Management Prospects for COVID-19: A Review

Although the number of active COVID-19 cases have been fallen in some countries, the threat of the pandemic is still impending in many parts of the world and the pace of recovery is still uncertain. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has expanded very quickly since the beginning of 2020 and has now taken approximately a million lives all around the globe. Sadly, there is yet to be an approved treatment for COVID-19 as it may take a few years to establish a definitive treatment and a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to review the preventive and curative measures currently under investigation for COVID-19 and the targeted pathogenic features of the SARS-CoV-2. To manage the clinical implications of COVID-19, and to alleviate SARS-CoV-2, the main focus is on supportive therapy, symptom control, antiviral drugs, and immunomodulation. Intense research activities for therapeutic interventions are in progress worldwide to evaluate the benefit of such drugs

Exploring in vitro and in silico Biological Activities of Calligonum Comosum and Rumex Vesicarius: Implications on Anticancer and Antibacterial Therapeutics

Introduction: The adverse effects of clinically used anti-cancer medication and the rise in resistive micro-organisms have limited therapeutic options. Multiple anti-cancer drugs are derived from medicinal herbs which also have shown anti-bacterial effects. This study aimed to identify the optimal extraction solvent for detecting the cytotoxic and anti-bacterial effects of Calligonum comosum (C. Comosum) and Rumex vesicarius (R. Vesicarius) extracts. Additionally, the study aimed to identify active metabolites and assess their potential as future drug candidates for anti-cancer and anti-bacterial therapeutics. Methods: Leaves from both plants were extracted using ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and water. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were tested on liver, colon, and breast cancer cell lines. Apoptosis was assessed using High Content Imaging (HCI) and the ApoTox triplex Glo assay. The anti-bacterial effects were determined using agar-well diffusion. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to tentatively identify the secondary metabolites. In silico computational studies were conducted to determine the metabolites' mode of action, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties. Results: The ethanolic extract of C. Comosum exhibited potent cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 54.97 μg/mL and 58 μg/mL for KAIMRC2 and MDA-MB-231, respectively. It also induced apoptosis in colon and breast cancer cell lines. All tested extracts of C. Comosum and R. Vesicarius demonstrated anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Seven active metabolites were identified, one of which is Kaempferol 3-O-Glucoside-7-O-Rhamnoside, which showed strong (predicted) anti-cancer activity. Kaempferol 3-O-Glucoside-7-O-Rhamnoside and Quercetin-3-O-Glucuronide also exhibited potential anti-bacterial effects on gram-positive and negative bacteria. Conclusion: Ethanol extraction of C. Comosum solubilizes active metabolites with potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment and bacterial infections. Kaempferol 3-O-Glucoside-7-O-Rhamnoside, in particular, shows promise as a dual therapeutic drug candidate for further research and development to improve its efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic profile