Current Drug Discovery Technologies - Volume 19, Issue 4, 2022

Background: Cancer-induced mortality is increasingly prevalent globally, which skyrocketed the necessity to discover new/novel, safe and effective anticancer drugs. Cancer is characterized by the continuous multiplication of cells in the human, which is unable to control. Scientific research is drawing its attention toward naturally-derived bioactive compounds as they have fewer side effects compared to the current synthetic drugs used for chemotherapy. Objective: Drugs isolated from natural sources and their role in the manipulation of epigenetic markers in cancer are discussed briefly in this review article. Methods: With advancing medicinal plant biotechnology and microbiology in the past century, several anticancer phytomedicines were developed. Modern pharmacopeia contains at least 25% herbal-based remedies, including clinically used anticancer drugs. These drugs mainly include the podophyllotoxin derivatives vinca alkaloids, curcumin, mistletoe plant extracts, taxanes, camptothecin, combretastatin, and colchicine artesunate, homoharringtonine, ellipticine, roscovitine, maytansine, tapsigargin,and bruceantin. Results: Compounds (psammaplin, didemnin, dolastin, ecteinascidin, and halichondrin) isolated from marine sources and animals such as microalgae, cyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, invertebrates. They have been evaluated for their anticancer activity on cells and experimental animal models and used chemotherapy.Drug-induced manipulation of epigenetic markers plays an important role in the treatment of cancer. Conclusion: The development of a new drug from isolated bioactive compounds of plant sources has been a feasible way to lower the toxicity and increase their effectiveness against cancer. Potential anticancer therapeutic leads obtained from various ethnomedicinal plants, foods, marine, and microorganisms are showing effective yet realistically safe pharmacological activity. This review will highlight important plant-based bioactive compounds like curcumin, stilbenes, terpenes, other polyphenolic phyto-compounds, and structurally related families that are used to prevent/ ameliorate cancer. However, a contribution from all possible fields of science is still a prerequisite for discovering safe and effective anticancer drugs.

Background: Garlic (Allium sativum) is used as a natural supplement for the treatment of various diseases and disorders because it has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This systematic review aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo effects of garlic against Schistosoma spp. Methods: The current study was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered in the CAMARADES-NC3Rs Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Facility [SyRF] database. The literature search was conducted using five databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar, from January 2008 to January 2021. The search was restricted to articles published in the English language. Syntax was performed based on each database tag. Results: Out of 2,600 studies, 10 met the eligibility criteria for review. The examined parasite in all studies was Schistosoma mansoni. Ten studies (90%) were performed in vivo and one study in vitro. Studies have shown that garlic compounds can activate immune system factors, thereby damaging the parasite structure or its eggs. Conclusion: Given the increase in using plants in the treatment of many diseases and the fact that plants can be a good alternative to chemical drugs in many cases, more comprehensive research is needed to introduce effective medicinal plants to treat diseases such as schistosomiasis.

Background: The world is suffering from health and economic devastation due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the number of people affected and also the death rate, the virus is definitely a serious threat to humanity. The novel replication mechanism of the coronavirus is likely well understood, similar to prior studies on the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Objective: The antiviral activity of various compounds of the flavonoid class was checked against SARS-COVID-19 using diverse tools and software. Methods: From the flavonoid compound class, 100 synthetic compounds with potential antiviral activity were selected and improved for screening and induced fit docking, which was reduced to 25 compounds with good docking scores and docking energies. In addition to the apparent match of the molecule with the shape of the binding pocket, a full analysis of the non-covalent interactions in the active site was assessed. Results: Compounds nol26, fla37-fl40, an32, an39 showed a maximum docking score, which shows essential interactions for a tight bond. Now, all compounds are synthetic with beneficial drug-like properties. Conclusion: During the docking study, an increased lipophilic interaction of compounds due to the presence of chlorine in nol26, fla37-fl40, an32, an39 was discovered. fla37-fla40 can be investigated as lead molecules against SARS-COV-2 in futuristic drug development.