Natural polyphenols have gained greater attention for their potent medicinal properties and potential benefits in addressing various health concerns. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound known for its therapeutic properties, has shown limitations in bioavailability, which the novel derivative resveratrol surrogate molecule (RSM5) aims to improve. The present study evaluates the oral toxicity and safety profile of a novel resveratrol derivative through acute and subacute assessments. Acute toxicity was assessed following a single oral administration, while subacute toxicity was evaluated after repeated doses over 28 days in BALB/c mice. Various physiological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were monitored to determine potential adverse effects. The findings indicate that the RSM5 exhibits no significant toxic effects at the tested doses (15, 30, 60 mg/kg), with both acute and subacute studies showing a favourable safety profile. These results suggest that the novel resveratrol derivative may be safe for further pharmacological development, supporting its potential for therapeutic applications.
The Lassa virus (LASV), an RNA virus prevalent in West and Central Africa, causes severe hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate. However, no FDA-approved treatments or vaccines exist. Two crucial proteins, LASV glycoprotein and nucleoprotein, play vital roles in pathogenesis and are potential therapeutic targets. As effective treatments for many emerging infections remain elusive, cutting-edge drug development approaches are essential, such as identifying molecular targets, screening lead molecules, and repurposing existing drugs. Bioinformatics and computational biology expedite drug discovery pipelines, using data science to identify targets, predict structures, and model interactions. These techniques also facilitate screening leads with optimal drug-like properties, reducing time, cost, and complexities associated with traditional drug development. Researchers have employed advanced computational drug design methods such as molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, drug-likeness, and molecular dynamics simulation to investigate evodiamine derivatives as potential LASV inhibitors. The results revealed remarkable binding affinities, with many outperforming standard compounds. Additionally, molecular active simulation data suggest stability when bound to target receptors. These promising findings indicate that evodiamine derivatives may offer superior pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties, serving as a valuable resource for professionals developing synthetic drugs to combat the Lassa virus.