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Lorrai R, Cavaterra D, Giammaria S, Sbardella D, Tundo GR, Boccaccini A. Eye Diseases: When the Solution Comes from Plant Alkaloids. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:426-439. [PMID: 38452806 DOI: 10.1055/a-2283-2350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Plants are an incredible source of metabolites showing a wide range of biological activities. Among these, there are the alkaloids, which have been exploited for medical purposes since ancient times. Nowadays, many plant-derived alkaloids are the main components of drugs used as therapy for different human diseases. This review deals with providing an overview of the alkaloids used to treat eye diseases, describing the historical outline, the plants from which they are extracted, and the clinical and molecular data supporting their therapeutic activity. Among the different alkaloids that have found application in medicine so far, atropine and pilocarpine are the most characterized ones. Conversely, caffeine and berberine have been proposed for the treatment of different eye disorders, but further studies are still necessary to fully understand their clinical value. Lastly, the alkaloid used for managing hypertension, reserpine, has been recently identified as a potential drug for ameliorating retinal disorders. Other important aspects discussed in this review are different solutions for alkaloid production. Given that the industrial production of many of the plant-derived alkaloids still relies on extraction from plants, and the chemical synthesis can be highly expensive and poorly efficient, alternative methods need to be found. Biotechnologies offer a multitude of possibilities to overcome these issues, spanning from genetic engineering to synthetic biology for microorganisms and bioreactors for plant cell cultures. However, further efforts are needed to completely satisfy the pharmaceutical demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Lorrai
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Cavaterra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Grazia Raffaella Tundo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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García Del Valle I, Alvarez-Lorenzo C. Atropine in topical formulations for the management of anterior and posterior segment ocular diseases. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2021; 18:1245-1260. [PMID: 33787441 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2021.1909568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atropine is an old-known drug which is gaining increasing attention due to the myriad of therapeutic effects it may trigger on eye structures. Nevertheless, novel applications may require more adequate topical formulations. AREAS COVERED This review aims to gather the existing knowledge about atropine and its clinical applications in the ophthalmological field when administered topically. Atropine ocular pharmacokinetics is paid a special attention, including recent evidences of the capability of the drug to access to the posterior segment. Ocular bioavailability and systemic bioavailability are counterbalanced. Finally, limitations of traditional dosage forms and potential advantages of under investigation delivery systems are analyzed. EXPERT OPINION Mydriasis and cyclopegia have been widely exploited for eye examination, management of anterior segment diseases, and more recently as antidotes of chemical weapons. Improved knowledge on drug receptors and related pathways explains atropine repositioning as an outstanding tool to prevent myopia. The ease with which atropine penetrates ocular tissues is a double edged sword, that is, while it ensures therapeutic levels in the posterior segment, the unspecific distribution causes a wide variety of untoward effects. The design of formulations that can selectively deliver atropine to the target tissue for each specific application is an urgent unmet need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines García Del Valle
- Departamento De Farmacología, Farmacia Y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D FarmaGroup, Facultad De Farmacia and Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (IDIS), Universidade De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo
- Departamento De Farmacología, Farmacia Y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D FarmaGroup, Facultad De Farmacia and Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (IDIS), Universidade De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
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Maurya VK, Kumar S, Kabir R, Shrivastava G, Shanker K, Nayak D, Khurana A, Manchanda RK, Gadugu S, Kar SK, Verma AK, Saxena SK. Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Belladonna. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3937-3954. [PMID: 32662978 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00413] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Belladonna has diverse pharmacotherapeutic properties with a shadowy history of beauty, life, and death. Alkaloids present in belladonna have anti-inflammatory, anticholinergic, antispasmodic, mydriatic, analgesic, anticonvulsant, and antimicrobial activities, which makes it widely applicable for the treatment of various diseases. However, because of its associated toxicity, the medicinal use of belladonna is debatable. Therefore, an evidence-based systematic review was planned to elucidate the pharmacotherapeutic potential of belladonna. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane database, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords "belladonna", "belladonna and clinical trials", and "safety and efficacy of belladonna". Articles published from 1965 to 2020 showing the efficacy of belladonna in diverse clinical conditions are included. The quality of evidence was generated using the GRADE approach, and 20 studies involving 2302 patients were included for the systematic review. Our analyses suggest that belladonna treatment appears to be safe and effective in various disease conditions, including acute encephalitis syndrome, urethral stent pain, myocardial ischemia injury, airway obstructions during sleep in infants, climacteric complaints, irritable bowel syndrome, and throbbing headache. However, better understanding of the dosage and the toxicity of tropane alkaloids of belladonna could make it an efficient remedy for treating diverse medical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vimal K. Maurya
- Centre for Advanced Research, Faculty of Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Swatantra Kumar
- Centre for Advanced Research, Faculty of Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Russell Kabir
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine, and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Gaurav Shrivastava
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Karuna Shanker
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Debadatta Nayak
- CCRH, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi 110058, India
| | - Anil Khurana
- CCRH, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi 110058, India
| | - Raj K Manchanda
- CCRH, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi 110058, India
| | - Srinivasulu Gadugu
- Department of Medicine, JSPS Government Medical College, Hyderabad 500013, India
| | - Sujita K. Kar
- Department of Psychiatry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Anoop K. Verma
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Shailendra K. Saxena
- Centre for Advanced Research, Faculty of Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India
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Maravi P, Mishra DK, Singh A, Niranjan V. Atropine eye-drop-induced acute delirium: a case report. Gen Psychiatr 2020; 33:e100125. [PMID: 32478285 PMCID: PMC7223267 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2019-100125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Atropine is an anticholinergic drug which is used in both parental and topical routes. Topical eye-drops of atropine sulfate are used as mydriatic and cycloplegics. Parental atropine-induced delirium is well known but topical atropine eye-drop-induced delirium cases are very limited in literature. In this case report, an elderly man underwent cataract surgery and developed delirium after the use of 1% atropine sulfate eye-drops as prescribed. This case supports the notion that even atropine eye-drops can cause delirium in patients at therapeutic doses in elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Maravi
- Department of Psychiatry, Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa, India
| | | | - Amrendra Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa, India
| | - Vijay Niranjan
- Department of Psychiatry, M.G.M. Medical College, Indore, India
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Lakstygal AM, Kolesnikova TO, Khatsko SL, Zabegalov KN, Volgin AD, Demin KA, Shevyrin VA, Wappler-Guzzetta EA, Kalueff AV. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Atropine, Scopolamine, and Other Anticholinergic Deliriant Hallucinogens. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2144-2159. [PMID: 30566832 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticholinergic drugs based on tropane alkaloids, including atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, have been used for various medicinal and toxic purposes for millennia. These drugs are competitive antagonists of acetylcholine muscarinic (M-) receptors that potently modulate the central nervous system (CNS). Currently used clinically to treat vomiting, nausea, and bradycardia, as well as alongside other anesthetics to avoid vagal inhibition, these drugs also evoke potent psychotropic effects, including characteristic delirium-like states with hallucinations, altered mood, and cognitive deficits. Given the growing clinical importance of anti-M deliriant hallucinogens, here we discuss their use and abuse, clinical importance, and the growing value in preclinical (experimental) animal models relevant to modeling CNS functions and dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton M. Lakstygal
- Graduate School of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Andrey D. Volgin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
| | - Konstantin A. Demin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine (ITBM), St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | | | | | - Allan V. Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400700, China
- Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, ITBM, St Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia
- Granov Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg 197758, Russia
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Eyal S. The Fever Tree: from Malaria to Neurological Diseases. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:E491. [PMID: 30477182 PMCID: PMC6316520 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10120491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This article describes the discovery and use of the South American cinchona bark and its main therapeutic (and toxic) alkaloids, quinine and quinidine. Since the introduction of cinchona to Europe in the 17th century, it played a role in treating emperors and peasants and was central to colonialism and wars. Over those 400 years, the medical use of cinchona alkaloids has evolved from bark extracts to chemical synthesis and controlled clinical trials. At the present time, the use of quinine and quinidine has declined, to a large extent due to their toxicity. However, quinine is still being prescribed in resource-limited settings, in severe malaria, and in pregnant women, and quinidine made a limited comeback in the treatment of several cardiac and neurological syndromes. In addition, the article presents more recent studies which improved our understanding of cinchona alkaloids' pharmacology. The knowledge gained through these studies will hopefully lead to a wider use of these drugs in precision medicine and to design of new generation, safer quinine and quinidine derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Eyal
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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