Antioxidant potential and carbohydrate digestive enzyme inhibitory effects of five Inula species and their major compounds

The present study was designed to examine in-vitro antidiabetic activities of different extracts of flowers, leaves and roots of Inula helenium ssp. turcoracemosa, L montbretiana, I. peacockiana, I thapsoides ssp. thapsoides and I. viscosa extracts. I. viscosa and I. montbretiana flower, I. thapsoides and I. viscosa leaf and I. helenium root methanol extracts exhibited remarkable alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Additionally, alpha-amylase inhibitory activities of the extracts were moderate at only 3000 mu g/mL. Based on the results of in-vitro antidiabetic activity tests; antioxidant activities, total phenol and flavonoid contents of the most promising extracts were evaluated. To identify compounds responsible for the antidiabetic activity, major compounds of Inula species were analyzed for their in-vitro enzyme inhibitory activity. Quercetin, luteolin and rutin exhibited a significant inhibition on alpha-glucosidase at 10 mM concentrations. Consequently, Inula species could potentially be used by diabetic patients for their antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. (C) 2017 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Spike- and nucleocapsid-based gold colloid assay toward the development of an adhesive bandage for rapid SARS-CoV-2 immune response detection and screening

Abstract Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are important biomarkers used for the diagnosis and screening of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. These antibodies are highly specific to the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This paper outlines the development steps of a novel hybrid (vertical-lateral-vertical) flow assay in the form of a finger-stick point-of-care device, similar to an adhesive bandage, designed for the timely detection and screening of IgM and IgG immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infections. The assay, comprising a vertically stacked plasma/serum separation membrane, conjugate pad, and detection (readout) zone, utilizes gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated with SARS-CoV-2 S and N proteins to effectively capture IgM and IgG antibodies from a pinprick (~15 µL) of blood in just one step and provides results of no immune IgM−/IgG−, early immune IgM+/IgG−, active immune IgM+/IgG+ or immune IgM−/IgG+ in a short amount of time (minutes). The adhesive bandage-like construction is an example of the design of rapid, low-cost, disposable, and easy-to-use tests for large-scale detection and screening in households. Furthermore, the bandage can be easily adjusted and optimized to detect different viral infections as they arise by simply selecting appropriate antigens related to pandemics and outbreaks

Alkaloids and bioactivity of Papaver dubium subsp dubium and P.dubium subsp laevigatum

Alkaloids and cytotoxic activity of two samples of Papaver dubium subsp. dubium and one sample of P.dubium subsp, laevigatum have been investigated. Berberine (1), thalifendine (2), corydine (3) and isocorydine (4) have been isolated from the first sample of P.dubium subsp. dubium. The second sample of this species yielded berberine (1), thalifendine (2), isocorydine (4), stylopine (5) and tetrahydropseudocoptisine (6) which was isolated for the first time as a natural product. The existence of roemerine (8), mecambrine (9) and allocryptopine (10) has been shown in P.dubium subsp.laevigatum. The tertiary extract of the latter showed high cytotoxicity