Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Different pharmaceutical therapies have been approved for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), some are in clinical trials and they have been classified according to their route or mechanism of action. Insulin types, sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, sodium–glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors, and incretin-dependent therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: GLP-1R, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors: DPP-4). Although some of the currently available drugs are effective in the management of T2DM, the side effects resulting from prolonged use of these drugs remain a serious challenge. GLP-1R agonists are currently the preferred medications to include when oral metformin alone is insufficient to manage T2DM. Medicinal plants now play prominent roles in the management of various diseases globally because they are readily available and affordable as well as having limited and transient side effects. Recently, studies have reported the ability of phytochemicals to activate glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), acting as an agonist just like the GLP-1R agonist with beneficial effects in the management of T2DM. Consequently, we propose that careful exploration of phytochemicals for the development of novel therapeutic candidates as GLP-1R agonists will be a welcome breakthrough in the management of T2DM and the co-morbidities associated with T2DM.

Skin aging and wrinkle formation are processes that are largely influenced by the overexpression of enzymes like tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase. This study aimed to validate the skin anti-aging properties of phytochemicals from Peperomia pellucida (PP) as well as its attendant mechanism of action. Compounds previously characterized from PP were retrieved from the PubChem database and docked to the active sites of tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase using Schrödinger’s Maestro 11.5 and AutoDock tools to predict compounds with the best inhibitory potential to block these enzymes in preventing skin aging. It was observed that our hit compounds had favorable affinity and displayed key interactions at the active sites of these enzymes similar to those of the standards. With elastase, we observed key interactions with the amino acids in the S1 sub-pocket (especially ALA-181), Zn chelation, and histidine residues, which are key for inhibitory activity and ligand stability. The hit compounds showed H-bonds with the key amino acids of collagenase, including LEU-185 and ALA-186; phlobaphene and patuloside B were found to have better docking scores and inhibition constants (Ki) (−12.36 Kcal/mol, 0.87 nM and −12.06 Kcal/mol, 1.45 nM, respectively) when compared with those of the synthetic reference compound (−12.00 Kcal/mol, 1.67 nM). For tyrosinase, our hit compounds had both better docking scores and Ki values than kojic acid, with patuloside B and procyanidin having the best values of −9.43 Kcal/mol, 121.40 nM and −9.32 Kcal/mol, 193.48 nM, respectively (kojic acid = −8.19 Kcal/mol, 898.03 nM). Based on this study, we propose that acacetin, procyanidin, phlobaphene, patulosides A and B, palmitic acid, and hexahydroxydiphenic acid are responsible for the anti-aging effects of PP on the skin, and that they work synergistically through a multi-target inhibition of these enzymes.

The burden of human schistosomiasis, a known but neglected tropical disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, has been worrisome in recent years. It is becoming increasingly difficult to tackle schistosomiasis with praziquantel, a drug known to be effective against all Schistosoma species, due to reports of reduced efficacy and resistance. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the antischistosomal potential of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against proteins that have been implicated as druggable targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis using computational techniques. In this study, sixty-three (63) previously isolated and characterized phytochemicals from A. indica were identified from the literature and retrieved from the PubChem database. In silico screening was conducted to assess the inhibitory potential of these phytochemicals against three receptors (Schistosoma mansoni Thioredoxin glutathione reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and Arginase) that may serve as therapeutic targets for schistosomiasis treatment. Molecular docking, ADMET prediction, ligand interaction, MMGBSA, and molecular dynamics simulation of the hit compounds were conducted using the Schrodinger molecular drug discovery suite. The results show that Andrographolide possesses a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile, does not violate the Lipinski rule of five, binds with favourable affinity with the receptors, and interacts with key amino acids at the active site. Importantly, its interaction with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme responsible for the catalysis of the de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway rate-limiting step, shows a glide score and MMGBSA of −10.19 and −45.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the MD simulation shows its stability at the active site of the receptor. Overall, this study revealed that Andrographolide from Azadirachta indica could serve as a potential lead compound for the development of an anti-schistosomal drug.

INTRODUCTION: Lassa fever (LF) affects all body systems, however, inadequate knowledge exists on the involvement of the pulmonary system in LF infections. This scoping review, therefore, aimed to describe the pulmonary involvement of LF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an extensive search of the literature on two databases, namely PubMed and Google Scholar. Overall, 5,217 articles were retrieved from a database search, out of which 107 duplicates were removed. Overall, 12 articles were included: four review articles, three case reports, three experimental inoculation studies, one retrospective study, and a prospective case-control study. RESULTS: Symptoms experienced included fever, pharyngitis, retrosternal pain, respiratory distress, and proteinuria. Complications included unique pulmonary arteritis, pulmonary embolization, mucosal bleeding, pleural or pericardial effusion, pulmonary edema, and interstitial pneumonitis. Consequences of the effect of Lassa virus infection were impairment of the immune system alongside continual replication of Lassa virus infection in affected tissues and death of affected individuals. LF has varied but serious effects on the pulmonary system. CONCLUSIONS: These symptoms, particularly in areas where LF is known to be endemic, should prompt clinicians to request LF polymerase chain reaction for confirmatory diagnosis. These features should promote the provision of respiratory support for patients in need of such. INTRODUCTION: Lassa fever (LF) affects all body systems, however, inadequate knowledge exists on the involvement of the pulmonary system in LF infections. This scoping review, therefore, aimed to describe the pulmonary involvement of LF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an extensive search of the literature on two databases, namely PubMed and Google Scholar. Overall, 5,217 articles were retrieved from a database search, out of which 107 duplicates were removed. Overall, 12 articles were included: four review articles, three case reports, three experimental inoculation studies, one retrospective study, and a prospective case-control study. RESULTS: Symptoms experienced included fever, pharyngitis, retrosternal pain, respiratory distress, and proteinuria. Complications included unique pulmonary arteritis, pulmonary embolization, mucosal bleeding, pleural or pericardial effusion, pulmonary edema, and interstitial pneumonitis. Consequences of the effect of Lassa virus infection were impairment of the immune system alongside continual replication of Lassa virus infection in affected tissues and death of affected individuals. LF has varied but serious effects on the pulmonary system. CONCLUSIONS: These symptoms, particularly in areas where LF is known to be endemic, should prompt clinicians to request LF polymerase chain reaction for confirmatory diagnosis. These features should promote the provision of respiratory support for patients in need of such.