Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) and chronic inflammatory diseases: A concise overview on preclinical and clinical data

Devil's Claw is a traditional medicine that has been long used a wide range of health conditions, including indigestion, fever, allergic reactions, and rheumatism. The main compounds are iridoid glycosides, including harpagoside, harpagide, and procumbide. However, harpagoside is the most responsible for therapeutic activity, and its content is used as reference standard. Here, we analyzed and summarized preclinical and clinical studies focusing on therapeutic efficacy of devil's claw preparations in pathological conditions in which inflammation plays a key causative role

Deeper insights on alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) müll.arg extracts: Chemical profiles, biological abilities, network analysis and molecular docking

Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. is a well-known African medicinal plant traditionally used for various healing purposes. In the present study, methanolic, ethyl acetate and infusion extracts of A. cordifolia leaves were studied for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents and screened for their chemical composition. Moreover, the enzyme (acetyl-and butyryl-cholinesterases, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase) inhibitory and cytotoxicity activities on HepG2: human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, B16 4A5: murine melanoma cells, and S17: murine bone marrow (normal) cells of extracts were evaluated. Finally, components-targets and docking analyzes were conducted with the aim to unravel the putative mechanisms underlying the observed bio-pharmacological effects. Interestingly, the infusion and methanolic extracts showed significantly higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents compared with the ethyl acetate extract (TPC: 120.38–213.12 mg GAE/g and TFC: 9.66–57.18 mg RE/g). Besides, the methanolic extracts followed by the infusion extracts were revealed to contain a higher number of compounds (84 and 74 compounds, respectively), while only 64 compounds were observed for the ethyl acetate extract. Gallic acid, ellagic acid, shikimic acid, rutin, quercetin, myricetin, vitexin, quercitrin, kaempferol, and naringenin were among the compounds that were commonly identified in all the studied extracts. Additionally, the methanolic and infusion extracts displayed higher antioxidant capacity than ethyl acetate extract in all assays performed. In ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays, the methanol extract (500.38 mg TE/g for DPPH and 900.64 mg TE/g for ABTS) exhibited the best ability, followed by the water and ethyl acetate extracts. Furthermore, the extracts exhibited differential enzyme inhibitory profiles. In particular, the methanolic and infusion extracts showed better cytotoxic selectivity activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Overall, this study demonstrated A cordifolia to be a species worthy of further investigations, given its richness in bioactive phytochemicals and wide potentialities for antioxidants and pharmacological agents

Rodent-borne Ljungan virus in dispersing Norwegian lemmings (Lemmus lemmus)

The Ljungan (picorna) virus (LV) was first isolated in 1998 from Swedish bank voles (Myodes glareolus), and has subsequently been in laboratory mice and rats, as well as many wild small mammal species, including mice, voles and lemmings, in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, USA, and most recently, Italy. Although it was initially put forward as a zoonotic agent of several human (primarily gestational) diseases, LV causes symptoms in the rodents themselves; however, its effect on rodent ecology and population dynamics is unknown. Norwegian lemmings (Lemmus lemmus) have cyclical population dynamics and thus, may be affected by LV. As a first attempt at addressing this question, we present some results of RT-PCR screening for its presence and prevalence in Norwegian lemmings from northern Finland, caught before, during and after a major dispersal event in spring 2011

Clinical Role of Lung Ultrasound for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Coronavirus Disease Pneumonia in Elderly Patients: A Pivotal Study

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) showed a promising role in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients hospitalized for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, no data are available on its role in elderly patients. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of LUS in elderly patients hospitalized for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia. Methods: Consecutive elderly patients (age >65 years) hospitalized for COVID-19 were enrolled. Demographics, laboratory, comorbidity, and the clinical features of the patients were collected. All patients underwent LUS on admission to the ward. LUS characteristics have been analyzed. Uni- A nd multivariate analyses to evaluate predictors for in-hospital death were performed. Results: Thirty-seven hospitalized elderly patients (19 men) with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection were consecutively enrolled. The median age was 82 years (interquartile range 74.5-93.5). Ultrasound alterations were found in all patients enrolled; inhomogeneous interstitial syndrome with spared areas (91.9%) and pleural alterations (100%) were the most frequent findings. At univariate analysis, LUS score (hazard ratio [HR] 1.168, 95% CI 1.049-1.301) and pleural effusions (HR 3.995, 95% CI 1.056-15.110) were associated with in-hospital death. At multivariate analysis, only LUS score (HR 1.168, 95% CI 1.049-1.301) was independelty associated with in-hospital death. The LUS score's best cutoff for distinguishing patients experiencing in-hospital death was 17 (at multivariate analysis LUS score ≥17, HR 4.827, 95% CI 1.452-16.040). In-hospital death was significantly different according to the LUS score cutoff of 17 (p = 0.0046). Conclusion: LUS could play a role in the diagnosis and prognosis in elderly patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new step on the chemical profiles and pharmacological effects of three Scorzonera species (S. hieraciifolia, S. hispanica and S. tomentosa)

The genus Scorzonera is one of the most important genera in the Asteraceae family, and members of the genus have great potential in traditional medicine systems. In this article we aimed to determine skin protective and antimicrobial effects of different extracts from the roots and aerial parts of three Scorzonera species (S. hieraciifolia, S. hispanica, S. tomentosa). Antimicrobial properties were evaluated against different pathogen bacterial and fungal strains, whereas protective effects were studied in isolated mouse skin specimens exposed to hydrogen peroxide. In this biological model, the levels of l-dopa and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were evaluated, as markers of tyrosinase activity and inflammation, respectively. All extracts were effective in blunting the increased hydrogen peroxide-induced l-dopa turnover and PGE2 level; thus, suggesting skin protection that could be partly related to the content of flavonoids, among which rutin, in the tested extracts. Additionally, all extracts were effective as antibacterial and antifungal agents; intriguing results were observed against Trichoderma viride, which was particularly sensitive to S. tomentosa root extracts. Therefore, the present study strengthens the importance of investigating herbal preparations obtained from plants belonging to the genus Scorzonera, for the management and prevention of inflammatory and infectious skin conditions