Potential therapeutic and pharmacological strategies for SARS-CoV2

Ghareeb Doaa A.,Saleh Samar R.,Nofal Mohammed S.,Kaddah Mohamed M. Y.,Hassan Salma. F.,Seif Inas K.,El-Zahaby Sally A.,Khedr Shaimaa M.,Kenawy Marwa Y.,Masoud Aliaa A.,Soudi Salma A.,Sobhy Ahmed A.,Se 한국약제학회 2021 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.51 No.3

Background At the end of 2019, the new Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strain causing severe acute respiratory syndrome swept the world. From November 2019 till February 2021, this virus infected nearly 104 million, with more than two million deaths and about 25 million active cases. This has prompted scientists to discover effective drugs to combat this pandemic. Area covered Drug repurposing is the magic bullet for treating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2). Therefore, several drugs have been investigated in silico, in vitro, as well as through human trials such as anti- SARS-CoV2 agents, or to prevent the complications resulting from the virus. In this review, the mechanisms of action of different therapeutic strategies are summarized. According to the WHO, different classes of drugs can be used, including anti-malarial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-coagulant drugs, as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antibiotics, vitamins, zinc, neutralizing antibodies, and convalescent plasma therapy. Recently, there are some vaccines which are approved against SARS-CoV2. Expert opinion A complete understanding of the structure and function of all viral proteins that play a fundamental role in viral infection, which contribute to the therapeutic intervention and the development of vaccine in order to reduce the mortality rate.

First Report of Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2 Race 1 on Tomato in Egypt

Mohamed A. A. Seleim,Kamal A. M. Abo-Elyousr,Kenawy M. Abd-El-Moneem,Farag A. Saead 한국식물병리학회 2014 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.30 No.3

This study aims to isolate and identify the causal pathogenof tomato bacterial wilt in Egypt. In 2008, tomato plants showing typical symptoms of bacterial wilt diseasewith no foliar yellowing were observed in Minia, Assiut and Sohag governorates, Egypt. When cut stems of symptomatic plants were submerged in water, whitishooze was evident and longitudinal sections showed a brown discoloration in the vascular tissues. Bacteria were isolated on triphenyl tetrazolium chloride medium and fifteen isolates shown typical morphological and cultural characteristics were confirmed as Ralstonia solanacearumbiovar 2 race 1. Pathogenicity tests showed that all isolates proved to be pathogenic to tomato plants, varied from 52 to 97% wilting. This is the first report of  R. solanacearum  biovar 2 race 1 causing bacterialwilt in tomato crop in Egypt.

First Report of Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2 Race 1 on Tomato in Egypt

Seleim, Mohamed A.A.,Abo-Elyousr, Kamal A.M.,Abd-El-Moneem, Kenawy M.,Saead, Farag A. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2014 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.30 No.3

This study aims to isolate and identify the causal pathogen of tomato bacterial wilt in Egypt. In 2008, tomato plants showing typical symptoms of bacterial wilt disease with no foliar yellowing were observed in Minia, Assiut and Sohag governorates, Egypt. When cut stems of symptomatic plants were submerged in water, whitish ooze was evident and longitudinal sections showed a brown discoloration in the vascular tissues. Bacteria were isolated on triphenyl tetrazolium chloride medium and fifteen isolates shown typical morphological and cultural characteristics were confirmed as Ralstonia solanacearum biovar 2 race 1. Pathogenicity tests showed that all isolates proved to be pathogenic to tomato plants, varied from 52 to 97% wilting. This is the first report of R. solanacearum biovar 2 race 1 causing bacterial wilt in tomato crop in Egypt.

Antihypertensive and Cardioprotective Effects of Pumpkin Seed Oil

Aliaa E.M.K. El-Mosallamy,Amany A. Sleem,Omar M.E. Abdel-Salam,Nermeen Shaffie,Sanaa A. Kenawy 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.2

Pumpkin seed oil is a natural product commonly used in folk medicine for treatment of prostatic hypertrophy. In the present study, the effects of treatment with pumpkin seed oil on hypertension induced by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nx-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME) (50 mg /kg/day) in rats were studied and compared with those of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine. Pumpkin seed oil (40 or 100 mg/kg), amlodipine (0.9 mg/kg), or vehicle (control) was given once daily orally for 6 weeks. Arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes,levels of serum nitric oxide (NO) (the concentrations of nitrite/nitrate), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), blood glutathione,and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase activity were measured. Histopathological examination of heart and aorta was conducted as well. l-NAME administration resulted in a significant increase in BP starting from the second week. Pumpkin seed oil or amlodipine treatment significantly reduced the elevation in BP by l-NAME and normalized the l-NAME-induced ECG changes—namely, prolongation of the RR interval, increased P wave duration, and ST elevation. Both treatments significantly decreased the elevated levels of MDA and reversed the decreased levels of NO metabolites to near normal values compared with the l-NAME-treated group. Amlodipine also significantly increased blood glutathione content compared with normal (but not l-NAME-treated) rats. Pumpkin seed oil as well as amlodipine treatment protected against pathological alterations in heart and aorta induced by l-NAME. In conclusion, this study has shown that pumpkin seed oil exhibits an antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects through a mechanism that may involve generation of NO.

Using brassinolide and girdling combined application as an alternative to ethephon for improving color and quality of 'Crimson Seedless' grapevines

Belal B. E. A.,El Kenawy M. A.,Omar Asmaa S. M. 한국원예학회 2022 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.63 No.6

The color of 'Crimson Seedless' berries is a major constraint in expanding marketing and export potential. The target of this investigation is to enhance the color and quality of 'Crimson Seedless' by using brassinolide (BL) and girdling treatments, individually and in combination, as an alternative to ethephon over two consecutive seasons. The obtained results revealed that the combined treatment BL at 2.0 mg/L and girdling recorded the highest significant yield values (17.78 ± 0.29 and 18.26 ± 0.23 kg/vine) in both seasons, respectively, in contrast to ethephon and girdling treatments which had no significant influence. Besides, BL 2.0 mg/L + girdling presented high levels of physicochemical characteristics of clusters and berries compared to the control. Concerning berry color assessment, ethepon followed by BL at 2.0 mg/L + girdling recorded the highest significant improvement in the red color, as indicated by Color Index of Red Grapes and visual assessment, and had similar and elevated levels of anthocyanin content. On the other hand, flavonoids (3.46 ± 0.03 and 3.66 ± 0.02 mg/100 g FW), and antioxidant capacity (2.37 ± 0.02 and 2.43 ± 0.06 IC 50 ) were obviously increased with BL 2.0 mg/L + girdling, with a slight decrease than ethephon application. As for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, the data show that it increased by ethephon (7.91 ± 0.02 and 8.01 ± 0.02 U mg −1 protein) and BL 2.0 mg/L + girdling (7.77 ± 0.04 and 7.79 ± 0.07 U mg −1 protein), compared to the control (3.69 ± 0.02 and 3.80 ± 0.01 U mg −1 protein) in both seasons, respectively. In terms of polyphenol oxidase activity, the increase in PPO was closely associated with PAL. Moreover, BL 2.0 mg/L + girdling was the most effective treatment for increasing dormant season parameters in both seasons, while ethephon spraying had no influence. All these confirmed that the combined treatment BL 2.0 mg/L + girdling exhibited a synergistic effect in improving the color and quality of 'Crimson Seedless'.