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Lamba S, Roy A. Demystifying the potential of inhibitors targeting DNA topoisomerases in unicellular protozoan parasites. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103574. [PMID: 37003515 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are a group of enzymes omnipresent in all organisms. They maintain the DNA topology during replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. However, the structure of topoisomerase in protozoan parasites differs significantly from that of human topoisomerases; thus, this enzyme acts as a crucial target in drug development against parasitic diseases. Although the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting the parasitic topoisomerase is well known, to manage the shortcomings of currently available therapeutics and the emergence of drug resistance, the discovery of novel antiparasitic molecules is an urgent need. In this review, we describe various investigational and repurposed topoisomerase inhibitors developed against protozoan parasites over the past few years. Teaser: Fatal parasitic diseases are an increasing cause for concern; here, we provide a compilation of different inhibitors targeting DNA topoisomerases, enzymes that are essential for, and unique to, protozoan parasites; therefore, inhibitors are efficient and have few adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Lamba
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India.
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Cuello C, Stander EA, Jansen HJ, Dugé de Bernonville T, Lanoue A, Giglioli-Guivarc'h N, Papon N, Dirks RP, Jensen MK, O'Connor SE, Besseau S, Courdavault V. Genome Assembly of the Medicinal Plant Voacanga thouarsii. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evac158. [PMID: 36300641 PMCID: PMC9673491 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Apocynaceae tree Voacanga thouarsii, native to southern Africa and Madagascar, produces monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIA), which are specialized metabolites with a wide range of bioactive properties. Voacanga species mainly accumulates tabersonine in seeds making these species valuable medicinal plants currently used for industrial MIA production. Despite their importance, the MIA biosynthesis in Voacanga species remains poorly studied. Here, we report the first genome assembly and annotation of a Voacanga species. The combined assembly of Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-reads and Illumina short-reads resulted in 3,406 scaffolds with a total length of 1,354.26 Mb and an N50 of 3.04 Mb. A total of 33,300 protein-coding genes were predicted and functionally annotated. These genes were then used to establish gene families and to investigate gene family expansion and contraction across the phylogenetic tree. A transposable element (TE) analysis showed the highest proportion of TE in Voacanga thouarsii compared with all other MIA-producing plants. In a nutshell, this first reference genome of V. thouarsii will thus contribute to strengthen future comparative and evolutionary studies in MIA-producing plants leading to a better understanding of MIA pathway evolution. This will also allow the potential identification of new MIA biosynthetic genes for metabolic engineering purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Cuello
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200 Tours, France
| | - Emily Amor Stander
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200 Tours, France
| | - Hans J Jansen
- Future Genomics Technologies, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arnaud Lanoue
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200 Tours, France
| | | | - Nicolas Papon
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Ron P Dirks
- Future Genomics Technologies, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Krogh Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sarah Ellen O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200 Tours, France
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200 Tours, France
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Guzmán-Gutiérrez SL, Silva-Miranda M, Krengel F, Huerta-Salazar E, León-Santiago M, Díaz-Cantón JK, Espitia Pinzón C, Reyes-Chilpa R. Antimycobacterial Activity of Alkaloids and Extracts from Tabernaemontana alba and T. arborea. PLANTA MEDICA 2022; 88:53-61. [PMID: 32392600 DOI: 10.1055/a-1157-1732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis is the main cause of death from a single infectious agent. Globally, according to the World Health Organization, in 2018, there were an estimated 1.2 million tuberculosis deaths. Moreover, there is a continuous appearance of drug-resistant strains. Thus, development of new antituberculosis medicines should receive high priority. Plant-derived natural products are promising candidates for this purpose. We therefore screened alkaloid extracts obtained from the root and stem barks of the Mexican Apocynaceae species Tabernaemontana alba and Tabernaemontana arborea, as well as the pure alkaloids ibogaine, voacangine, and voacamine, tested for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and cytotoxicity to mammalian Vero cells using the resazurin microtiter and the MTT assays, respectively. The extracts were analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC-UV. T. arborea root bark alkaloid extract showed the highest activity against M. tuberculosis (MIC100 = 7.8 µg/mL) of the four extracts tested. HPLC suggested that voacangine and voacamine were the major components. The latter was isolated by column chromatography, and its chemical structure was elucidated by 1H and 13C NMR, and MS. Unambiguous assignation was performed by HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. Voacamine is a dimeric bis-indole-type alkaloid and is 15 times more potent than the monomeric ibogan-type alkaloids ibogaine and voacangine (MIC100 = 15.6, 250.0, and 250.0 µg/mL, respectively). However, all of these compounds showed cytotoxicity to Vero cells, with a poor selectivity index of 1.00, 0.16, and 1.42, respectively. This is the first report of voacamine activity against M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Laura Guzmán-Gutiérrez
- CONACyT - Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Mayra Silva-Miranda
- CONACyT - Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Felix Krengel
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Mayra León-Santiago
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jessica Karina Díaz-Cantón
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Clara Espitia Pinzón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ricardo Reyes-Chilpa
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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Tajbakhsh E, Kwenti TE, Kheyri P, Nezaratizade S, Lindsay DS, Khamesipour F. Antiplasmodial, antimalarial activities and toxicity of African medicinal plants: a systematic review of literature. Malar J 2021; 20:349. [PMID: 34433465 PMCID: PMC8390284 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03866-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria still constitutes a major public health menace, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Close to half a million people mainly children in Africa, die every year from the disease. With the rising resistance to frontline drugs (artemisinin-based combinations), there is a need to accelerate the discovery and development of newer anti-malarial drugs. A systematic review was conducted to identify the African medicinal plants with significant antiplasmodial and/or anti-malarial activity, toxicity, as wells as assessing the variation in their activity between study designs (in vitro and in vivo). METHODS Key health-related databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Science Direct were searched for relevant literature on the antiplasmodial and anti-malarial activities of African medicinal plants. RESULTS In total, 200 research articles were identified, a majority of which were studies conducted in Nigeria. The selected research articles constituted 722 independent experiments evaluating 502 plant species. Of the 722 studies, 81.9%, 12.4%, and 5.5% were in vitro, in vivo, and combined in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The most frequently investigated plant species were Azadirachta indica, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Picrilima nitida, and Nauclea latifolia meanwhile Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Annonaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Meliaceae, and Lamiaceae were the most frequently investigated plant families. Overall, 248 (34.3%), 241 (33.4%), and 233 (32.3%) of the studies reported very good, good, and moderate activity, respectively. Alchornea cordifolia, Flueggea virosa, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, and Maytenus senegalensis gave consistently very good activity across the different studies. In all, only 31 (4.3%) of studies involved pure compounds and these had significantly (p = 0.044) higher antiplasmodial activity relative to crude extracts. Out of the 198 plant species tested for toxicity, 52 (26.3%) demonstrated some degree of toxicity, with toxicity most frequently reported with Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina. These species were equally the most frequently inactive plants reported. The leaves were the most frequently reported toxic part of plants used. Furthermore, toxicity was observed to decrease with increasing antiplasmodial activity. CONCLUSIONS Although there are many indigenous plants with considerable antiplasmodial and anti-malarial activity, the progress in the development of new anti-malarial drugs from African medicinal plants is still slothful, with only one clinical trial with Cochlospermum planchonii (Bixaceae) conducted to date. There is, therefore, the need to scale up anti-malarial drug discovery in the African region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Tajbakhsh
- Department of Microbiology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Tebit Emmanuel Kwenti
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regional Hospital Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Parya Kheyri
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Saeed Nezaratizade
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - David S Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Center for One Health Research, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 1410 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA, 24061-0342, USA
| | - Faham Khamesipour
- Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Konan KV, Le TC, Mateescu MA. Antiplasmodial Combined Formulation of Artemisinin with Peschiera fuchsiaefolia Bis-Indole Alkaloids. J Pharm Sci 2020; 110:135-145. [PMID: 32987093 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antimalarial agents used as monotherapy are increasingly ineffective due to the emergence of Plasmodium resistant strains. Artemisinin (Arte), extracted from Artemisia annua, presents a good efficiency against the Plasmodium strains and is currently used to treat malaria. To avoid the appearance of new resistant strains to artemisinin, the use of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) with another antimalaria agent was recommended by WHO to provide an effective cure and delayed resistance. Although combined formulations of various drugs with Artemisinin have been developed, their release is immediate, and they require multiple doses with side detrimental effects and effectiveness still desired. To improve its efficiency, controlled release formulations were developed to ensure long-term antiplasmodial activity by associating Artemisinin with a natural antimalarial agent extracted from Peschiera fuchsiaefolia (Pf). The Pf extract (containing mostly low soluble alkaloids) was complexed with carboxymethylcellulose to improve its solubility and stability. Two formulation types are reported. As bilayer tablet dosage form, the kinetic release pattern was an immediate release of Artemisinin, followed by a slow sustained release of Pf for 12 h. As monolithic tablet, the release profile shows a simultaneous sustained release of the two active agents, about of 10 h for Arte and 12 h for Pf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouadio Victorien Konan
- Department of Chemistry, Research Chair on Enteric Dysfunctions "Allerdys" and CERMO-FC Center, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Branch A, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Tien Canh Le
- Department of Chemistry, Research Chair on Enteric Dysfunctions "Allerdys" and CERMO-FC Center, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Branch A, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Mircea Alexandru Mateescu
- Department of Chemistry, Research Chair on Enteric Dysfunctions "Allerdys" and CERMO-FC Center, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Branch A, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Condello M, Pellegrini E, Multari G, Gallo FR, Meschini S. Voacamine: Alkaloid with its essential dimeric units to reverse tumor multidrug resistance. Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 65:104819. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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New solutions using natural products. INSECT-BORNE DISEASES IN THE 21ST CENTURY 2020. [PMCID: PMC7442118 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818706-7.00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most antibiotics are derived from natural products, like penicillin, as well as recent insecticides, like pyrethroids. Secondary metabolites are produced by plants as ecological chemical mediators, and can therefore possess intrinsic physiological properties against other organisms. These benefits are far from being fully explored. In particular, attention is here focused on the multipurpose neem tree (Azadirachta indica), reporting several experiments of applications in the field of seed oil and neem cake. The latter product seems to be promising because of the low cost, the possible production on a large scale, and the selection of effects in favor of beneficial organisms. Neem cake is able to act on different sites, as required by integrated pest management. Several utilizations of neem products are reported and their potentiality evidenced. Some considerations in this chapter may appear distant from the title of the book, but only by applying the general natural rules can the reason of the single phenomenon be understood. Other studies on resistance mechanisms of Plasmodium are enabling new possible methods of control always based on natural products activity.
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Tajuddeen N, Van Heerden FR. Antiplasmodial natural products: an update. Malar J 2019; 18:404. [PMID: 31805944 PMCID: PMC6896759 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in regions of the world where it is endemic. An unprecedented decline in malaria incidences was recorded during the last decade due to the availability of effective control interventions, such as the deployment of artemisinin-based combination therapy and insecticide-treated nets. However, according to the World Health Organization, malaria is staging a comeback, in part due to the development of drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover new anti-malarial drugs. This article reviews the literature on natural products with antiplasmodial activity that was reported between 2010 and 2017. Methods Relevant literature was sourced by searching the major scientific databases, including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciFinder, Pubmed, and Google Scholar, using appropriate keyword combinations. Results and Discussion A total of 1524 compounds from 397 relevant references, assayed against at least one strain of Plasmodium, were reported in the period under review. Out of these, 39% were described as new natural products, and 29% of the compounds had IC50 ≤ 3.0 µM against at least one strain of Plasmodium. Several of these compounds have the potential to be developed into viable anti-malarial drugs. Also, some of these compounds could play a role in malaria eradication by targeting gametocytes. However, the research into natural products with potential for blocking the transmission of malaria is still in its infancy stage and needs to be vigorously pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Tajuddeen
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa
| | - Fanie R Van Heerden
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa.
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Giansanti L, Condello M, Altieri B, Galantini L, Meschini S, Mancini G. Influence of lipid composition on the ability of liposome loaded voacamine to improve the reversion of doxorubicin resistant osteosarcoma cells. Chem Phys Lipids 2019; 223:104781. [PMID: 31229409 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The plant alkaloid voacamine (VOA) displays many interesting pharmacological activities thus, considering its scarce solubility in water, its encapsulation into liposome formulations for its delivery is an important goal. Different cationic liposome formulations containing a phospholipid, cholesterol and one of two diasteromeric cationic surfactants resulted able to maintain a stable transmembrane difference in ammonium sulfate concentration and/or pH gradient and to accumulate VOA in their internal aqueous bulk. The fluidity of the lipid bilayer affects both the ability to maintain a stable imbalance of protons and/or ammonium ions across the membrane and the entrapment efficiency. It was shown that VOA loaded into liposomes is more efficient than the free alkaloid to revert resistance of osteosarcoma cells resistant to doxorubicin to an extent depending on their composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Giansanti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche e Chimiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio 10, 67100, Coppito (L'Aquila), Italy; CNR-Istituto per i Sistemi Biologici, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00016, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
| | - Maria Condello
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Altieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche e Chimiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio 10, 67100, Coppito (L'Aquila), Italy; CNR-Istituto per i Sistemi Biologici, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00016, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
| | - Luciano Galantini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Stefania Meschini
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Mancini
- CNR-Istituto per i Sistemi Biologici, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00016, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy.
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Chowdhury SR, Kumar A, Godinho JLP, De Macedo Silva ST, Zuma AA, Saha S, Kumari N, Rodrigues JCF, Sundar S, Dujardin JC, Roy S, De Souza W, Mukhopadhyay S, Majumder HK. Voacamine alters Leishmania ultrastructure and kills parasite by poisoning unusual bi-subunit topoisomerase IB. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 138:19-30. [PMID: 28483460 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Indole alkaloids possess a large spectrum of biological activities including anti-protozoal action. Here we report for the first time that voacamine, isolated from the plant Tabernaemontana coronaria, is an antiprotozoal agent effective against a large array of trypanosomatid parasites including Indian strain of Leishmania donovani and Brazilian strains of Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. It inhibits the relaxation activity of topoisomerase IB of L. donovani (LdTop1B) and stabilizes the cleavable complex. Voacamine is probably the first LdTop1B-specific poison to act uncompetitively. It has no impact on human topoisomerase I and II up to 200μM concentrations. The study also provides a thorough insight into ultrastructural alterations induced in three kinetoplastid parasites by a specific inhibitor of LdTop1B. Voacamine is also effective against intracellular amastigotes of different drug unresponsive field isolates of Leishmania donovani obtained from endemic zones of India severely affected with visceral leishmaniasis. Most importantly, this is the first report demonstrating the efficacy of a compound to reduce the burden of drug resistant parasites, unresponsive to SAG, amphotericin B and miltefosine, in experimental BALB/c mice model of visceral leishmaniasis. The findings cumulatively provide a strong evidence that voacamine can be a promising drug candidate against trypanosomatid infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somenath Roy Chowdhury
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Organic & Medicinal Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Joseane Lima Prado Godinho
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Sara Teixeira De Macedo Silva
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Aline Araujo Zuma
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Sourav Saha
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Neha Kumari
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Juliany Cola Fernandes Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Jean-Claude Dujardin
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Syamal Roy
- Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, Cooch Behar, West Bengal 726 101, India
| | - Wanderley De Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Sibabrata Mukhopadhyay
- Organic & Medicinal Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Hemanta K Majumder
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India.
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Benelli G, Maggi F, Nicoletti M. Ethnopharmacology in the fight against Plasmodium parasites and brain disorders: In memoriam of Philippe Rasoanaivo. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 193:726-728. [PMID: 27484930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.07.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Prof. Philippe Rasoanaivo was a highly dedicated and brilliant scientist in the field of ethnopharmacology. He worked for the Institut Malgache de Recherches Appliquées and the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar. His research was mainly focused on the endemic medicinal and aromatic plants used by traditional healers in Madagascar against a range of parasites, with special reference to Plasmodium spp. In this Editorial, we resumed the key findings of his research activity, with special reference to the discovery of alkaloids that markedly enhance the action of chloroquine against malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Filippo Maggi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
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Marinho FF, Simões AO, Barcellos T, Moura S. Brazilian Tabernaemontana genus: Indole alkaloids and phytochemical activities. Fitoterapia 2016; 114:127-137. [PMID: 27639415 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The Tabernaemontana genus belongs to the family Apocynaceae comprising about 100 species spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions around the world including Brazil, which contains around 40 species spread all over its territory. Because of the territorial space and climate diversity, these species already identified in Brazil are the largest collection of Tabernaemontana, which are representative (about 30%) of worldwide distribution. The monoterpene indole alkaloids present as major secondary components in all parts of the plants of the genus Tabernaemontana, have attracted the attention of the scientific community for new alkaloids derivatives and bioactivities. This review covers relevant references about Tabernaemontana species found in Brazil, its geographical distribution, occurrence of monoterpene alkaloids and phytochemical activities. Additional information about the South American species activities are also reported in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávio F Marinho
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural and Synthetic Products, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil
| | - André Olmos Simões
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago Barcellos
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural and Synthetic Products, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil
| | - Sidnei Moura
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural and Synthetic Products, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
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High-performance thin-layer chromatography for the evaluation of voacamine intracellular concentration related to its cytotoxic effect. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2015; 115:467-74. [PMID: 26298394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2015.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigations demonstrated that pretreatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations of voacamine had a chemosensitizing effect on cultured multidrug resistant osteosarcoma cells exposed to doxorubicin; whereas when used alone at high concentrations voacamine induced apoptosis-independent cell death on both sensitive and resistant cells. To gain insight into the mechanism of action of voacamine at the subcellular level, we developed an analytical high-performance thin-layer chromatography technique to assess the intracellular content of voacamine that could be correlated with the induction of cell death and consequent morphological and ultrastructural changes. The results of the quantitative analysis not only did allow us to measure both the amount of unmodified voacamine molecules (determined by the method) and the amount of molecules which reacted with cellular components (undetectable), but also to confirm the findings of our previous studies and support the validity of this method.
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Barratt JLN, Cao M, Stark DJ, Ellis JT. The Transcriptome Sequence of Dientamoeba fragilis Offers New Biological Insights on its Metabolism, Kinome, Degradome and Potential Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. Protist 2015; 166:389-408. [PMID: 26188431 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Dientamoeba fragilis is a human bowel parasite with a worldwide distribution. Dientamoeba was once described as a rare and harmless commensal though recent reports suggest it is common and potentially pathogenic. Molecular data on Dientamoeba is scarce which limits our understanding of this parasite. To address this, sequencing of the Dientamoeba transcriptome was performed. Messenger RNA was extracted from cultured Dientamoeba trophozoites originating from clinical stool specimens, and sequenced using Roche GS FLX and Illumina HiSeq technologies. In total 6,595 Dientamoeba transcripts were identified. These sequences were analysed using the BLAST2GO software suite and via BLAST comparisons to sequences available from TrichDB, GenBank, MEROPS and kinase.com. Several novel KEGG pathway maps were generated and gene ontology analysis was also performed. These results are thoroughly discussed guided by knowledge available for other related protozoa. Attention is paid to the novel biological insights afforded by this data including peptidases and kinases of Dientamoeba, as well as its metabolism, novel chemotherapeutics and possible mechanisms of pathogenicity. Currently, this work represents the largest contribution to our understanding of Dientamoeba molecular biology and also represents a major contribution to our understanding of the trichomonads generally, many of which are important pathogens of humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel L N Barratt
- University of Technology Sydney, iThree Institute, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
| | - Maisie Cao
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Damien J Stark
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia; Division of Microbiology, Sydpath, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia
| | - John T Ellis
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
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A process similar to autophagy is associated with cytocidal chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79059. [PMID: 24278114 PMCID: PMC3835802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to the cytostatic activity of the antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) is becoming well understood, however, resistance to cytocidal effects of CQ is largely unexplored. We find that PfCRT mutations that almost fully recapitulate P. falciparum cytostatic CQ resistance (CQRCS) as quantified by CQ IC50 shift, account for only 10–20% of cytocidal CQR (CQRCC) as quantified by CQ LD50 shift. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of the progeny of a chloroquine sensitive (CQS; strain HB3)×chloroquine resistant (CQR; strain Dd2) genetic cross identifies distinct genetic architectures for CQRCS vs CQRCC phenotypes, including identification of novel interacting chromosomal loci that influence CQ LD50. Candidate genes in these loci are consistent with a role for autophagy in CQRCC, leading us to directly examine the autophagy pathway in intraerythrocytic CQR parasites. Indirect immunofluorescence of RBC infected with synchronized CQS vs CQR trophozoite stage parasites reveals differences in the distribution of the autophagy marker protein PfATG8 coinciding with CQRCC. Taken together, the data show that an unusual autophagy – like process is either activated or inhibited for intraerythrocytic trophozoite parasites at LD50 doses (but not IC50 doses) of CQ, that the pathway is altered in CQR P. falciparum, and that it may contribute along with mutations in PfCRT to confer the CQRCC phenotype.
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Hussain H, Hussain J, Al-Harrasi A, Green IR. Chemistry and biology of the genus Voacanga. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2012; 50:1183-1193. [PMID: 22834977 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2012.658478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Herbal remedies have been employed for the treatment and management of various ailments since the beginning of human civilization. Voacanga is an extensive genus of the family Apocynaceae and consists of small trees inhabiting the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. Voacanga plants have been used in the treatment of leprosy, diarrhea, and generalized edema, convulsions in children as well as to treat cases of orchitis, ectopic testes and gonorrhea. OBJECTIVES The aim of this review is to present as much information as was established from the available scientific literature. The present review comprises the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and therapeutic potential of the plant genus Voacanga. METHODS The present review reports on 111 natural products as found in 44 references compiled from the major databases, viz., Chemical Abstracts, Science Direct, SciFinder, PubMed, Dr. Dukes Phytochemical and Ethnobotany, CIMER, and InteliHealth. RESULTS An exhaustive survey of the literature revealed that indole alkaoids and steroids constitute the major classes of phytoconstituents of this genus. Pharmacological reports revealed that products derived from this genus have been used for the treatment of cancer, and for CNS, cardiotonic, antituberculosis, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase, antagonistic, anti-diarrheal activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidayat Hussain
- Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al-Mouz, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
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Girardot M, Deregnaucourt C, Deville A, Dubost L, Joyeau R, Allorge L, Rasoanaivo P, Mambu L. Indole alkaloids from Muntafara sessilifolia with antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2012; 73:65-73. [PMID: 22033013 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/30/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Four vobasinyl-iboga bisindole and one 2-acyl monomeric indole alkaloids were isolated from the stem bark of Muntafara sessilifolia along with eleven known compounds. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry (MS). All isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-resistant strain FcB1 of Plasmodium falciparum, and for cytotoxicity against the human lung cell line MRC-5 and the rat skeletal muscle cell line L-6. 3'-Oxo-tabernaelegantine A exhibited antiplasmodial activity (4.4 μM IC(50)) associated with non-significant cytotoxicity (selectivity index of 48). Tabernaelegantine B and D displayed the highest cytotoxicity with IC(50) values of 0.47 and 1.89 μM on MRC-5 cells, and 0.42 and 2.7 μM on L-6 cells, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Girardot
- UMR 7245 CNRS-MNHN Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier CP 54, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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Wright CW. Recent developments in research on terrestrial plants used for the treatment of malaria. Nat Prod Rep 2010; 27:961-8. [DOI: 10.1039/c002196m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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KIKURA-HANAJIRI R, MARUYAMA T, MIYASHITA A, GODA Y. Chemical and DNA Analyses for the Products of a Psychoactive Plant, Voacanga Africana. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2009; 129:975-82. [DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.129.975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Frederich M, Tits M, Angenot L. Potential antimalarial activity of indole alkaloids. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2008; 102:11-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2007] [Revised: 10/04/2007] [Accepted: 10/04/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Toh-Seok Kam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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