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Mannich bases of alizarin: synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant capacity. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02492-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Gaba J, Sharma S, Kaur P. Preparation and Biological Evaluation of Thymol Functionalized 2-Pyrazoline and Dihydropyrimidinone Hybrids. ORG PREP PROCED INT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00304948.2022.2040896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Gaba
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Sunita Sharma
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Pardeep Kaur
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
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Novel phenolic Mannich base derivatives: synthesis, bioactivity, molecular docking, and ADME-Tox Studies. JOURNAL OF THE IRANIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13738-021-02331-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Bishoyi AK, Mahapatra M, Paidesetty SK, Padhy RN. Design, molecular docking, and antimicrobial assessment of newly synthesized phytochemical thymol Mannich base derivatives. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Sahoo CR, Paidesetty SK, Padhy RN. The recent development of thymol derivative as a promising pharmacological scaffold. Drug Dev Res 2021; 82:1079-1095. [PMID: 34164828 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Thymol (a phenol ring bearing active phytoconstituent) is a privileged scaffold, which is diversified in natural sources. This scaffold acts as an obligatory template for scheming and arriving at designing some newer drug-molecules with potential biological activities. In the pharmacological perspective, the promising active sites of the scaffold are the positions C-1, C-4, and C-6 of thymol that would be accountable for developing potent drug candidates. This review aims to explore the various synthetic routes and the structural-activity relationship of thymol scaffold with suitable active pharmacophore sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chita Ranjan Sahoo
- Central Research Laboratory, Institute of Medical Science and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar Paidesetty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Rabindra Nath Padhy
- Central Research Laboratory, Institute of Medical Science and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India
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Gaba J, Sharma S, Kaur P, Joshi S. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Thymol Functionalized Oxadiazole thiol, Triazole thione and β-lactam Derivatives. LETT ORG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/1570178617999200807213410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, different derivatives of thymol (1) viz. hydrazide (2), oxadiazole thiol
(3), triazole thione (4), hydrazones (5-7), and β-lactams (8-10) were synthesized. All synthesized
compounds were identified and characterized using elemental analysis, UV-Visible, <sup>1</sup>H NMR, <sup>13</sup>C
NMR, and IR spectroscopic techniques. Synthesized thymol derivatives were evaluated for antifungal
potential against phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizoctonia solani, and Dreschlera
maydis of maize in comparison to recommended standards in terms of percent inhibition and ED50 values.
Thymol was more effective as compared to its derivatives against all three tested fungi. Hydrazones
(5-7) and β-lactams (8-10), having m-NO<sub>2</sub> substituted phenyl ring (6, 9), were less effective as
compared to o-NO<sub>2</sub> and p-NO<sub>2</sub> analogs against F. moniliforme and R. solani, however, the reverse
trend was observed against D. maydis. Thymol and its derivatives were also tested for insecticidal activity
against stored grain (chickpea) insect Callosobruchus chinensis and various parameters viz. egg
laying, adult emergence, and grain damage were recorded and compared. Compounds having oxadiazole
thiol (3) and triazole thione (4) moiety showed promising effects against insect C. chinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Gaba
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004,India
| | - Sunita Sharma
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004,India
| | - Pardeep Kaur
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004,India
| | - Sukesha Joshi
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004,India
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7
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Synthesis and antioxidant properties of N-substituted aminomethyl derivatives of 2-isobornylphenol. Russ Chem Bull 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-020-2987-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Nature-Identical Compounds and Organic Acids Ameliorate and Prevent the Damages Induced by an Inflammatory Challenge in Caco-2 Cell Culture. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25184296. [PMID: 32961674 PMCID: PMC7570934 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioactive compounds, such as organic acids (OA) and nature-identical compounds (NIC), can exert a role in the protection of intestinal mucosa functionality due to their biological properties. The aim of this study was to understand the role of 2 OA (citric and sorbic acid) and 2 NIC (thymol and vanillin), alone or combined in a blend (OA + NIC), on intestinal barrier functionality, either during homeostatic condition or during an inflammatory challenge performed with pro-inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The study was performed on the human epithelial cell line Caco-2, a well-known model of the intestinal epithelial barrier. The results showed how OA and NIC alone can improve transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and mRNA levels of tight junction (TJ) components, but OA + NIC showed stronger efficacy compared to the single molecules. When an inflammatory challenge occurred, OA + NIC blend was able both to ameliorate, and prevent, damage caused by the pro-inflammatory stimulus, reducing or preventing the drop in TEER and improving the TJ mRNA expression. The data support the role of OA + NIC in modulating gut barrier functionality and reducing the negative effects of inflammation in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby supporting the gut barrier functionality.
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Single components of botanicals and nature-identical compounds as a non-antibiotic strategy to ameliorate health status and improve performance in poultry and pigs. Nutr Res Rev 2020; 33:218-234. [PMID: 32100670 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422420000013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the current post-antibiotic era, botanicals represent one of the most employed nutritional strategies to sustain antibiotic-free and no-antibiotic-ever production. Botanicals can be classified either as plant extracts, meaning the direct products derived by extraction from the raw plant materials (essential oils (EO) and oleoresins (OR)), or as nature-identical compounds (NIC), such as the chemically synthesised counterparts of the pure bioactive compounds of EO/OR. In the literature, differences between the use of EO/OR or NIC are often unclear, so it is difficult to attribute certain effects to specific bioactive compounds. The aim of the present review was to provide an overview of the effects exerted by botanicals on the health status and growth performance of poultry and pigs, focusing attention on those studies where only NIC were employed or those where the composition of the EO/OR was defined. In particular, phenolic compounds (apigenin, quercetin, curcumin and resveratrol), organosulfur compounds (allicin), terpenes (eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, capsaicin and artemisinin) and aldehydes (cinnamaldehyde and vanillin) were considered. These molecules have different properties such as antimicrobial (including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, as well as the improvement of intestinal morphology and integrity of the intestinal mucosa. The use of NIC allows us to properly combine pure compounds, according to the target to achieve. Thus, they represent a promising non-antibiotic tool to allow better intestinal health and a general health status, thereby leading to improved growth performance.
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Synthesis and antioxidant properties of some N- and O-containing 2-isobornyl-6-methylphenol derivatives. Russ Chem Bull 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-019-2592-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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11
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Investigation of inhibitory properties of some hydrazone compounds on hCA I, hCA II and AChE enzymes. Bioorg Chem 2019; 86:316-321. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Perspectives on medicinal properties of natural phenolic monoterpenoids and their hybrids. Mol Divers 2017; 22:225-245. [PMID: 28988386 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-017-9787-y] [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: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Carvacrol, thymol and eugenol belong to a class of naturally presenting phenols with a ten-carbon unit, which are present in essential oils of many plants. These versatile molecules are incorporated as useful ingredients in many food products and find applications in agricultural, pharmaceutical, fragrance, cosmetic, flavor and other industries. They are wide ranging of biological and pharmaceutical activities: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, anticancer and antioxidant. This review summarizes pharmacological and medicinal activities of these phytochemicals and their synthetic hybrids.
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Buravlev EV, Chukicheva IY, Shevchenko OG, Kutchin AV. Synthesis and membrane-protective activity of 2,6-diisobornylphenol derivatives with N- and O-containing fragments at position 4. Russ Chem Bull 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-017-1731-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nagoor Meeran MF, Javed H, Al Taee H, Azimullah S, Ojha SK. Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Mechanisms of Thymol: Prospects for Its Therapeutic Potential and Pharmaceutical Development. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:380. [PMID: 28694777 PMCID: PMC5483461 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymol, chemically known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol is a colorless crystalline monoterpene phenol. It is one of the most important dietary constituents in thyme species. For centuries, it has been used in traditional medicine and has been shown to possess various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antitumor activities. The present article presents a detailed review of the scientific literature which reveals the pharmacological properties of thymol and its multiple therapeutic actions against various cardiovascular, neurological, rheumatological, gastrointestinal, metabolic and malignant diseases at both biochemical and molecular levels. The noteworthy effects of thymol are largely attributed to its anti-inflammatory (via inhibiting recruitment of cytokines and chemokines), antioxidant (via scavenging of free radicals, enhancing the endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and chelation of metal ions), antihyperlipidemic (via increasing the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreasing the levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the circulation and membrane stabilization) (via maintaining ionic homeostasis) effects. This review presents an overview of the current in vitro and in vivo data supporting thymol's therapeutic activity and the challenges concerning its use for prevention and its therapeutic value as a dietary supplement or as a pharmacological agent or as an adjuvant along with current therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases. It is one of the potential candidates of natural origin that has shown promising therapeutic potential, pharmacological properties and molecular mechanisms as well as pharmacokinetic properties for the pharmaceutical development of thymol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Fizur Nagoor Meeran
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityAl Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hayate Javed
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityAl Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hasan Al Taee
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityAl Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sheikh Azimullah
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityAl Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shreesh K. Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityAl Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Inci Gul H, Yamali C, Tugce Yasa A, Unluer E, Sakagami H, Tanc M, Supuran CT. Carbonic anhydrase inhibition and cytotoxicity studies of Mannich base derivatives of thymol. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2016; 31:1375-80. [DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2016.1140755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Halise Inci Gul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey,
| | - Cem Yamali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey,
- Polo Scientifico, Laboratorio di Chimica Bioinorganica, Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, and
| | - Asiye Tugce Yasa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey,
| | - Elif Unluer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey,
| | - Hiroshi Sakagami
- Division of Pharmacology, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, Japan
| | - Muhammet Tanc
- Polo Scientifico, Laboratorio di Chimica Bioinorganica, Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, and
| | - Claudiu T. Supuran
- Polo Scientifico, Laboratorio di Chimica Bioinorganica, Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, and
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Effects of monoterpenes on ion channels of excitable cells. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 152:83-97. [PMID: 25956464 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Monoterpenes are a structurally diverse group of phytochemicals and a major constituent of plant-derived 'essential oils'. Monoterpenes such as menthol, carvacrol, and eugenol have been utilized for therapeutical purposes and food additives for centuries and have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and analgesic actions. In recent years there has been increasing interest in understanding the pharmacological actions of these molecules. There is evidence indicating that monoterpenes can modulate the functional properties of several types of voltage and ligand-gated ion channels, suggesting that some of their pharmacological actions may be mediated by modulations of ion channel function. In this report, we review the literature concerning the interaction of monoterpenes with various ion channels.
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Roman G. Mannich bases in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 89:743-816. [PMID: 25462280 PMCID: PMC7115492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.10.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The biological activity of Mannich bases, a structurally heterogeneous class of chemical compounds that are generated from various substrates through the introduction of an aminomethyl function by means of the Mannich reaction, is surveyed, with emphasis on the relationship between structure and biological activity. The review covers extensively the literature reports that have disclosed Mannich bases as anticancer and cytotoxic agents, or compounds with potential antibacterial and antifungal activity in the last decade. The most relevant studies on the activity of Mannich bases as antimycobacterial agents, antimalarials, or antiviral candidates have been included as well. The review contains also a thorough coverage of anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of Mannich bases. In addition, several minor biological activities of Mannich bases, such as their ability to regulate blood pressure or inhibit platelet aggregation, their antiparasitic and anti-ulcer effects, as well as their use as agents for the treatment of mental disorders have been presented. The review gives in the end a brief overview of the potential of Mannich bases as inhibitors of various enzymes or ligands for several receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gheorghe Roman
- Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Inorganic Polymers, 41A Aleea Gr. Ghica Vodă, Iaşi 700487, Romania.
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Docking simulation, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyridazinone containing thymol as potential antimicrobial agents. Med Chem Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-013-0685-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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In vitro immunomodulatory effects of Astragalus verus Olivier. (black milkvetch): an immunological tapestry in Kurdish ethnomedicine. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-011-1365-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Nagle PS, Pawar YA, Sonawane AE, Bhosale SM, More DH. Synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of thymol containing pyridone moieties. Med Chem Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-011-9656-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Cran MJ, Rupika L, Sonneveld K, Miltz J, Bigger SW. Release of Naturally Derived Antimicrobial Agents from LDPE Films. J Food Sci 2010; 75:E126-33. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2009.01506.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
In this study, an attempt was made to elucidate the combined effect of thymol analogues with propolis on fungi that are involved in human diseases. Antifungal activity of thymol analogues was examined by the agar dilution method, using antibiotic medium-3-enriched with 0.2% dextrose. The activity of thymol analogues against Penicillium rastrickii appeared to be more marked than against Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Various thymol analogues and propolis, when tested alone, did not exhibit significant inhibitory activity. However, in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of propolis, the relative antifungal potency of the thymol analogues was greatly enhanced. Natural thymol was found to be superior to the synthetic thymol analogues. In particular, the MIC of thymol was considerably reduced (191-fold) against Candida albicans by combination with propolis. This study highlights the potential of the combination of either thymol or synthetic thymol analogues with propolis to inhibit fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Pien Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Ai-Yu Shen
- Basic Medical Science Education Center, Fooyin University, Ta-Liao, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan
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Braga PC, Dal Sasso M, Culici M, Bianchi T, Bordoni L, Marabini L. Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Thymol: Inhibitory Effect on the Release of Human Neutrophil Elastase. Pharmacology 2006; 77:130-6. [PMID: 16763380 DOI: 10.1159/000093790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2006] [Accepted: 04/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Elastase, a serine proteinase released by activated human neutrophils, can degrade a wide variety of biomacromolecules including elastin, and is considered a marker of inflammatory diseases. As the logical strategy to protect tissue is to inhibit excessive elastase activity, experimental and clinical researches have concentrated on trying to find efficient elastase inhibitors. As thymol, one of the major components of thyme oil with a phenolic structure, has been credited with a series of pharmacological properties, that include antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, the aim of this study was to explore whether it can also interfere with the release of elastase by human neutrophils stimulated with the synthetic chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). After the neutrophils were incubated with increasing amounts of thymol (2.5, 5, 10, 20 microg/ml), elastase release was initiated by fMLP and measured using MeO-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-MCA. The results showed that thymol inhibited fMLP-induced elastase release in a concentration-dependent manner, with the effects of 10 and 20 microg/ml being statistically significant. The behavior of cytosolic calcium mobilization revealed by fura-2 closely resembled that of elastase, thus suggesting that they may be related. The hydrophobic nature of thymol means that it can approach ion channel proteins through the lipid phase of the membrane, alter the local environment of calcium channels and thus inhibit capacitative calcium entry. In brief, thymol inactivates calcium channels machinery, thus triggering a corresponding reduction in elastase. The antibacterial and antimycotic activity of thymol is already well known, but our findings that it inhibits elastase extend our knowledge of the anti-inflammatory activity of this interesting molecule that is already credited with antioxidant activity. These two latter characteristics make thymol a molecule that can have helpful effects in controlling the inflammatory processes present in many infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Carlo Braga
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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