scholarly journals Plant-Derived Anticancer Compounds as New Perspectives in Drug Discovery and Alternative Therapy

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1109
Author(s):  
Cristina Adriana Dehelean ◽  
Iasmina Marcovici ◽  
Codruta Soica ◽  
Marius Mioc ◽  
Dorina Coricovac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Multi Drug Resistance ◽  
Chemopreventive Agents ◽  
Pharmaceutical Agents

Despite the recent advances in the field of chemically synthetized pharmaceutical agents, nature remains the main supplier of bioactive molecules. The research of natural products is a valuable approach for the discovery and development of novel biologically active compounds possessing unique structures and mechanisms of action. Although their use belongs to the traditional treatment regimes, plant-derived compounds still cover a large portion of the current-day pharmaceutical agents. Their medical importance is well recognized in the field of oncology, especially as an alternative to the limitations of conventional chemotherapy (severe side effects and inefficacy due to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance). This review offers a comprehensive perspective of the first blockbuster chemotherapeutic agents of natural origin’s (e.g. taxol, vincristine, doxorubicin) mechanism of action using 3D representation. In addition is portrayed the step-by-step evolution from preclinical to clinical evaluation of the most recently studied natural compounds with potent antitumor activity (e.g. resveratrol, curcumin, betulinic acid, etc.) in terms of anticancer mechanisms of action and the possible indications as chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents and sensitizers. Finally, this review describes several efficient platforms for the encapsulation and targeted delivery of natural compounds in cancer treatment

scholarly journals Anti-Cancer Activity of Porphyran and Carrageenan from Red Seaweeds

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (23) ◽  
pp. 4286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Liu ◽  
Tianheng Gao ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
Fanxin Meng ◽  
Fengping Zhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Chemopreventive Agents ◽  
Red Seaweeds ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Activity

Seaweeds are some of the largest producers of biomass in the marine environment and are rich in bioactive compounds that are often used for human and animal health. Porphyran and carrageenan are natural compounds derived from red seaweeds. The former is a characteristic polysaccharide of Porphyra, while the latter is well known from Chondrus, Gigartina, and various Eucheuma species, all in Rhodophyceae. The two polysaccharides have been found to have anti-cancer activity by improving immunity and targeting key apoptotic molecules and therefore deemed as potential chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents. This review attempts to review the current study of anti-cancer activity and the possible mechanisms of porphyran and carrageenan derived from red seaweeds to various cancers, and their cooperative actions with other anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents is also discussed.

scholarly journals Milk Exosomes: Perspective Agents for Anticancer Drug Delivery

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6646
Author(s):  
Sergey Sedykh ◽  
Anna Kuleshova ◽  
Georgy Nevinsky
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Oral Delivery ◽  
Biological Fluid ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Anticancer Drug Delivery ◽  
New Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Biological Compatibility

Exosomes are biological nanovesicles that participate in intercellular communication by transferring biologically active chemical compounds (proteins, microRNA, mRNA, DNA, and others). Due to their small size (diameter 40–100 nm) and high biological compatibility, exosomes are promising delivery tools in personalized therapy. Because artificial exosome synthesis methods are not developed yet, the urgent task is to develop an effective and safe way to obtain exosomes from natural sources. Milk is the only exosome-containing biological fluid that is commercially available. In this regard, milk exosomes are unique and promising candidates for new therapeutic approaches to treating various diseases, including cancer. The appearance of side effects during the use of cytotoxic and cytostatic agents is among the main problems in cancer chemotherapy. According to this, the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents can be a potential solution to the toxic effect of chemotherapy. The ability of milk exosomes to carry out biologically active substances to the cell makes them promising tools for oral delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. This review is devoted to the methods of milk exosome isolation, their biological components, and prospects for their use in cancer treatment.

Overcome Multidrug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer by Natural Compounds

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 933-949
Author(s):  
Yanxi Li ◽  
Zhexian Liu ◽  
Xingqi Guo ◽  
Siping Ma
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Drugs ◽  
Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Traditional Treatment ◽  
Chemopreventive Agents ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Colorectal cancer, a commonly diagnosed cancer, is a leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in men and women globally. Amongst the current treatments for colorectal cancer including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, surgical resection provides the most benefit. However, the recurrence rate after traditional treatment is high, and treatment failure is related to recurrence and metastasis. Although postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy can reduce these factors to prolong patient life, systemic toxicity and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs reduces their effectiveness for colorectal cancer treatment. Therefore, multidrug resistance is a major cause for concern in colorectal cancer treatment. This review focuses on recent studies of natural compounds derived from plants, animals or marine organisms related to colorectal cancer treatment including published clinical trials. Studies have indicated that natural compounds might be of benefit as chemotherapeutic agents, chemopreventive agents, or chemosensitizers in combination chemotherapy strategies. We discuss the mechanisms involved in the reversal of multidrug resistance by natural products for cancer chemotherapy. The evidence suggests natural compounds might have potential for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Bortezomib in Cancer Therapy Using Polymeric Nanostructures

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (46) ◽  
pp. 4883-4892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitra Korani ◽  
Shahla Korani ◽  
Elham Zendehdel ◽  
Amin Reza Nikpoor ◽  
Mahmoud Reza Jaafari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
26S Proteasome ◽  
Reversible Inhibitor ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Nanoparticle Delivery ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Nfκb Pathway

: Bortezomib (VELCADE®) is a boronate peptide and first-in-class proteasome inhibitor serving an important role in degenerating several intracellular proteins. It is a reversible inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, with antitumor activity and antiproliferative properties. This agent principally exerts its antineoplastic effects by inhibiting key players in the nuclear factor κB (NFκB) pathway involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. This medication is used in the management of multiple myeloma. However, more recently, it has been used as a therapeutic option for mantle cell lymphoma. While promising, bortezomib has limited clinical applications due to its adverse effects (e.g., hematotoxicity and peripheral neuropathy) and low effectiveness in solid tumors resulting from its poor penetration into such masses and suboptimal pharmacokinetic parameters. Other limitations to bortezomib include its low chemical stability and bioavailability, which can be overcome by using nanoparticles for its delivery. Nanoparticle delivery systems can facilitate the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents in high doses to the target site, while sparing healthy tissues. Therefore, this drug delivery system has provided a solution to circumvent the limitations faced with the delivery of traditional cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Our aim in this review was to describe polymer-based nanocarriers that can be used for the delivery of bortezomib in cancer chemotherapy.

Recent Progress Towards Synthesis of the Indolizidine Alkaloid 195B

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghodsi Mohammadi Ziarani ◽  
Fatemeh Mohajer ◽  
Zohreh kheilkordi
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Natural Product ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Pharmaceutical Chemistry ◽  
Biological Perspective ◽  
Highly Active

Background: Natural products have been received attention due to their importance in human life as those are biologically active. In this review, there are some reports through different methods related to the synthesis of the indolizidine 195B which was extracted from poisonous frog; however, due to respect nature, the synthesis of natural compounds such as indolizidine has been attracted much attention among scientists and researchers. Objective: This review discloses the procedures and methods to provide indolizidine 195B from 1989 to 2018 due to their importance as a natural product. Conclusion: There are several methods to give rise to the indolizidine 195B as a natural product that is highly active from the biological perspective in pharmaceutical chemistry. In summary, many protocols for the preparations of indolizidine 195B from various substrates, several reagents, and conditions have been reported from different aromatic and aliphatic.

Natural Compounds and Drug Discovery: Can Cnidarian Venom Play a Role?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-118
Author(s):  
Gian Luigi Mariottini ◽  
Irwin Darren Grice
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Biological Compounds

Natural compounds extracted from organisms and microorganisms are an important resource for the development of drugs and bioactive molecules. Many such compounds have made valuable contributions in diverse fields such as human health, pharmaceutics and industrial applications. Presently, however, research on investigating natural compounds from marine organisms is scarce. This is somewhat surprising considering that the marine environment makes a major contribution to Earth's ecosystems and consequently possesses a vast storehouse of diverse marine species. Interestingly, of the marine bioactive natural compounds identified to date, many are venoms, coming from Cnidarians (jellyfish, sea anemones, corals). Cnidarians are therefore particularly interesting marine species, producing important biological compounds that warrant further investigation for their development as possible therapeutic agents. From an experimental aspect, this review aims to emphasize and update the current scientific knowledge reported on selected biological activity (antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumoral, anticoagulant, along with several less studied effects) of Cnidarian venoms/extracts, highlighting potential aspects for ongoing research towards their utilization in human therapeutic approaches.

scholarly journals The Potential of the Synthetic Strigolactone Analogue GR24 for the Maintenance of Photosynthesis and Yield in Winter Wheat under Drought: Investigations on the Mechanisms of Action and Delivery Modes

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1223
Author(s):  
Mojde Sedaghat ◽  
Yahya Emam ◽  
Ali Mokhtassi-Bidgoli ◽  
Saeid Hazrati ◽  
Claudio Lovisolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽  
Synthetic Analog ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
New Family ◽  
Harsh Environmental Condition

Strigolactones (SLs) have been implicated in many plant biological and physiological processes, including the responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, in concert with other phytohormones. While it is now clear that exogenous SLs may help plants to survive in harsh environmental condition, the best, most effective protocols for treatment have not been defined yet, and the mechanisms of action are far from being fully understood. In the set of experiments reported here, we contrasted two application methods for treatment with a synthetic analog of SL, GR24. A number of morphometric, physiological and biochemical parameters were measured following foliar application of GR24 or application in the residual irrigation water in winter wheat plants under irrigated and drought stress conditions. Depending on the concentration and the method of GR24 application, differentiated photosynthesis and transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, antioxidant enzyme activities and yield in drought conditions were observed. We present evidence that different methods of GR24 application led to increased photosynthesis and yield under stress by a combination of drought tolerance and escape factors, which should be considered for future research exploring the potential of this new family of bioactive molecules for practical applications.

scholarly journals Propolis Extract and Its Bioactive Compounds—From Traditional to Modern Extraction Technologies

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2930
Author(s):  
Jelena Šuran ◽  
Ivica Cepanec ◽  
Tomislav Mašek ◽  
Božo Radić ◽  
Saša Radić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Geographical Origin ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Erk Pathway ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Propolis Extract ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Antioxidant Mechanisms

Propolis is a honeybee product known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial effects. It is rich in bioactive molecules whose content varies depending on the botanical and geographical origin of propolis. These bioactive molecules have been studied individually and as a part of propolis extracts, as they can be used as representative markers for propolis standardization. Here, we compare the pharmacological effects of representative polyphenols and whole propolis extracts. Based on the literature data, polyphenols and extracts act by suppressing similar targets, from pro-inflammatory TNF/NF-κB to the pro-proliferative MAPK/ERK pathway. In addition, they activate similar antioxidant mechanisms of action, like Nrf2-ARE intracellular antioxidant pathway, and they all have antimicrobial activity. These similarities do not imply that we should attribute the action of propolis solely to the most representative compounds. Moreover, its pharmacological effects will depend on the efficacy of these compounds’ extraction. Thus, we also give an overview of different propolis extraction technologies, from traditional to modern ones, which are environmentally friendlier. These technologies belong to an open research area that needs further effective solutions in terms of well-standardized liquid and solid extracts, which would be reliable in their pharmacological effects, environmentally friendly, and sustainable for production.

scholarly journals Activity of Anti-Microbial Peptides (AMPs) against Leishmania and Other Parasites: An Overview

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 984
Author(s):  
Rima El-Dirany ◽  
Hawraa Shahrour ◽  
Zeinab Dirany ◽  
Fadi Abdel-Sater ◽  
Gustavo Gonzalez-Gaitano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Neglected Tropical Disease ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Parasitic Effect ◽  
Anti Fungal

Anti-microbial peptides (AMPs), small biologically active molecules, produced by different organisms through their innate immune system, have become a considerable subject of interest in the request of novel therapeutics. Most of these peptides are cationic-amphipathic, exhibiting two main mechanisms of action, direct lysis and by modulating the immunity. The most commonly reported activity of AMPs is their anti-bacterial effects, although other effects, such as anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-parasitic, as well as anti-tumor mechanisms of action have also been described. Their anti-parasitic effect against leishmaniasis has been studied. Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease. Currently among parasitic diseases, it is the second most threating illness after malaria. Clinical treatments, mainly antimonial derivatives, are related to drug resistance and some undesirable effects. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic agents has become a priority, and AMPs constitute a promising alternative. In this work, we describe the principal families of AMPs (melittin, cecropin, cathelicidin, defensin, magainin, temporin, dermaseptin, eumenitin, and histatin) exhibiting a potential anti-leishmanial activity, as well as their effectiveness against other microorganisms.

scholarly journals Trends in Research on Exosomes in Cancer Progression and Anticancer Therapy

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 326
Author(s):  
Dona Sinha ◽  
Sraddhya Roy ◽  
Priyanka Saha ◽  
Nabanita Chatterjee ◽  
Anupam Bishayee
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Immune Therapy ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Exosome Biogenesis

Exosomes, the endosome-derived bilayered extracellular nanovesicles with their contribution in many aspects of cancer biology, have become one of the prime foci of research. Exosomes derived from various cells carry cargoes similar to their originator cells and their mode of generation is different compared to other extracellular vesicles. This review has tried to cover all aspects of exosome biogenesis, including cargo, Rab-dependent and Rab-independent secretion of endosomes and exosomal internalization. The bioactive molecules of the tumor-derived exosomes, by virtue of their ubiquitous presence and small size, can migrate to distal parts and propagate oncogenic signaling and epigenetic regulation, modulate tumor microenvironment and facilitate immune escape, tumor progression and drug resistance responsible for cancer progression. Strategies improvised against tumor-derived exosomes include suppression of exosome uptake, modulation of exosomal cargo and removal of exosomes. Apart from the protumorigenic role, exosomal cargoes have been selectively manipulated for diagnosis, immune therapy, vaccine development, RNA therapy, stem cell therapy, drug delivery and reversal of chemoresistance against cancer. However, several challenges, including in-depth knowledge of exosome biogenesis and protein sorting, perfect and pure isolation of exosomes, large-scale production, better loading efficiency, and targeted delivery of exosomes, have to be confronted before the successful implementation of exosomes becomes possible for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer.

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