In-silico identification of natural antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2 and comparison with potential FDA approved drug targets

Antimalarial drugs Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine have garnered most attention recently as a successful remedy for COVID19. However, the use of these drugs is still questionable due to its undetermined efficacy and side effects. The present study utilizes in-silico high throughput screening of FDA approved antiviral compounds and secondary plant metabolites against spike protein of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This target was chosen because it is instrumental in entry of virus into human cells. It is observed that the plant compound Tocopheryl-curcumin has more affinity for spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to the majority of FDA approved drugs. Tocopheryl-curcumin binds with the binding site of RBD domain of spike protein (6VSB, chain A) with free energy (∆G) of binding of -11.20 kcal/mol and makes strong hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues of S366, V367, L368, S373, and K529. Among the FDA approved drugs, Pibrentasvir obtains top rank with free energy (∆G) of binding of -9.69 kcal/mol. whereas; surprisingly Chloroquine (-6.87 kcal/mol) and Hydroxychloroquine (-7.24 kcal/mol) ranked lower in our docking study. The toxicity prediction by VEGA predicts that tocopheryl-curcumin shows no toxicity as compared to FDA approved drugs. Therefore, we infer that the plant-based tocopheryl-curcumin could be considered as potential and safer drug against COVID 19 disease as compared to chemical based drugs.

Carbaryl and Human Health: A Review

Carbaryl (1-naphthalenylmethylcarbamate) is one of the most frequently used carbamate insecticides. Carbaryl has elicited some serious carcinogenic activity in the chronic rodent studies and has also been found to cause tumors in the liver. Though carbaryl is relatively safe to mammals, but carbaryl causes damage to hepatocytes. It has other biochemical effects, as it reacts with reduced glutathione and probably directly with other accessible protein hydroxyl and sulphydryl groups or indirectly through reactions involving the glutathione conjugate. In mammals, carbaryl inhibits acetylcholinesterase causing several neural problems. Some recent reports suggest it can bind human melatonin receptors exerting serious implications on human health. Here in this review an attempt has been made to summarise carbaryl’s mode of action and its ill effects on human health.

Soil Pollution vs. Soil Collembola as a Bioindicator: A review

Soil is the foundation of all life activities in terrestrial ecosystems. Soil micro arthropod groups (less than 2 mm in size) like Acari and Collembola comprise more than 90% of arthropod fauna in most soil types. They majorly help in soil formation by breaking up the organic matter and mixing it up with inorganic mineral components. Among them, various species of Collembola have been proved to be effective bioindicator tool to measure soil health either it is polluted or not by its several characteristics in temperate countries. Therefore, in today’s world where pollution in soil by various agents is a baffling issue like other environmental pollutions, these natural soil inhabitants can make a hope to measure the natural health of soil.