SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), a novel coronavirus causing life-threatening pneumonia, caused a pandemic starting in 2019 and caused unprecedented economic and health crises all over the globe. This requires the rapid discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates to overcome this life-threatening pandemic. Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) methanolic extracts were used for silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) synthesis to explore their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory potential. Moreover, an in silico study was performed to explore the possible chemical compounds that might be responsible for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential. The characterization of the green synthesized AgNPs was carried out with transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared, spectroscopy ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential, and a dynamic light-scattering technique. The metabolic profiling of strawberry and ginger methanolic extract was assessed using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using an MTT assay. Moreover, in silico modeling and the molecular dynamic study were conducted via AutoDock Vina to demonstrate the potential of the dereplicated compounds to bind to some of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins. The TEM analysis of strawberry and ginger AgNPs showed spherical nanoparticles with mean sizes of 5.89 nm and 5.77 nm for strawberry and ginger, respectively. The UV-Visible spectrophotometric analysis showed an absorption peak at λmax of 400 nm for strawberry AgNPs and 405 nm for ginger AgNPs. The Zeta potential values of the AgNPs of the methanolic extract of strawberry was −39.4 mV, while for AgNPs of ginger methanolic extract it was −42.6 mV, which indicates a high stability of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The strawberry methanolic extract and the green synthesized AgNPs of ginger showed the highest antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Dereplication of the secondary metabolites from the crude methanolic extracts of strawberry and ginger resulted in the annotation of different classes of compounds including phenolic, flavonoids, fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, sterols, and others. The docking study was able to predict the different patterns of interaction between the different compounds of strawberry and ginger with seven SARS-CoV-2 protein targets including five viral proteins (Mpro, ADP ribose phosphatase, NSP14, NSP16, PLpro) and two humans (AAK1, Cathepsin L). The molecular docking and dynamics simulation study showed that neohesperidin demonstrated the potential to bind to both human AAK1 protein and SARS-CoV-2 NSP16 protein, which makes this compound of special interest as a potential dual inhibitor. Overall, the present study provides promise for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 green synthesized AgNPs, which could be developed in the future into a new anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug.

The main objective of this study was to prepare and characterize oleogel as potential carrier for quercetin skin delivery. The formulations were prepared by adding olive oil (5–30%) to Pluronic F127 hydrogel and were evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, viscosity in vitro quercetin release and stability, and were compared with that of Pluronic F127 hydrogel. The selected formulation was characterized for its interaction possibility, ex vivo skin permeation and skin histological changes and safety. The particle sizes ranged from 345.3 ± 5.3 nm to 401.5 ± 2.8 nm, and possessed negative charges. The viscosities of the formulations were found in the range of 6367–4823 cps with inverse proportionality to olive oil percentage while the higher percentages showed higher quercetin release. Percentages of 25% and 30% olive oil showed instability pattern under the conditions of accelerated stability studies. Differential scanning calorimetry verified the existence of quercetin in micellar aggregation and the network in the case of hydrogel and oleogel respectively. Ex vivo skin permeation showed an improved skin permeation of quercetin when 20% olive oil containing oleogel was used. Skin histology after 10 days of application showed stratum corneum disruption and good safety profile. Based on these findings, the proposed oleogel containing 20% olive oil denotes a potential carrier for topical delivery of quercetin.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the possible improvement in soybean plants’ tolerance against vanadium-induced stress in response to the application of olive solid waste (OSW) and selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), by assessing metabolites and plant defense systems. Drawing upon this aim, a pot experiment was performed where the soybean plants were grown with a fertilization treatment (including, control, OSW, Se-NPs, and Se-NPs + OSW) under vanadium stress (including non-stress and 350 mg sodium orthovanadate per kg of soil). Enhancement of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in vanadium-stressed plants confirmed the oxidative damage in unfertilized plants. Results indicated the positive effects of the combined treatment (Se-NPs + OSW) in improving the plant stress tolerance by causing a balance in the produced ROS and detoxified ROS in the plant. It was mainly stimulated through the improvement of the photosynthetic parameters, anthocyanin metabolism pathway, phenylpropanoid pathway, non-enzymatic antioxidant metabolites (tocopherols, malondialdehyde, polyphenols, and flavonoids), antioxidant enzymes, and biochemical components involved in the ASC/GSH cycle (ascorbate, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase), and antioxidant direct scavenging enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase), which finally resulted in higher plant biomass. In conclusion, the simultaneous application of OSW and Se-NPs treatments provided a reliable protection for soybean plants in vanadium-contaminated soils through the activation of antioxidant and non-antioxidant defense mechanisms.

Olea europaea L. Cv. Arbequina (OEA) (Oleaceae) is an olive variety species that has received little attention. Besides our previous work for the chemical profiling of OEA leaves using LC–HRESIMS, an additional 23 compounds are identified. An excision wound model is used to measure wound healing action. Wounds are provided with OEA (2% w/v) or MEBO^® cream (marketed treatment). The wound closure rate related to vehicle-treated wounds is significantly increased by OEA. Comparing to vehicle wound tissues, significant levels of TGF-β in OEA and MEBO^® (p < 0.05) are displayed by gene expression patterns, with the most significant levels in OEA-treated wounds. Proinflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β levels are substantially reduced in OEA-treated wounds. The capability of several lignan-related compounds to interact with MMP-1 is revealed by extensive in silico investigation of the major OEA compounds (i.e., inverse docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ΔG calculation), and their role in the wound-healing process is also characterized. The potential of OEA as a potent MMP-1 inhibitor is shown in subsequent in vitro testing (IC₅₀ = 88.0 ± 0.1 nM). In conclusion, OEA is introduced as an interesting therapeutic candidate that can effectively manage wound healing because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Gastric ulceration is among the most serious humanpublic health problems. Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina is one of the numerous olive varieties which have scarcely been studied. The reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the olive plant make it a potential prophylactic natural product against gastric ulcers. Consequently, the main goal of this study is to investigate the gastroprotective effect of Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina leaf extract. LC-HRMS-based metabolic profiling of the alcoholic extract of Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina led to the dereplication of 18 putative compounds (1–18). In vivo indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in a rat model was established and the Olea europea extract was tested at a dose of 300 mg kg⁻¹ compared to cimetidine (100 mg kg⁻¹). The assessment of gastric mucosal lesions and histopathology of gastric tissue was done. It has been proved that Olea europea significantly decreased the ulcer index and protected the mucosa from lesions. The antioxidant potential of the extract was evaluated using three in vitro assays, H₂O₂ scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, and superoxide radical scavenging activities and showed promising activities. Moreover, an in silico based study was performed on the putatively dereplicated compounds, which highlighted that 3-hydroxy tyrosol (4) and oleacein (18) can target the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme (5-LOX) as a protective mechanism against the pathogenesis of ulceration. Upon experimental validation, both compounds 3-hydroxy tyrosol (HT) and oleacein (OC) (4 and 18, respectively) exhibited a significant in vitro 5-LOX inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 8.6 and 5.8 µg/mL, respectively. The present study suggested a possible implication of O. europea leaves as a potential candidate having gastroprotective, antioxidant, and 5-LOX inhibitory activity for the management of gastric ulcers.

Heavy metal such as arsenite (As^III) is a threat worldwide. Thus, to mitigate As^III toxicity on plants, we investigated the interactive effect of olive solid waste (OSW) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on wheat plants under As^III stress. To this end, wheat seeds were grown in soils treated with OSW (4% w/w), AMF-inoculation, and/or As^III treated soil (100 mg/kg soil). AMF colonization is reduced by As^III but to a lesser extent under As^III + OSW. AMF and OSW interactive effects also improved soil fertility and increased wheat plants’ growth, particularly under As^III stress. The interactions between OSW and AMF treatments reduced As^III-induced H₂O₂ accumulation. Less H₂O₂ production consequently reduced As^III-related oxidative damages i.e., lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) (58%), compared to As stress. This can be explained by the increase in wheat’s antioxidant defense system. OSW and AMF increased total antioxidant content, phenol, flavonoids, and α-tocopherol by approximately 34%, 63%, 118%, 232%, and 93%, respectively, compared to As stress. The combined effect also significantly induced anthocyanins accumulation. The combination of OSW+AMF improved antioxidants enzymes activity, where superoxide dismutase (SOD, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were increased by 98%, 121%, 105%, 129%, and 110.29%, respectively, compared to As^III stress. This can be explained by induced anthocyanin percussors phenylalanine, cinamic acid and naringenin, and biosynthesic enzymes (phenylalanine aminolayse (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS)). Overall, this study suggested the effectiveness of OSW and AMF as a promising approach to mitigate As^III toxicity on wheat growth, physiology, and biochemistry.