COVID-19: General Strategies for Herbal Therapies.

Researchers are exploring the potential of natural products to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in several medicinal plants and compounds being identified for both prevention and treatment. The use of natural products can include mechanisms such as boosting the immune response, blocking virus entry, and inhibiting replication. Examples of effective compounds include aloin, glycyrrhizin, and terpenes. Recognizing these mechanisms can lead to a more systematic approach to finding natural products and medicinal plants for COVID-19.

Soleymani S et al (2022).

J Evid Based Integr Med.

DOI:

10.1177/2515690X211053641

PubMed:

34985368

Artemisia capillaris Thunb. water extract attenuates adriamycin-induced renal injury by regulating apoptosis through the ROS/MAPK axis.

Huang G et al (2022).

J Food Biochem.

DOI:

10.1111/jfbc.14065

PubMed:

34984698

Social isolation induces neuroinflammation and microglia overactivation, while dihydromyricetin prevents and improves them.

Anxiety disorders are prevalent and costly in the U.S. Despite available treatments, many patients experience side-effects or resistance. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue. Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a flavonoid found in Ampelopsis grossedentata, has been shown to have anxiolytic properties in mouse models. The authors investigated the effect of short-term social isolation on the neuroimmune system and found evidence that the GABAergic system plays a role in modulating immune response. These findings may lead to new therapies for anxiety disorders.

Al Omran AJ et al (2022).

J Neuroinflammation.

DOI:

10.1186/s12974-021-02368-9

PubMed:

34983568

Effect of Sanguisorba minor on scopolamine-induced memory loss in rat: involvement of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase.

In this study, rats were treated with Sanguisorba minor extract to assess its potential benefits in improving learning and memory functions. The extract was found to reduce both escape latency and the travelled distance in Morris water maze tests, and increase latency to enter the dark chamber in passive avoidance tests, similar to the effects of the drug rivastigmine. Additionally, the extract decreased AChE activity and oxidative injury in the brain, suggesting its protective effects on cognitive dysfunction. These findings suggest that S. minor could be considered as an alternative therapy for cognition disorders.

Hosseini Z et al (2022).

Metab Brain Dis.

DOI:

10.1007/s11011-021-00898-y

PubMed:

34982352

Phaseolus vulgaris-Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Pathosystem in the Post-Genomic Era: An Update.

Nabi A et al (2022).

Curr Microbiol.

DOI:

10.1007/s00284-021-02711-6

PubMed:

34982236

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) leaf extract attenuates biochemical and histological parameters in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Jibril MM et al (2022).

J Food Biochem.

DOI:

10.1111/jfbc.14058

PubMed:

34981526

A Review on the Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Therapeutic Effects of Rheum ribes.

Keshavarzi Z et al (2021).

Adv Exp Med Biol.

DOI:

10.1007/978-3-030-73234-9_30

PubMed:

34981496

Role of Herbal Medicines in the Management of Brain Injury.

This review evaluated studies on the role of herbal medicines in managing brain injury. Researchers searched various databases and found 32 studies with medicinal plants like Ginkgo biloba and olive that showed significant improvements in brain injury. The plants worked through different mechanisms, such as reducing free radicals and nitric oxide toxicity and increasing neuronal density. The review summarized the neuroprotective actions and molecular mechanisms of each plant. Overall, herbal medicines show promise in preventing and managing brain injury.

Safdari MR et al (2021).

Adv Exp Med Biol.

DOI:

10.1007/978-3-030-73234-9_19

PubMed:

34981485