The recent evolution of the SARS-like Coronavirus has ravaged the world. The deadly virus has claimed over millions of lives across the world and hence highlights the need to develop effective therapeutic drugs to contain the disease posed by this parasite. In this study, the inhibitory potential of fifty (50) dietary polyphenols against Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro) was conducted using the Autodock Vina Molecular docking tool. In the virtual screening process, the binding affinity of Remdesivir (-7.7 kcal/mol) currently used to treat COVID-19 patients was set as the cut-off value to screen out less probable inhibitors. Ellagic acid, Kievitone, and Punicalin were the only promising ligands with binding affinities (-8.9 kcal/mol, -8.0 kcal/mol and -7.9 kcal/mol respectively) lower than the set cut-off value. Furthermore, we validated Ellagic acid and Kievitone efficacy by subjecting them to molecular dynamics simulation and further stability was assessed at the molecular mechanics and quantum levels. The overall analysis indicates both compounds demonstrate higher stability and inhibitory potential to bind to the crucial His41 and Cys145 catalytic dyad of Mpro than the standard drug. However, further analysis of punicalin after evaluating its docking score was not conducted as the ligand pharmacokinetics properties suggests it could pose serious adverse effect to the health of participants in clinical trials. Hence, we employed a more safe approach by filtering out the compound during this study. Conclusively, while Ellagic acid and kievitone polyphenolic compounds have been demonstrated to be promising under this in silico research, further studies are needed to substantiate their clinical relevance.

Consistent consumption of high salt diet (HSD) has been associated with increased cellular generation of free radicals, which has been implicated in the derangement of some vital organs and etiology of cardiovascular disorders. This study was designed to investigate the combined effect of some commonly employed medicinal plants on serum lipid profile and antioxidant status of aorta, kidney, and liver of high salt diet-fed animals. Out of the total fifty male Wistar rats obtained, fifteen were used for acute toxicity study, while the remaining thirty-five were divided into 5 groups of 7 animals each. Group 1 and 2 animals were fed normal rat chow (NRC) and 16% high salt diet (HSD) only, respectively. Animals in groups 3, 4 and 5 were fed 16% HSD with 800, 400, and 200 mg/kg bw poly-herbal extract (PHE), respectively, once for 28 consecutive days. Serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione concentration, and activities were assessed in the aorta, kidney, and liver. Poly-herbal extract (p < 0.05) significantly reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations and also increased antioxidant enzymes and glutathione activity. Elevated serum TG, TC, LDL, and TC content in HSD-fed animals were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced to normal in PHE-treated rats while HDL was significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner in PHE treated animals. Feeding with PHE attenuated high-salt diet imposed derangement in serum lipid profile and antioxidant status in the organs of the experimental rats.

Cardiovascular disease is the world's leading cause of death, killing 17 to 19 million people each year. The usage of traditional drugs was influenced by the need for effective medications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease without side effects. The current study investigated the cardio-protective effects of Adansonia digitata leaf extract on doxorubicin-mediated cardiotoxicity in laboratory rats. Thirty-five albino rats were divided into five groups, each consisting of seven rats. Group 1 was given filtered water as a control, while Group 2 was given saline and doxorubicin, Group 3 received doxorubicin and Vitamin E, and Groups IV and V were myocardial oxidative animals treated with Adansonia digitata leaf extract (150 and 300 mg/kg/wt) for two weeks. After the rats were sacrificed, their hearts were collected and homogenized for biochemical assays. The results on the activities of creatinine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate amino transferase (AST), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde were determined. Histopathology examination was used in addition to assays to validate myocardial damage. In comparison to the control group, rats provided doxorubicin showed a significant increase in the activities of cardiac marker enzymes (CK, LDH, and AST), as well as a significant increase in malondialdehyde concentration with a concomitant decrease in antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and NOS), implying cardiotoxicity. In rats with doxorubicin-induced myocardial infection, pretreatment with Adansonia digitata leaf extract reduced myocardial damage, these biochemical results were confirmed by histopathology. Finally, the new study demonstrates that Adansonia digitata has cardioprotective properties.

Utilization of lesser-known food plants through value added processing is a way to develop more sustainable and healthy diets. Pachira glabra seed (Malabar chestnut) was processed into snack (Kuli-kuli) and evaluated for nutrient content and acceptability using standard methods. Proximate composition revealed that P. glabra seed and its seed cake contain 15.75% and 17.50% crude protein and 32.75% and 38.50% carbohydrate, respectively. Mineral constituent of the seed and its seed cake revealed potassium (K) 58.32 mg/kg and 53.01 mg/kg, calcium (Ca) 8.3 mg/kg and 16.9 mg/kg, magnesium (Mg) 10.2 mg/kg and 11.07 mg/kg, respectively. Sensory score shows that P. glabra seed cake was acceptable (p<0.05) in terms of flavour, taste and crispness, compared with groundnut seed cake. The study showed that the seed cake was rich in nutrients. Also, processing of P. glabra into value added product will prevent wastage of natural resource and increase food available for man.

Background: The excessive use of alcohol can lead to alcohol liver damage. However, natural compounds such as honey and kolanut have been investigated to have hepatoprotective activities against liver damage. Objectives: The possible protective effects of aqueous extract of kolanut and honey and the combination of both on alcohol induced hepatotoxicity of male rats were investigated.Materials and Methods: The rats were randomly divided into five equal groups (n=6). Group A was allowed access to water; Group B received ethanol (45% at 3g/kg) once for 21 days, Group C, D and E received alcohol an hour before treated with 50mg/kg of Cola nitida, 2.5g/kg of honey and combination of both respectively. Histopathological analysis and measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT).Results: Administration of ethanol (45%) at 3g/kg to rats resulted in significant (P < 0.05) increase in the activities of hepatic markers enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) as compared with control. Pretreatment of rats with kolanut (50 mg/kg) and honey (2.5g/kg) separately caused significant reduction in ALT, AST and ALP activities while pretreatment with combination of both was not better than the decrease observed when pretreated separately as compared to alcohol-induced group. Conversely, the results of oxidative stress and histological findings took a different pattern in all the pretreated groups.Conclusion: The result showed that the combination of honey and kolanut does not work synergistically in alcohol-induced hepatic damage.