MEDICINAL PLANTS’ STRESS FACTORS: EFFECTS ON METABOLITES AND NOVEL PERSPECTIVES FOR TOLERANCE

Medicinal plants are rich in secondary metabolites representing different chemical classes and synthesized by various biochemical pathways. However, these compounds are susceptible to potential herbal predators and to environmental influences. Several factors induce different biotic and abiotic stresses (drought, cold, salinity, heat) that lead to fluctuations in the biogenesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites by which plants react to overcome the threatening stress conditions. This contribution aims to give an overview of the various medicinal plant defense mechanisms against imminent threats and their impact on secondary metabolites profiles in the most effective medicinal plant species such as the levels of vincristine in Catharanthus roseus which is affected by salinity and drought stress, sage (Salvia officinalis) that showed fluctuations in terpenes level under drought stress and mineral contents in the soil and Papaver somniferum that exhibited a decrease in alkaloids content under cold stress. From a wider perspective, the aim of this study is to present novel tools and strategies used for the preservation of some plant species from extinction by minimizing as much as possible the risk of exogenous influences on phytochemicals levels and on plant bio genome and manipulating the stress factors to ensure plants quality and safety. It also aims to raise awareness about the consumption of herbal medicines without respecting the herbal monographs information about the safe dose, the interactions with drugs, and the side effects, in addition to the necessity of performing toxicity studies by pharmaceutical industries, especially on herbal medicines raised under various stress factors because of the risk of SMs (secondary metabolites) accumulation in these plants at a critical level that may be toxic to consumers

GENUS MELALEUCA: PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGY AND EFFECT AGAINST COVID-19

Medicinal plants are used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases as they are rich in phytochemical constituents (like terpenes, flavonoids, and alkaloids) responsible for the pharmacological effects of these plants. Genus Melaleuca named the tea tree, belonging to the family Myrtaceae, is cultivated in Australia as well as in the Pacific and some regions of Asia. It has been employed in Australian traditional medicine for its broad antimicrobial activity because of its contents of phenolic compounds, monoterpenes, tannins, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, and essential oils. Owing to the valuable uses of plants of genus Melaleuca, for different medical purposes, it was deemed interest to summarize the previous studies reported from 2004 to 2020 in the available literature about the phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of both volatile and non-volatile components of Melaleuca species. Accordingly, this article may help researchers work on plants of genus Melaleuca to promote clinical applications towards the development of novel drugs of diverse pharmacological activities, including inhibitory effects on COVID 19 obtained from Melaleuca species

ASSESSMENT OF THE LEBANESE COMMUNITY PHARMACIST KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE AND BARRIERS REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is a silent skeletal disease that is often recognized when fractures occur as a result of minimal trauma. Limited studies have assessed the degree of pharmacists’ involvement in osteoporosis prevention, risk-assessment/screening and physician referrals. To assess the Lebanese community pharmacists’ knowledge, practice and barriers regarding osteoporosis prevention. Secondary aim is to assess the pharmacists’ ability to identify high-risk patients who should be referred for bone mineral density (BMD) testing. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Beirut, Lebanon between September and October 2020 using self-administered questionnaire. Pharmacists completed a multi-component questionnaire that consisted of socio-demographic characteristics, practices, knowledge and barriers in relation to osteoporosis prevention and high-risk identification. Frequencies and proportions were used to describe the data. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine the determinants of knowledge in the study population. The majority of pharmacists were rarely/never involved in counseling patients on osteoporosis risk factors (57.5%) and healthy lifestyle habits (62.5%) as well as engaging in risk-assessment (63.1%), screening using Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) (0%) and physician referrals (sometimes-55.6%). In addition, pharmacists were also scarcely involved in reducing the risk of falls (55.1-59.4%). Pharmacists were knowledgeable about osteoporosis prevention however had important gaps in the diseases that increase osteoporosis risk as well as in FRAX tool, indications that require BMD testing and increased risk of fall medications. Significant predictors of knowledge were receiving postgraduate training on osteoporosis and earning the pharmacy degree from a university in Lebanon. Barriers to providing osteoporosis services included lack of time, staff, space, patients’ interest in prevention activities and limited inter-professional collaboration. The study findings provided important insights on the practices, knowledge and barriers of pharmacists regarding osteoporosis prevention and high-risk identification. Concerted efforts of multiple stakeholders are needed to promote the active role of community pharmacists in order to reduce the risk of morbidity, mortality and health-care costs associated with osteoporosis and related fractures

Repurposing of Chronically Used Drugs in Cancer Therapy: A Chance to Grasp

Despite the advancement in drug discovery for cancer therapy, drug repurposing remains an exceptional opportunistic strategy. This approach offers many advantages (faster, safer, and cheaper drugs) typically needed to overcome increased challenges, i.e., side effects, resistance, and costs associated with cancer therapy. However, not all drug classes suit a patient’s condition or long-time use. For that, repurposing chronically used medications is more appealing. This review highlights the importance of repurposing anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive drugs in the global fight against human malignancies. Extensive searches of all available evidence (up to 30 March 2023) on the anti-cancer activities of anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive agents are obtained from multiple resources (PubMed, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, Drug Bank database, ReDo database, and the National Institutes of Health). Interestingly, more than 92 clinical trials are evaluating the anti-cancer activity of 14 anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive drugs against more than 15 cancer types. Moreover, some of these agents have reached Phase IV evaluations, suggesting promising official release as anti-cancer medications. This comprehensive review provides current updates on different anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive classes possessing anti-cancer activities with the available evidence about their mechanism(s) and stage of development and evaluation. Hence, it serves researchers and clinicians interested in anti-cancer drug discovery and cancer management

PALLADIUM (II)-CATALYZED SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF 4’-(PHENYLETHYNL)ACETOPHENONE IN THE PRESENCE OF A FORMIC ACID-TRIETHYLAMINE MIXTURE

An efficient and straightforward palladium acetylacetonate-catalyzed hydrogen transfer of 4\u27- (phenylethynyl)acetophenone was developed in this study. Formic Acid was found to be the best hydrogen source in this catalytic system in the presence of triethylamine. Excellent conversions and selectivity were obtained in reducing the starting internal aromatic alkyne to either (E)-1-(4- styrylphenyl)ethanone or an interesting cyclic product, 1-(phenanthrene-3-yl)ethenone, over the ketone functional group present. Over-reduction was rarely seen. The reaction conditions were optimized in terms of the choice of the palladium catalyst, temperature, solvent, and the H-donor/base combination. Using this catalytic system, a one-step synthetic pathway of the hindered cyclic ketone was afforded in excellent yields

Evaluation of Analgesic Activity of Papaver libanoticum

Papaver libanoticum is an endemic plant to Lebanese region (family Papaveraceae) that has not been investigated before. The present study aimed to explore the analgesic activity of dried ethanolic extract of Papaver libanoticum (PLE) using tail flick, hot plate, and acetic acid induced writhing models in mice. The involvement of opioid receptors in the analgesic mechanism was investigated using naloxone antagonism. Results demonstrated that PLE exhibited a potent dose dependent analgesic activity in all tested models for analgesia. The analgesic effect involved activation of opioid receptors in the central nervous system, where both spinal and supraspinal components might be involved. The time course for analgesia revealed maximum activity after three hours in both tail flick and hot plate methods, which was prolonged to 24 hours. Metabolites of PLE could be responsible for activation of opioid receptors. The EC50 of PLE was 79 and 50 mg/kg in tail flick and hot plate tests, respectively. The total coverage of analgesia by PLE was double that of morphine in both tests. In conclusion, PLE proved to have opioid agonistic activity with a novel feature of slow and prolonged effect. The present study could add a potential tool in the armaments of opioid drugs as a natural potent analgesic and for treatment of opioid withdrawal syndrome

REVIEW ON CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF GENUS FERULA

Genus Ferula comprises about 220 species of flowering plants belonging to family Apiaceae, distributed in the Mediterranean region and Asia and used in the treatment of different diseases as anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, carminative, antinociceptive, anti-depressant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-leishmanial, and anti-inflammatory. Moreover, species of this plant are used for dizziness, asthma, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal discomfort. It was reported that all the pharmacological effects of these plants are due to the presence of different phenolic constituents including flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, coumarins and polysulfides. Sesquiterpene coumarins were responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities by blocking the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of leukotrienes (LTs) being a group of lipid mediators of inflammation . This review covers most of the identified chemical constituents of plants from the genus Ferula reported in literature between 2001 and 2023. In addition, the biological activities of the different species of genus Ferula are presented

REVIEW ON CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF GENUS RUMEX

Genus Rumex belongs to the family Polygonaceae that is distributed worldwide and used in the treatment of different illnesses. Different parts of this plant are employed in the treatment of a number of ailments such as diarrhea, jaundice, hypertension, dermatopathy and inflammation. It was reported that they possess anti-oxidative, antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-cancer activities due to the presence of several phenolic constituents, anthraquinones and flavonoids such as rutin, luteolin and apigenin. Flavonoids play an important role against cardiovascular diseases by reducing oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. This article covers most of constituents of plants of genus Rumex reported from 2001 up to 2022. Furthermore, the biological activities of plants of genus Rumex are presented

Evaluation of the effectiveness of sleep hygiene education and FITBIT devices on quality of sleep and psychological worry: a pilot quasi-experimental study among first-year college students

BackgroundCollege students report disturbed sleep patterns that can negatively impact their wellbeing and academic performance.ObjectivesThis study examined the effect of a 4-week sleep hygiene program that included sleep education and actigraph sleep trackers (FITBITs) on improving sleep quality and reducing psychological worry without control group.Design, settings, and participantsA pilot quasi-experimental design, participants were randomly selected medical and health sciences from a university students in the United-Arab-Emirates.MethodsStudents were asked to wear FITBITs and log their daily sleep data and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Extensive sleep hygiene education was delivered via lectures, a WhatsApp group, and the Blackboard platform. In total, 50 students completed pre-and post-assessments and returned FITBIT data.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the prevalence of good sleep postintervention compared with pre-intervention (46% vs. 28%; p = 0.0126). The mean PSQI score was significantly lower post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (6.17 ± 3.16 vs. 7.12.87; p = 0.04, Cohen’s d 0.33). After the intervention, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction were significantly improved compared with pre-intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, FITBIT data showed total sleep time and the number of restless episodes per night were significantly improved postintervention compared with pre-intervention (p = 0.013). The mean PSWQ score significantly decreased from pre-intervention to p = 0.049, Cohen’ d = 0.25. The correlation between PSQI and PSWQ scores was significant post-intervention (β = 0.40, p = 0.02).ConclusionOur results may inform university educational policy and curricular reform to incorporate sleep hygiene awareness programs to empower students and improve their sleep habits