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Since the beginning, human beings have consistently been using plants and their components for the prevention and treatment of various ailments. However, in the last few decades, plant‐based medicines and health supplements are gaining more acceptability and rapid popularity. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza sp.) is a terrestrial herb belonging to the family Fabaceae and primarily cultivated in European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries. Ethnomedicinal uses of licorice have frequently been described in the world's renowned medical systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, African, and European traditional medical systems. To date, 30 species of licorice are known, and among them, G. glabra, G. inflata, and G. uralensis are significantly explored for nutritional and pharmacological benefits. The wide range of commercially available products, including herbal preparations, health supplements, cosmetics, and food and feeds preparations use licorice as active ingredient. Glabridin, licochalcone A, glycyrrhizin, and 18‐glycyrrhetinic acid are the notable phytochemicals isolated from licorice and immensely explored for biological and pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, the excessive intake of licorice has also been associated with a wide spectrum of adverse effects on human health. Among them, several are reported to be mediated by modulation of drug‐metabolizing cytochrome P‐450 enzymes. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive description of the current knowledge of licorice, including historical development, phytoconstituents, species‐specific marker metabolites, herb–drug interaction, pharmacological uses, food additive application, and toxicities. We believe this review will provide excellent information to physicians, researchers, and personnel of different scientific regulatory bodies.

Emerging reports of SARS‐CoV‐2 breakthrough infections entail methodical genomic surveillance for determining the efficacy of vaccines. This study elaborates genomic analysis of isolates from breakthrough infections following vaccination with AZD1222/Covishield and BBV152/Covaxin. Variants of concern B.1.617.2 and B.1.1.7 responsible for cases surge in April–May 2021 in Delhi, were the predominant lineages among breakthrough infections.

Covid-19 pandemic severely affected human health worldwide. Till October 19, 2020, total confirmed patients of COVID-19 are 39,944,882, whereas 1,111,998 people died across the globe. Till to date, we do not have any specific medicine and/or vaccine to treat COVID-19; however, research is still going on at war footing. So far vaccine development is concerned, here it is noteworthy that till now three major variants (named A, B, and C) of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been recognized. Increased mutational rate and formation of new viral variants may increase the attrition rate of vaccines and/or candidate chemotherapies. Herbal remedies are chemical cocktails, thus open another avenue for effective antiviral therapeutics development. In fact, India is a large country, which is densely populated, but the overall severity of COVID-19 per million populations is lesser than any other country of the world. One of the major reasons for the aforesaid difference is the use of herbal remedies by the Government of India as a preventive measure for COVID-19. Therefore, the present review focuses on the epidemiology and molecular pathogenesis of COVID-19 and explores algal metabolites for their antiviral properties.

The effect of barley flour concentration, Lactobacillus plantarum NCDC344 (Lp344) and co‐culture (Streptococcus thermophilus 20) inoculum levels on the sensory quality, Lp344 count, β‐glucan content and viscosity of barley–milk composite‐based fermented drink was investigated. A central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology was used for optimisation of the formulation. Of the three formulation variables, barley flour concentration was found to be the most critical as it significantly affected overall acceptability, Lp344 count and β‐glucan content (P

Introduction “Common epilepsies”, merely explored for genetics are the most frequent, nonfamilial, sporadic cases in hospitals. Because of their much debated molecular pathology, there is a need to focus on other neuronal pathways including the existing ion channels. Methods For this study, a total of 214 epilepsy cases of North Indian ethnicity comprising 59.81% generalized, 40.19% focal seizures, and based on epilepsy types, 17.29% idiopathic, 37.38% cryptogenic, and 45.33% symptomatic were enrolled. Additionally, 170 unrelated healthy individuals were also enrolled. Here, we hypothesize the involvement of epilepsy pathophysiology genes, that is, synaptic vesicle cycle, SVC genes (presynapse), ion channels and their functionally related genes (postsynapse). An interactive analysis was initially performed in SVC genes using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). Further, in order to understand the influence of ion channels and their functionally related genes, their interaction analysis with SVC genes was also performed. Results A significant interactive two-locus model of STX1A_rs4363087|VAMP2_rs2278637 (presynaptic genes) was observed among SVC variants in all epilepsy cases (P1000-value = 0.054; CVC = 9/10; OR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.88–4.35). Further, subgroup analysis revealed stronger interaction for the same model in cryptogenic epilepsy patients only (P1000-value = 0.012; CVC = 10/10; OR = 4.59, 95%CI = 2.57–8.22). However, interactive analysis of presynaptic and postsynaptic genes did not show any significant association. Conclusions Significant synergistic interaction of SVC genes revealed the possible functional relatedness of presynapse with pathophysiology of cryptogenic epilepsy. Further, to establish the clinical utility of the results, replication in a large and similar phenotypic group of patients is warranted.

Crosslinked copolymers of gelatin and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with excellent water absorption and water retention abilities were successfully synthesized using 60Co γ radiation. Ammonium persulfate (APS), as a water-soluble initiator and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as a foaming agent were used. The best synthesis conditions were evaluated with regard to the maximum percentage of swelling as a function of the APS concentration, NaHCO3 concentration, amount of water, and reaction time. The maximum swelling percentage (1694.59%) of the copolymer gelatin-co-PVA, was obtained at the optimum parameters [APS] = 2.92 × 10−1 mol/L, [NaHCO3] = 7.94 × 10−2 mol/L, and 1.5 mL of water with 31.104 kGy of the γ radiation dose. The copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. The SEM analysis showed a highly nanoporous and cellular structure of the copolymer. The copolymer was used as a support for lipase immobilization. The optimization of the reaction conditions, including the pH and temperature for immobilization, on the basis of the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate, was carried out. An excellent efficiency for protein loading (70%) at pH 8.5 by the copolymer was observed. The results observed during the evaluation of the hydrolytic properties showed excellent activity of the bound lipase. The porous gelatin-co-PVA bound lipase was found to be stable at 75°C and pH 8.5; it displayed 2.326 ± 0.005 U/g of lipase activity. The stability and activity of the copolymer-bound lipase were also studied as a function of the time at 75°C, and the biocatalyst was found to be stable and active up to 1 h, beyond which the activity decreased. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39622.

Cellulose acetate was used as an encapsulating material for preparing microcapsules by the technique of coacervation for sustained drug delivery. The condition of formation of such capsules containing hydrocortisone as drug, and its subsequent release from such depots, are described. The scanning electron micrographs show the formation of good, nearly spherical capsules in the range 10–20 μm. The release of hydrocortisone from the microcapsules sustains up to 7 days.