Namibian algae species: A review of their distribution, medicinal uses and chemical constituents

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Ateeq Rahman ◽  
Moola M. Nyambe ◽  
Jan-Heiner Küpper
Keyword(s):  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
African Countries ◽  
New Agents ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Defense Strategies ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
Popular Knowledge

The use of indigenous or remote popular knowledge to identify new drugs against diseases or infections is a well-known approach in medicine. The inhabitants of coastal regions in Namibia and other African countries are known to prepare algae extracts for the treatment of disorders and ailments such as wounds, fever and stomach aches, as well as for the prevention of arrhythmia, cancer, and many other diseases. Algae survive in a competitive environment and, therefore, developed defense strategies that have resulted in a significant level of chemical structural diversity in various metabolic pathways. The exploration of these organisms for pharmaceutical, nutritional and medical purposes has provided important chemical candidates for the discovery of new agents against neglected tropical diseases and stimulated the use of sophisticated physical techniques. This current review provides a broad picture on the taxonomy, various medical and nutritional uses of algae, which thus should be of relevance for the African continent and underdeveloped countries in the Global South.

The Role of nitro (NO2-), chloro (Cl), and fluoro (F) Substitution in the Design of Antileishmanial and Antichagasic Compounds

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boniface Pone ◽  
Ferreira Igne Elizabeth
Keyword(s):  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Studies ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Antitrypanosomal Activity ◽  
Chemical Groups

: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are responsible for over 500,000 deaths annually and are characterized by multiple disabilities. Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are among the most severe NTDs, and are caused by the Leishmania sp, and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. Glucantime, pentamidine and miltefosine are commonly used to treat leishmaniasis, whereas nifurtimox, benznidazole are current treatments for Chagas disease. However, these treatments are associated with drug resistance, and severe side effects. Hence, the development of synthetic products, especially those containing N02, F, or Cl, which chemical groups are known to improve the biological activity. The present work summarizes the information on the antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of nitro-, chloro-, and fluoro-synthetic derivatives. Scientific publications referring to halogenated derivatives in relation to antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities were hand searched in databases such as SciFinder, Wiley, Science Direct, PubMed, ACS, Springer, Scielo, and so on. According to the literature information, more than 90 compounds were predicted as lead molecules with reference to their IC50/EC50 values in in vitro studies. It is worth to mention that only active compounds with known cytotoxic effects against mammalian cells were considered in the present study. The observed activity was attributed to the presence of nitro-, fluoro- and chloro-groups in the compound backbone. All in all, nitro and h0alogenated derivatives are active antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal compounds and can serve as baseline for the development of new drugs against leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. However, efforts on in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies of the active synthetic compounds is still needed. Pharmacokinetic studies, and the mechanism of action of the promising compounds need to be explored. The use of new catalysts and chemical transformation can afford unexplored halogenated compounds with improved antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity.

Phytochemical, Pharmacological Activities and Ayurvedic Significances of Magical Plant Mimosa pudica Linn

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mimosa Pudica ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Crude Extracts ◽  
Anti Cancer

: Mimosa pudica Linn is an integrated part of Traditional Medicines Systems of India, China, Africa, Korea and America. It has been used from centuries in traditional medicines to cure different diseases like fever, diabetes, constipation, jaundice, ulcers, biliousness, and dyspepsia. It is an important ingredient of wide class of herbal formulations. To assess the scientific evidence for therapeutic potential of Mimosa pudica Linn and to identify the gaps for future research. The available information on the ethno-medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Mimosa pudica Linn was collected via a library and electronic searches in Sci-Finder, Pub-Med, Science Direct, Google Scholar for the period, 1990 to 2020. In traditional medicinal systems, variety of ethno-medicinal applications of Mimosa pudica Linn has been noticed. Phytochemical investigation has resulted in identification of 40 well known chemical constituents, among which alkaloids, phenols and flavionoids are the predominant groups. The crude extracts and isolates have exhibited a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, osteoporosis, neurological disorders, hypertension etc.. To quantify the Mimosa pudica Linn and its formulations, analytical techniques like HPLC and HPTLC has shown dominancy with good range of recovery and detection limit. Mimosa pudica Linn is the well-known herb since an ancient time. The pharmacological results supported some of the applications of Mimosa pudica Linn in traditional medicine systems. Perhaps, the predominance of alkaloids, phenols and flavionoids are responsible for the pharmacological activities the crude extracts and isolates of Mimosa pudica Linn. Further, there is need to isolate and evaluate the active chemical constituents of Mimosa pudica Linn having significant medicinal values. In future, it is important to study the exact mechanism associated with the phytochemicals of Mimosa pudica Linn especially on anti-cancer activities. Notably, toxicity studies on Mimosa pudica Linn are limited which are to be explored in future for the safe application of Mimosa pudica Linn and its formulations.

A Review of Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies of Inula Species

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-567
Author(s):  
Aparoop Das ◽  
Anshul Shakya ◽  
Surajit Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Udaya P. Singh ◽  
Hans R. Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Important Ingredient ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
The Family ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Perennial Herbs ◽  
Insight Into

Background: Plants of the genus Inula are perennial herbs of the family Asteraceae. This genus includes more than 100 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia including India. Many of them are indicated in traditional medicine, e.g., in Ayurveda. This review explores chemical constituents, medicinal uses and pharmacological actions of Inula species. Methods: Major databases and research and review articles retrieved through Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline were consulted to obtain information on the pharmacological activities of the genus Inula published from 1994 to 2017. Results: Inula species are used either alone or as an important ingredient of various formulations to cure dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, urinary system, central nervous system and digestive system, and for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, cancers, skin disorders, hepatic disease, fungal and bacterial infections. A range of phytochemicals including alkaloids, essential and volatile oils, flavonoids, terpenes, and lactones has been isolated from herbs of the genus Inula, which might possibly explain traditional uses of these plants. Conclusion: The present review is focused on chemical constituents, medicinal uses and pharmacological actions of Inula species and provides valuable insight into its medicinal potential.

The Valuable Impacts of Halophytic Genus Suaeda; Nutritional, Chemical, and Biological Values

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1044-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamdoon A. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Search Engines ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Harsh Environment ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
Alternative Medicines ◽  
Natural Substances

Background: Suaeda is a halophytic genus belonging to the Amaranthaceae family and can survive in the high salted marsh areas of the world. Suaeda plants can biosynthesize natural substances with powerful antioxidant activity and are considered as a renewable source of energy, food, and edible oil for a larger number of populations living in the harsh environment with high salinity and drought conditions. These plants also meet folk and alternative medicines' needs. Methods: The review encompasses available scientific literature related to folk medicinal uses of Suaeda plants, their nutritional values, and chemical constituents. In addition, the biological trials applied for the Suaeda plants are also part of the review. The review covers the researches from major science literature search engines and other sites representing scientific literature, i.e., Scifinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google. The searches were programmed on the advance options available in the search engines and are latest up to November 2019. The searches were exhaustive and rechecked for accuracy. Conclusion: The study summarizes the uses of Suaeda plants as a remedy for various ailments due to their contents from the polyphenols and flavonoids. The comparatively large amounts of fixed oils, minerals, and vitamins in Suaeda plants have also made them potential renewable sources for foods.

2020 New Drug Update

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 151-161
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Hussar ◽  
Laura A. Finn
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
The United States ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Rating System ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Idiopathic Constipation ◽  
New Agents ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
New Drug

Five new drugs for medical problems often affecting older people and marketed in the United States in 2019 have been considered in this review. The uses and most important properties of these agents are discussed, and a rating for each new drug is determined using the New Drug Comparison Rating system developed by the author (DAH). Advantages, disadvantages, and other important information regarding each new drug are identified and used as the basis for determining the rating. The drugs considered include new agents indicated for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and chronic idiopathic constipation.

scholarly journals WIPO Re:Search: Catalyzing Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate Tropical Disease Drug Discovery and Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathyryne Manner ◽  
Katy Graef ◽  
Jennifer Dent
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Tropical Disease ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
World Intellectual Property Organization ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Partnership Model

Tropical diseases, including malaria and a group of infections termed neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), pose enormous threats to human health and wellbeing globally. In concert with efforts to broaden access to current treatments, it is also critical to expand research and development (R&D) of new drugs that address therapeutic gaps and concerns associated with existing medications, including emergence of resistance. Limited commercial incentives, particularly compared to products for diseases prevalent in high-income countries, have hindered many pharmaceutical companies from contributing their immense product development know-how and resources to tropical disease R&D. In this article we present WIPO Re:Search, an international initiative co-led by BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as an innovative and impactful public-private partnership model that promotes cross-sector intellectual property sharing and R&D to accelerate tropical disease drug discovery and development. Importantly, WIPO Re:Search also drives progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through case studies, we illustrate how WIPO Re:Search empowers high-quality tropical disease drug discovery researchers from academic/non-profit organizations and small companies (including scientists in low- and middle-income countries) to leapfrog their R&D programs by accessing pharmaceutical industry resources that may not otherwise be available to them.

scholarly journals The Physicochemical analysis and Phytochemical screening of some medicinal plants of Letang Municipality of Morang district, Nepal

BIBECHANA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Narendra Kumar Chaudhary ◽  
Rijan Ojha ◽  
Tilak Prasad Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Powdered Material ◽  
Physicochemical Analysis ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Phytochemical Analysis ◽  
Plumbago Zeylanica ◽  
The People ◽  
Active Chemical ◽  
Medicinal Properties

Ethnobotany gives the basic idea about the medicinal properties of plants. Identification of active compounds of the medicinal plants and their standardization is essential for the production of new drugs. In the present work, different parts of the five medicinal plants (Curcuma caesia, Costus speciosus, Drymaria cordata, Leea macrophylla, Plumbago zeylanica) were washed, air dried and crushed. Three different extracts of each powdered material were prepared and standard phytochemical analysis procedure was followed for the analysis of physicochemical properties of plants and the identification of active chemical constituents. Among 5 plants, the highest moisture content (14.83%) was found in Plumbago zeylanica, higher total ash (9.22%) and acid insoluble ash (4.43%) were observed in Cucurma caesia. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 12 varieties of bioactive chemicals in the 5 different plants. The plants of the area have great diversity of phytochemicals of numerous medicinal properties. In conclusions, these five important medicinal plants could be useful for the people of the locality to cure several diseases as well as to generate the source of income. BIBECHANA 17 (2020) 67-74

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