Natural and synthetic naphthoquinones as potential anti-infective agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyra Ortiz-Pérez ◽  
Karina Vázquez ◽  
Gildardo Rivera ◽  
Cristian O. Salas ◽  
J. José Zarate-Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Antiprotozoal Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

Background: Naphthoquinones are a class of aromatic compounds relevant for their chemical characteristics, structural properties, and biological activity. These compounds are found in nature with a wide range of effects, highlighting their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. Additionally, naphthoquinones are used as a scaffold to obtain new derivatives with pharmacological potential, mainly compounds against parasitic diseases. Objective: The purpose of this work was to carry out a comprehensive review of naphthoquinones and their derivatives obtained from both natural and synthetic sources, also, to well as analyze their biological activity against Leishmania spp (Leishmaniasis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria), Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasmosis), and Toxocara canis (Toxocariasis). All of these agents are responsible for relevant diseases worldwide. Results : Natural naphthoquinones, such as plumbagin, diospyrin, burmanin, lapachol, lawsone and psychorubrin, show an antiprotozoal activity similar or enhanced antiprotozoal activity to reference drugs. Some naphthoquinones obtained by synthesis or semi-synthesis shown better biological activity or less toxic effects than natural compounds. Conclusion: In this review, natural and synthetic naphthoquinone showed antiparasitic activity, in the most cases with improved results than current drugs currently used in clinical trials. A modification of their structure with different functional groups can enhance their biological effects, improve solubility, and reduce undesirable side effects. Therefore, naphthoquinones are important molecules in the development of new chemotherapeutic agents against parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Lithuania

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
RASA BRUŽINSKAITĖ-SCHMIDHALTER ◽  
MINDAUGAS ŠARKŪNAS ◽  
ALVYDAS MALAKAUSKAS ◽  
ALEXANDER MATHIS ◽  
PAUL R. TORGERSON ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Helminth Infections ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Parasitic Zoonoses ◽  
Host Ecology ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Raccoon Dogs

SUMMARYRed foxes and raccoon dogs are hosts for a wide range of parasites including important zoonotic helminths. The raccoon dog has recently invaded into Europe from the east. The contribution of this exotic species to the epidemiology of parasitic diseases, particularly parasitic zoonoses is unknown. The helminth fauna and the abundance of helminth infections were determined in 310 carcasses of hunted red foxes and 99 of raccoon dogs from Lithuania. Both species were highly infected with Alaria alata (94·8% and 96·5% respectively) and Trichinella spp. (46·6% and 29·3%). High and significantly different prevalences in foxes and raccoon dogs were found for Eucoleus aerophilus (97·1% and 30·2% respectively), Crenosoma vulpis (53·8% and 15·1%), Capillaria plica (93·3% and 11·3%), C. putorii (29·4% and 51·5%), Toxocara canis (40·5% and 17·6%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (76·9% and 98·8%). The prevalences of the rodent-transmitted cestodes Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia polyacantha, T. crassiceps and Mesocestoides spp. were significantly higher in foxes than in raccoon dogs. The abundances of E. multilocularis, Mesocestoides, Taenia, C. plica and E. aerophilus were higher in foxes than those in raccoon dogs. A. alata, U. stenocephala, C. putorii and Echinostomatidae had higher abundances in raccoon dogs. The difference in prevalence and abundance of helminths in both animals may reflect differences in host ecology and susceptibility. The data are consistent with red foxes playing a more important role than raccoon dogs in the transmission of E. multilocularis in Lithuania.

scholarly journals Selenite Inhibits Notch Signaling in Cells and Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2518
Author(s):  
Michael Powers ◽  
Liu Liu ◽  
Dane Deemer ◽  
Selina Chen ◽  
Aaron Scholl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Notch Signaling ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Breast Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Liver Carcinoma ◽  
Mechanism Of Inhibition ◽  
Primary Mouse ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Liver And Kidney

Selenium is an essential micronutrient with a wide range of biological effects in mammals. The inorganic form of selenium, selenite, is supplemented to relieve individuals with selenium deficiency and to alleviate associated symptoms. Additionally, physiological and supranutritional selenite have shown selectively higher affinity and toxicity towards cancer cells, highlighting their potential to serve as chemotherapeutic agents or adjuvants. At varying doses, selenite extensively regulates cellular signaling and modulates many cellular processes. In this study, we report the identification of Delta–Notch signaling as a previously uncharacterized selenite inhibited target. Our transcriptomic results in selenite treated primary mouse hepatocytes revealed that the transcription of Notch1, Notch2, Hes1, Maml1, Furin and c-Myc were all decreased following selenite treatment. We further showed that selenite can inhibit Notch1 expression in cultured MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells and HEPG2 liver carcinoma cells. In mice acutely treated with 2.5 mg/kg selenite via intraperitoneal injection, we found that Notch1 expression was drastically lowered in liver and kidney tissues by 90% and 70%, respectively. Combined, these results support selenite as a novel inhibitor of Notch signaling, and a plausible mechanism of inhibition has been proposed. This discovery highlights the potential value of selenite applied in a pathological context where Notch is a key drug target in diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, and neurodegenerative disorders.

scholarly journals COMPUTER PREDICTION AND SYNTHESIS OF NEW OXAZOLES BASED ON AN 8-THIOSUBSTITUTED 1,3,7-TRIMETHYLXANTHINE SKELETON

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1211-1217
Author(s):  
Alexander Zlatkov ◽  
Javor Mitkov ◽  
Maya Georgieva
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Biological Activity ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Acid Media ◽  
Computer Prediction ◽  
Synthesis Conditions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pass Online

The synthesis of new oxazole derivatives was carried out under Davidson synthesis conditions from O-acylacyloins with an 8-thiosubstituted 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine skeleton and ammonium acetate in a 1:10 ratio in glacial acetic acid media. The starting O-acylacyloins were obtained as products from the interaction of the sodium salt of 2-(1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-purin-8-ylthio)acetic acid and a-haloketones. The structures of the new compounds were proven by microanalyses and spectral data. The PASS online web application was used to predict the biological activity spectra of the obtained derivatives and to determine the most promising biological effects for further experimental testing. Thus, it has been shown that the synthesized compounds are a promising class for the creation of substances with a wide range of biological activity. The substrate/metabolite specificity of the tested compounds was also predicted using SMP web-service. The studied compounds were considered to perform most probably with CYP2 substrate activity.

scholarly journals Mass spectra analysis of quinoline alkaloids detected in Sauuda fruticose leads to novel biosynthesis pathway of quinoline alkaloids

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel M. Al-ghazzawi ◽  
Mohammed A Alshehri ◽  
Ahmad A Deeb ◽  
Musa H Abu zarga ◽  
Ali Y Alalmie
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Phytochemical Screening ◽  
Spectra Analysis ◽  
Quinoline Alkaloids ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Suaeda Fruticosa

Abstract Alkaloids reported to have a wide range of biological activity moreover, the biological effects of alkaloids depends on the type of the alkaloids and since the phytochemical screening studies on Suaeda fruticosa indicates the presence of alkaloids but they did not determine the types of the alkaloids present on this plant. Consequently, the LC-MS/MS analysis of the alkaloidal part of Suaeda fruticosa leave extarct reveals the presence of six quinoline alkaloids beside that mass spectra analysis of the present quinoline alkaloids leads to suggest a new biosynthetic pathway of quinoline alkaloids.

scholarly journals Biological Effects of Propolis on Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 573
Author(s):  
Hamide Doğan ◽  
Sibel Silici ◽  
Ahmet Ata Ozcimen
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Pharmacological Properties ◽  
Bee Colony

Propolis is a special resin and wax material collected from the leaves and shells of trees, buds and shoots of plants by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). In recent years, many researchers have studied the chemical composition, biological activity and pharmacological properties of propolis. The colour, odour and pharmacological properties of the propolis composition also vary as the composition changes depending on the plant, region, season and bee colony. Flavonoids, aromatic acids, phenolic acids and esters are the main compounds responsible for the biological activity of propolis. A number of studies have been conducted on the use of propolis or its active ingredients in the treatment of cancer. It has been observed that the use of propolis did not cause side effects according to in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Propolis should be extracted with different compounds for use in biological assays. The most commonly used compounds for extraction are ethanol, methanol, oil and water. A number of studies have been carried out showing the antitumor effect of propolis in cell culture and animal tests. The search for new drugs derived from natural products, which may function as chemotherapeutic agents and have low side effects, has increased in recent years. Combination with antioxidant therapy may improve the side effects of chemotherapy on leukocytes, liver and kidney, thus increasing the effect of chemotherapy with dose increase.

Current Advances in the Biological Activity of Polysaccharides in Dendrobium with Intriguing Therapeutic Potential

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (14) ◽  
pp. 1663-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Ting Lee ◽  
Heng-Chun Kuo ◽  
Yung-Hsiang Chen ◽  
Ming-Yen Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
The Family ◽  
Anti Tumor Activity

The polysaccharides in many plants are attracting worldwide attention because of their biological activities and medical properties, such as anti-viral, anti-oxidative, antichronic inflammation, anti-hypertensive, immunomodulation, and neuron-protective effects, as well as anti-tumor activity. Denodrobium species, a genus of the family orchidaceae, have been used as herbal medicines for hundreds of years in China due to their pharmacological effects. These effects include nourishing the Yin, supplementing the stomach, increasing body fluids, and clearing heat. Recently, numerous researchers have investigated possible active compounds in Denodrobium species, such as lectins, phenanthrenes, alkaloids, trigonopol A, and polysaccharides. Unlike those of other plants, the biological effects of polysaccharides in Dendrobium are a novel research field. In this review, we focus on these novel findings to give readers an overall picture of the intriguing therapeutic potential of polysaccharides in Dendrobium, especially those of the four commonly-used Denodrobium species: D. huoshanense, D. offininale, D. nobile, and D. chrysotoxum.

Biological Activity of Trans-Membrane Anion Carriers

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (30) ◽  
pp. 3560-3576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Tosolini ◽  
Paolo Pengo ◽  
Paolo Tecilla
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Membrane Transport ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Structure Activity Relationship ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Activity Relationship ◽  
Anion Channels ◽  
Cellular Homeostasis ◽  
Structure Activity

Natural and synthetic anionophores promote the trans-membrane transport of anions such as chloride and bicarbonate. This process may alter cellular homeostasis with possible effects on internal ions concentration and pH levels triggering several and diverse biological effects. In this article, an overview of the recent results on the study of aniontransporters, mainly acting with a carrier-type mechanism, is given with emphasis on the structure/activity relationship and on their biological activity as antibiotic and anticancer agents and in the development of new drugs for treating conditions derived from dysregulation of natural anion channels.

Recent Advances in the Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiprotozoal Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Moreno-Herrera ◽  
Sandra Cortez-Maya ◽  
Virgilio Bocanegra-Garcia ◽  
Bimal Krishna Banik ◽  
Gildardo Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Giardia Lamblia ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Pharmacological Treatments ◽  
Preclinical Development ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Effective Drugs

: Infections caused by Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Plasmodium spp., and Trichomonas vaginalis, are part of a large list of human parasitic diseases. Together, they cause more than 500 million infections per year. These protozoa parasites affect both low- and high-income countries and their pharmacological treatment is limited. Therefore, new and more effective drugs in preclinical development could improve overall therapy for parasitic infections even when their mechanisms of action are unknown. In this review, a number of heterocyclic compounds (diamidine, guanidine, quinoline, benzimidazole, thiazole, diazanaphthalene, and their derivatives) reported as antiprotozoal agents are discussed as options for developing new pharmacological treatments for parasitic diseases.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Embelin and its Derivatives: An Overview

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 396-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaojun Sheng ◽  
Siyuan Ge ◽  
Min Gao ◽  
Rongchao Jian ◽  
Xiaole Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Hydroxyl Groups ◽  
Carbonyl Groups ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Embelia Ribes ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Ic50 Value ◽  
Apoptosis Protein

Embelin is a naturally occurring para-benzoquinone isolated from Embelia ribes (Burm. f.) of the Myrsinaceae family, and contains two carbonyl groups, a methine group and two hydroxyl groups. With embelin as the lead compound, more than one hundred derivatives have been reported. Embelin is well known for its ability to antagonize the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) with an IC50 value of 4.1 μM. The potential of embelin and its derivatives in the treatment of various cancers has been extensively studied. In addition, these compounds display a variety of other biological effects: antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic and antifertility activity. This paper reviews the recent progress in the synthesis and biological activity of embelin and its derivatives. Their cellular mechanisms of action and prospects in the research and development of new drugs are also discussed.

Enzymes as a Reservoir of Host Defence Peptides

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 1310-1323
Author(s):  
Andrea Bosso ◽  
Antimo Di Maro ◽  
Valeria Cafaro ◽  
Alberto Di Donato ◽  
Eugenio Notomista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Biological Activity ◽  
Internal Structure ◽  
Catalytic Properties ◽  
Cellular Responses ◽  
Host Defence ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Active Peptides ◽  
Wide Range

Host defence peptides (HDPs) are powerful modulators of cellular responses to various types of insults caused by pathogen agents. To date, a wide range of HDPs, from species of different kingdoms including bacteria, plant and animal with extreme diversity in structure and biological activity, have been described. Apart from a limited number of peptides ribosomally synthesized, a large number of promising and multifunctional HDPs have been identified within protein precursors, with properties not necessarily related to innate immunity, consolidating the fascinating hypothesis that proteins have a second or even multiple biological mission in the form of one or more bio-active peptides. Among these precursors, enzymes constitute certainly an interesting group, because most of them are mainly globular and characterized by a fine specific internal structure closely related to their catalytic properties and also because they are yet little considered as potential HDP releasing proteins. In this regard, the main aim of the present review is to describe a panel of HDPs, identified in all canonical classes of enzymes, and to provide a detailed description on hydrolases and their corresponding HDPs, as there seems to exist a striking link between these structurally sophisticated catalysts and their high content in cationic and amphipathic cryptic peptides.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document