lead to novel treatment, or prevention, for neurodegenerative diseases. Here, different subclasses of flavonoids were analyzed for its inductive role in neurite outgrowth of cultured PC12 cells.

The expression of erythropoietin triggered by danggui buxue tang, a Chinese herbal decoction prepared from radix Astragali and radix Angelicae Sinensis, is mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor in cultured HEK293T cells.

Ethnopharmacological Evidence: Danggui buxue tang (DBT), a Chinese medicinal decoction that is being commonly used as hematopoietic medicine to treating woman menopausal irregularity, contains two herbs: radix Astragali and radix Angelicae Sinensis. Pharmacological results indicate that DBT can stimulate the production of erythropoietin (EPO), a specific hematopoietic growth factor, in cultured cells.

Aim Of The Study: In order to reveal the mechanism of DBT's hematopoietic function, this study investigated the activity of the DBT-induced EPO expression and the upstream regulatory cascade of EPO via hypoxia-induced signaling in cultured kidney fibroblasts (HEK293T).