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ABSTRACTThe treatments being investigated for the pandemic associated with a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) aim to inhibit viral replication or inhibit enzymatic elastase in the lung, responsible for the SARS-CoV cell entry mechanism and the pathogenesis of severe pneumonia caused by infection. There is also a need to improve alveolar surfactant capacity and inhibition of the exacerbated inflammatory response. Current knowledge allows us to infer that Citrusessential oils could be considered an individual or a complementary highly valuable alternative for the viral infection caused by SARS-CoV due to its antiviral activity, particularly against coronavirus, anti-elastase, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. Furthermore, its proven capacity of biosurfactants, antioxidants, and pain inhibitors would help to treat acute respiratory syndrome. This review aims to encourage the development of more detailed studies on Citrusessential oils as a new multi-objective strategy to treat SARS-CoV2 infection.Abbreviations:SARS-CoV: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe; TRP: Transient Receptor Proteins; HeLa-CEACAM1a: HeLa-epithelial carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1a; HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; ANMAT: National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology, Argentina; AFSSAPS: Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé, France; ACE2:Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2

Chemical investigation of the fern Pityrogramma trifoliata(L.) R. M. Tryon (Pteridaceae) yielded a new complex flavonoid, here named trifoliatol, and 4 known complex flavonoids in addition to known chalcones and flavanones. The absolute configuration of the complex flavonoids is proposed, based on circular dichroism (ECD), crystal x-ray diffraction, and [α]Dmeasurements. White and yellow farinas, as well as 10 flavonoids were tested for antifungal activity against a panel of clinically important fungi, including yeast and dermatophytes. Both farinas and 2 of the flavonoids were notably active against Trichophyton rubrumand T.mentagrophytes(MICs and MFCs between 7.8 and 31.2 μg/mL). The localization of flavonoids in the plant trichomes was accomplished by use of scanning electron microscopy and histochemical methods.

The reuse of agricultural waste is essential to mitigate environmental pollution problems. Consequently, this work focused on the valorization of the most extensive olive processing residue, alperujo, in terms of its ability to interfere with the virulence processes of Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Staphylococcus aureuscontaminating food and reference strains.The activity of alperujoextracts of different polarities on virulence factors producing bacteria, and its relationship with antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic content was comparatively evaluated. The results indicated that the polar extracts significantly reduced the biofilm formed by both bacteria. They were also able to act against a previously formed biofilm by reducing its biomass and the cells’ metabolism. Ethanolic extracts, rich in polyphenolic compounds, exhibited antioxidant capacity and Quorum sensing(QS) inhibitory activity against Chromobacterium violaceum. Additionally, they limited the spread of P. aeruginosaby restricting swarming and swimming movements. They also interfere in other QS controlled phenotypes like elastase and pyocyanin. The antipathogenic ability of the polar extracts could be mainly due to the synergistic effect of several phenolic compounds identified by LC–MS/MS analysis, such as luteolin, vanillic acid hexoside, oleuropein and derivates, quinic acid, apigenin, among others. As a result, this study contributes to the developing of sustainable strategies to revalorize a polluting waste into a value-added byproduct that could be used in the food and sanitary industries.

Senecio punaeCabrera (Asteraceae-Senecioneae) is an endemic species from Puna semi-desert region of Argentina. The major compound, 4β,5β-eremophil-7(11)9-dien-8-one, also known as dehydrofukinone (D), was isolated from the diethyl ether extract (E) of the plant. The phytochemical constituents from S punaeare presented here for the first time, as well as bioassays employing D, a molecule with versatility to carry out many different biological activities. E and D showed acute molluscicidal activity against the bilharzia vector snail Biomphalaria peregrinawith LD50values of 68.6 and 16.7 μg/mL, respectively. D exerted moderate and strong effects against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensisand L. braziliensis, with IC50values of 34.3±1.2 and 9.93±0.17 μg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial effects were also found. Diethyl ether extract (E) and dehydrofukinone (D) were slightly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Staphylococcus aureusat 50 and 25 μg/mL, respectively. However, D and E improved the effectiveness of oxacillin at 6 μg/mL against S aureusgrowth and its biofilm, but did not affect beneficial lactobacilli strains. Synergistic effects were also measured between D (23 μg/mL) and ciprofloxacin (0.25 μg/mL) against two P. aeruginosastrains (FIC index = 0.38), as well as against two S aureusstrains (FIC indexes = 0.38 and 0.25). Finally, when 250 μg of either dehydrofukinone (D) or diethyl ether extract (E) were incorporated into the diet of the pest Oryzaephillus surinamensis, an alteration in the feeding behavior of the insect (Repellency indexes = +60 and +10, respectively) was observed.

The essential oil of an Argentine collection of the annual herb Acanthospermum hispidumDC. (Asteraceae), which contains the sesquiterpenoids β-caryophyllene (35.2%), α-bisabolol (11.4%), and germacrene D (11.1%) as major constituents, displayed molluscicidal effects on an adult population of Biomphalaria peregrinaOrbigny (LD5037.8 μg/mL) and produced alteration of the feeding and oviposition behavior of the polyphagous insect Spodoptera frugiperdaSmith when incorporated in the larval diet at 250 μg/g. In addition, a selective antibacterial activity was observed against pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureusand Enterococcus faecalis(MICs 62.5 and 125 μg/mL), but was inactive at 125 μg/mL against three beneficial lactic acid bacteria. Synergistic interactions were further validated by FIC index determination of the combination of the antibiotics oxacillin and gentamicin and the essential oil on the four pathogenic strains evaluated.

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