Study of the effects of Lemna minor extracts on human immune cell populations

OBJECTIVE: Lemna minor is a plant with a huge repertoire of secondary metabolites. The literature indicates that extracts of Lemna minor have antioxidant, antiradical, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of the present study was to find a suitable technique to extract active compounds from this plant and verify whether these extracts have immunomodulatory activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We grew L. minor on a standard medium with Gamborg B5 and vitamins. We extracted compounds from the plant by maceration and decoction. The phytochemical profile of the extracts was characterized by chromatography, spectrophotometry, and spectroscopy. The extracts were tested on cultures of mononuclear cells from four human subjects. These cells were pulsed with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester, grown in triplicate in standard culture medium without (control) and with increasing concentrations of Lemna extracts. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell death and proliferation of the total mononuclear cell population and of CD4+, CD8+, B cell and monocyte populations. RESULTS: The Lemna extracts were not cytotoxic and did not cause cell necrosis or apoptosis in immune cells. At low concentrations, they induced very limited proliferation of CD4+ cells within 48 hours. At high concentrations, they induced proliferation of CD8+ cells and B lymphocytes within 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Unfortunately, we failed to confirm any immunomodulatory activity of Lemna extracts. Growth and death rates of human immune cells were not significantly affected by adding Lemna extracts to the culture medium

Naturally-occurring and cultured bacteriophages in human therapy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to show the importance of developing techniques that could exploit the potential of bacteriophages as therapeutics or food supplements

A pilot study on the preventative potential of alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol against SARS-CoV-2 transmission

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current pandemics. This virus attacks the cells by binding to the transmembrane angiotensin I converting enzyme 2. In this study, we experimented a food supplement containing alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol for the improvement of the defenses against the SARS-CoV-2. Hydroxytyrosol has anti-viral properties and is able to reduce the serum lipids in mice. \u3b1-cyclodextrin has the ability to deplete sphingolipids and phospholipids from the cellular membranes. The aim of the present preliminary open non-controlled interventional study was to evaluate the efficacy of alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol in improving defenses against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Fifty healthy volunteers at a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection from Northern Cyprus and six positive individuals for SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled in this study. The in silico prediction was performed using D3DOCKING to evaluate the interactions of hydroxytyrosol and alpha-cyclodextrin with proteins involved in the SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis. RESULTS: The 50 volunteers did not become positive in 15 days for SARS-CoV-2 after the administration of the compound for two weeks, despite they were at higher risk of infection than the general population. Interestingly, in the cohort of six positive patients, two patients were administered the spray and became negative after five days, despite the viral load was higher in the treated subjects than the untreated patients who became negative after ten days. In addition, we identified possible interactions among hydroxytyrosol and alpha-cyclodextrin with the protein Spike and the human proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2. CONCLUSIONS: We reported on the results of the possible role of alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol in improving defenses against SARS-CoV-2. The next step will be the administration of the compound to a larger cohort in a controlled study to confirm the reduction of the infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in the treated subjects