Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and quickly spread across the worldwide. It becomes a global pandemic and risk to the healthcare system of almost every nation around the world.  In this study thirty natural compounds of 19 Indian herbal plants were used to analyze their binding with eight proteins associated with COVID -19. Based on the molecular docking as well as ADMET analysis, isovitexin, glycyrrhizin, sitosterol, and piperine were identified as potential herbal medicine candidates. On comparing the binding affinity with Ivermectin, we have found that the inhibition potentials of the Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Tinospora cordifolia (giloy) and Piper nigrum (black pepper) are very promising with no side-effects.  

This contribution describes an updated synthetic route along with full characterization of [{CpFe}2-p-Ph’] with p-Ph’: p-Bis{2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl}benzene). The complex reported here was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, elemental analysis, the X-ray crystal structure, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. From the crystallographic analysis, it was found that both {CpFe} fragments are coordinated to opposite sites of the p-Ph’ ligand. In addition, the analysis through of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, confirm that the synthesis and yield of just one isomer of this compound.  

The main resources needed for an alternative fuel are availability and renewability, that is, less dependence on restricted raw materials accompanied by no or less pollution. Due to being eco-friendly and non-toxic to nature, biodiesel is attracting more and more interest. Biodiesel has many important technical advantages compared to petroleum diesel, such as inherent lubricity, low toxicity, derivation of renewable and domestic raw materials, biodegradability, insignificant sulfur content, and lower exhaust emissions. However, they have some important disadvantages that include the high cost of the raw material, lower storage and oxidative stability, lower volumetric energy content, lower low-temperature operability, and in some cases, higher NOx exhaust emissions. One of the major challenge obstacles is the high cost of refined vegetable oil as raw material, which consists of almost 70% of the total production costs. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost of biodiesel, non-edible sources such as residual cooking oil (WCO), algae oil, non-edible vegetable oil, and residual fats are commonly used for the production of biodiesel due to its low cost and don't affect the food chain. The most common method used in the production of biodiesel is the transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats. Production and process are influenced by several factors, such as temperature and reaction time, the molar ratio of alcohol to oil, and type and concentration of catalyst. Therefore, this review focuses on the recent discovery of the transesterification of inedible sources for biodiesel, the influence of the composition of the raw material on the quality of biodiesel, and the possible solutions to its disadvantages for the production of biodiesel.  

It was studied the removal properties of poly(4-vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium chloride–co-(4-vinylbenzyl)-N-methyl-D-glucamine) P(ClVBTA-co-VBNMDG) ion exchange resin towards vanadium (V) and molybdenum (VI), and compared with commercial  resin Amberlite  IRA-743 which contains the same functional group. The resin was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM. Parameters like water adsorption capacity, effect of the pH, maximum retention capacity of the metal ions, elution, regeneration, selectivity, interferents effect, adsorption time, and adsorption isotherms were studied. All the studies were carried out by Batch equilibrium procedure. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy, entropy, and free energy were calculated. The P(ClVBTA-co-VBNMDG) resin showed higher capacity to remove V(V) and Mo(VI) from water solution than that Amberlite IRA-743 commercial resin. The higher capacity displayed by P(VBNMDG) resin was attributed to the higher degree of swelling and the stronger active functional groups.

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the delivery systems of chitosan-based chemotherapy agents that have been developed for the treatment of tumor cancer. Cancer treatment is a challenge that has always provided opportunities in different areas of study, due to its very complexity. Innovative options to make chemotherapy an effective treatment by targeting drugs to cancer cells through different modifications in delivery systems are being investigated. Chitosan, a biopolymer that is obtained from the partial deacetylation of chitin (the second most abundant biopolymer on earth) and is present in the exoskeleton of crustaceans, some insects, and also in the cell wall of some fungi. Chitosan has specific characteristics of solubility, functional groups in its structure, crosslinking power, affinity with other materials, biocompatibility, biodegradability, muco adhesiveness, provides bioavailability of the chemotherapeutic agent on cancer cells, without harming healthy cells. This document compiles some interesting studies on the use of chitosan in conjugation with other agents and safe materials for use in biomedicine, for the design, characterization, and development of new transport systems for chemotherapeutic agents, increasing the efficacy of this therapy in cancer treatment tumors.  

Cosmetics have been used by humans since the start of human civilization. Initially, it was typically consisting of natural products but to get prompt results, heavy metals were frequently added to cosmetics to accelerate the affects. Heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) are detected in various cosmetic products; most frequently color cosmetics, herbal cosmetics, hair cosmetics, face-body care products and beauty cosmetic products.  These metals are included in toxic metals. The application of cosmetics to different body parts leads to the absorption of metals through the stratum corneum into the blood, accumulate or replace essential elements of different biomolecules which triggers the unfavorable effects. Reported data show that in some common cosmetic products toxic metals may be present greater than permissible limit. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have established the highest permissible limit of exposure for heavy metals in different cosmetic products. However, commonly in developing world no care is taken for permissible limit set by FDA and WHO and to obey cosmetic production legislations which resulted in fatal health consequences. Thus, in this review article we are focusing on the permissible limits, hazardous effects of the toxic metals and mechanisms associated with the hazardous effects related to heavy metals found in cosmetics.  Owing to the growing usage of cosmetics it is necessary to explore the possible sources and routs of metals toxicity to fix the hazardous effects related to heavy metals found in cosmetics.

A large amount of copper ions are released into the environment, which significantly affects water resources. The reduction of copper contaminants and the potential reutilization of these ions are important issues for environmental and human health. Resin based on Pinus radiata tannin and its derivatives obtained via chemical modifications with three cyclic anhydrides (maleic, citraconic, and itaconic) adsorbed Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The effect of the pH on the adsorption, desorption, and maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(II) solutions was studied.The adsorption depends largely on the pH of the solution, and the highest adsorption was observed at pH 3. Modified tannins showed lower maximum adsorption values than the original tannin. However, tannins modified with maleic and citraconic anhydrides presented larger values than the unmodified tannin under high ion concentrations. The resin showed a Cu(II) adsorption capacity of approximately 55 mmol g-1 and a desorption capacity higher55%, hence, it represents a good alternative for future use in the treatment of contaminated water.  

In spite of the fact that aluminium and its combinations are regularly used like lightweight materials in a great deal of enterprises, they experience the ill effects of low erosion resistance. Corrosion is a natural phenomena that leads to the deterioration of the metal properties through its electrochemical interaction with the corrosive environment. The costs related to corrosion can be either direct (due to the replacement and maintenance) or indirect. A few strategies and methods have been utilized to mitigate corrosion in aluminium and its compounds under various conditions. Concerns raised over climate and human wellbeing have constrained industries to search for a more appropriate option for the protection of aluminium and its alloys from corrosion. This review emphasizes on the plant extracts applied for aluminium combination consumption restraint in NaCl medium. It summarizes the different techniques used for extraction. Additionally, an understanding to the adsorption isotherms has been discussed in brief.

Despite the social distancing and hygiene rules prescribed by the WHO, the novel Corona-virus is still on the way of a significant rapid rise in deaths. Therefore, identification of chemotherapeutic drugs against Corona Viral Infection all around the world is still requires. Some medicinal plants have a valuable therapeutic effect when mixt with honey, the obtained formulations are preliminary use in Cameroon against viral infection particularly respiratory infections. In this work, we looked for the potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 molecule throw execution of in silico computational studies of six Cameroonian plants intervening in the treatment respiratory infections in apiphytotherapy. AutoDock Vina was used for docking studies against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and SP. We further conducted of pharmacokinetics properties and the safety profile of compounds with the top score in order to identify the best drug candidates. Totally 100 compounds were screened, of these, eighteen showed high binding affinity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and SP. The results suggest the effectiveness of compounds 10 and 17 obtained from Citrus Sinensis as potent drugs against SARS-CoV-2 as they tightly bind to its Mpro and SP with low binding energies. The stability of the two compounds complexed with Mpro and SP was validated through MD simulation. The availability of potent protein inhibitors and diverse of compounds from Cameroon flora scaffolds indicate the feasibility of developing potent main protease and spikes proteins inhibitors as antivirals for COVID-19. Based on further in vivo and in vitro experiments and clinical trials, some of these phytoconstituents could be proposed for effective inhibition of the replication of the SARS-CoV-2.  

Drug discovery and the process of new drug design have been formulated much easier in the past two decades by introducing and proliferation of combined physical and biochemical process from computing capabilities and computational approaches. Since the breast cancer is one of the life-threatening problems globally, and no effective prescription is still now invented or not available in the market or medical treatment. Although few is just touched on the market, but the remedy has consisted of severe side effects and low efficiency. Regarding that fact, the D-Glucofuranose and its derivative have been designed by the quantum calculation, molecular docking, ADMET and SAR analysis. For molecular docking, the cancer protease (3hb5) and triple-negative breast cancer protease (4pv5) are selected whereas the binding affinity is at ranging from -6.20 to -10.40 kcal/mol, and it is slightly lower than cancer protease (3hb5) for triple-negative breast cancer protease (4pv5). Our comprehensive study has shown that 03, 05, and 08 could be considered the potential drug comparison with standard. These three drugs completed all the criteria, including high binding energy, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and highly soluble in biological system.