Are we geared for the upcoming challenges by nCoV-19 or is it still grim news…?

The novel Corona Virus (nCoV-2019), clouded the entire world during the year 2020; with its emergence in December 2019 from Wuhan, China. The nCoV-19 is a novel variant of the Coronavirus family, with its predecessors been implicated for the pandemics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV); that caused flu-like condition and respiratory distress symptoms [1-6]. The viral strain also intrudes on extra-pulmonary relevance; being involved with deranging immunity as evidenced by lymphopenia and a prolonged prothrombin time; it impacts cardiomyocytes and pancreatic tissue directly [7-11]. These implications of nCoV-19 does suggest a long-term relevance of the disease profile. The emergenceof nCoV-2019 was quick to gain a pandemic status worldwide. An immense shift in the influx of the type of patients was observed, that imparted a false impression of a reduction in cardiovascular and metabolic patient presentation; formerly that had been the majority engaging the worlds’ healthcare facility. But as the world prepares itself for a possible second wave of the n-CoV-19, a prudent approach would be to remind us of the history lessons from the previous corona-led pandemic, such as MERS and SARS. This editorial will emphasize on channeling our focus to nCoV-19 implications on cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. The pandemics of SARS-CoV during 2002-2003 and MERS-CoV in 2012 highlight the long term relevance of coronavirus to cardiac and metabolic disease pathologies, both during and in the aftermath of these pandemics [3]. The SARS-CoV had demonstrated an increase of cardiovascular problems by 44%, hyperlipidemia by 68% and diabetes mellitus by 60%, in people who had recovered from the viral attack [12, 13]. Likewise, MERS-CoV had also embarked an increase of cardiac disorders by 30% and hypertension by 50% and diabetes mellitus by 50% [3, 8, 9]. Published research on nCoV-19 has hinted for a similar rising trend of cardiovascular and metabolic complexities. An increase in cardiac troponin level is observed with increased cases of myocarditis and heart failure [14]. A 20% increase in the incidence of diabetes and a 40 % rise in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is observed with nCoV-19 [8, 9]. Little do we comprehend that the involvement of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors could play havoc on endothelium, kidney, intestine, liver and any other organ [15]. The nCoV-19 has thrown a curveball to the realm of the worldwide health and financial setting. Even with the current economic predicament it does seems prudent to be prepared in advance for the long term consequences of this pandemic. The bigger question would be to, not just direct our efforts at countering the possible second wave of nCoV-19 but also for the possible chaos of cardiovascular and metabolic disease outfall, impacting the world health system.

Isolation and Analytical Characterization of Phytochemicals from Some Selected Indigenous Medicinal Plants

This study comprises Ph.D. work entitled: “Isolation and Analytical Characterization of Phytochemicals from Some Selected Indigenous Medicinal Plants”. In this regard, five plants species namely Abies pindrow, Salvadora oleiodes, Aerva javanica, Alhagi maurorum (Alhagi camelorum) and Calligonum polygonoides were selected. The work described in this thesis comprises of extraction, isolation and identification of phytochemicals constituents using chromatographic, spectroscopic and x-rays crystallographic techniques. In all, 106 compounds were identified from these selected plant species. From Abies pindrow leaves, maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one) (1) was isolated, which is neutral, heterocyclic aroma compound; widely known as food additive, antioxidant and metal ions chelator. In another study, eleven fatty acids including eight saturated and three unsaturated fatty acids ranging from C14 to C24 and eleven hydrocarbons including nine saturated two unsaturated ranging from C17 to C24 were identified from the leaves of Abies pindrow. Chemical compositions of the essential oil of Salvadora oleiodes revealed the total 35 (94.0%) and 25 (91.1%) chemical constituents in oil of leaves and stem, respectively. The major chemical constituent of the leaves and stem oil was 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol. Chemical compositions of the essential oil of Aerva javanica revealed the total 16 (82.96%), 16 (78.92%) chemical constituents in oil of leaves and stem, respectively. The major chemical constituents of the leaves and stem oil were hentriacontane (21.48%) and nonacosane (23.26%), respectively. Aerva javanica seed essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and dry steam distillation (SD) extracting methods. Total 20 (90.5%) and 18 (95.6%) chemical constituents were identified, using HD and SD, respectively. The major constituent identified from seed essential oil was heptacosane. Chemical compositions of the essential oil of Alhagi maurorum revealed the, total 16 (56.8%) and 21 (76.7%) chemical constituents in oil of leaves and stem respectively. Preliminary phytochemicals screening revealed that alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, carbohydrates, proteins and terpenoids are present in the roots, stems, buds, flowers and seeds of Calligonum polygonoides, whereas amino acids, cardiac glycoside and phlobatannins are absent. Chemical compositions of the essential oil of C. polygonoides revealed the, total 23 (97.3%), 25 (92.2%), 27 (68.42%), and 10 (82.12%) chemical constituents in oil of fruit, stem, buds and root respectively. The major chemical constituents of the fruit, stem, buds and root oil were (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (40.7%), hexadecanoic acid (42.9%), homovanillate (11.79%) and drimenol (29.42%), respectively. From C. polygonoides campesterol (102), stigmasterol (103), (3β,5α,24S)- stigmastan-3-ol (104), stigmast-4-en-3-one (105) and methandriol (106) were isolated. Extraction, isolation and identification of compounds were carried out by using latest sophisticated instrumental techniques. The chromatographic techniques were used to separate these compounds and the identities of these compounds were checked by physical and chemical methods. Finally the structures were elucidated by different spectroscopic methods including FTIR, UV, EIMS, 1H and 13 CNMR. The structures of these compounds were also further confirmed through x-ray crystallographic analysis.