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Georgiou N, Kakava MG, Routsi EA, Petsas E, Stavridis N, Freris C, Zoupanou N, Moschovou K, Kiriakidi S, Mavromoustakos T. Quercetin: A Potential Polydynamic Drug. Molecules 2023; 28:8141. [PMID: 38138630 PMCID: PMC10745404 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of natural products as potential drug leads has gained tremendous research interest. Quercetin is one of those natural products. It belongs to the family of flavonoids and, more specifically, flavonols. This review summarizes the beneficial pharmaceutical effects of quercetin, such as its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, which are some of the quercetin effects described in this review. Nevertheless, quercetin shows poor bioavailability and low solubility. For this reason, its encapsulation in macromolecules increases its bioavailability and therefore pharmaceutical efficiency. In this review, a brief description of the different forms of encapsulation of quercetin are described, and new ones are proposed. The beneficial effects of applying new pharmaceutical forms of nanotechnology are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikitas Georgiou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Margarita Georgia Kakava
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Efthymios Alexandros Routsi
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Design and Discovery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Errikos Petsas
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Nikolaos Stavridis
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Christoforos Freris
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece;
| | - Nikoletta Zoupanou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Kalliopi Moschovou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Sofia Kiriakidi
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
- Departamento de Quimica Orgánica, Facultade de Quimica, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
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Liu H, Huang Z, Chen H, Zhang Y, Yu P, Hu P, Zhang X, Cao J, Zhou T. A potential strategy against clinical carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: antimicrobial activity study of sweetener-decorated gold nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:409. [PMID: 37932843 PMCID: PMC10626710 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02149-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) present substantial challenges to clinical intervention, necessitating the formulation of novel antimicrobial strategies to counteract them. Nanomaterials offer a distinctive avenue for eradicating bacteria by employing mechanisms divergent from traditional antibiotic resistance pathways and exhibiting reduced susceptibility to drug resistance development. Non-caloric artificial sweeteners, commonly utilized in the food sector, such as saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame, and aspartame, possess structures amenable to nanomaterial formation. In this investigation, we synthesized gold nanoparticles decorated with non-caloric artificial sweeteners and evaluated their antimicrobial efficacy against clinical CRE strains. RESULTS Among these, gold nanoparticles decorated with aspartame (ASP_Au NPs) exhibited the most potent antimicrobial effect, displaying minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4 to 16 µg/mL. As a result, ASP_Au NPs were chosen for further experimentation. Elucidation of the antimicrobial mechanism unveiled that ASP_Au NPs substantially elevated bacterial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which dissipated upon ROS scavenger treatment, indicating ROS accumulation within bacteria as the fundamental antimicrobial modality. Furthermore, findings from membrane permeability assessments suggested that ASP_Au NPs may represent a secondary antimicrobial modality via enhancing inner membrane permeability. In addition, experiments involving crystal violet and confocal live/dead staining demonstrated effective suppression of bacterial biofilm formation by ASP_Au NPs. Moreover, ASP_Au NPs demonstrated notable efficacy in the treatment of Galleria mellonella bacterial infection and acute abdominal infection in mice, concurrently mitigating the organism's inflammatory response. Crucially, evaluation of in vivo safety and biocompatibility established that ASP_Au NPs exhibited negligible toxicity at bactericidal concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that ASP_Au NPs exhibit promise as innovative antimicrobial agents against clinical CRE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zeyu Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huanchang Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Pingting Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Panjie Hu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaotuan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianming Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Tieli Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Shaher SAA, Mihailescu DF, Amuzescu B. Aspartame Safety as a Food Sweetener and Related Health Hazards. Nutrients 2023; 15:3627. [PMID: 37630817 PMCID: PMC10459792 DOI: 10.3390/nu15163627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspartame is the methyl-ester of the aspartate-phenylalanine dipeptide. Over time, it has become a very popular artificial sweetener. However, since its approval by the main food safety agencies, several concerns have been raised related to neuropsychiatric effects and neurotoxicity due to its ability to activate glutamate receptors, as well as carcinogenic risks due to the increased production of reactive oxygen species. Within this review, we critically evaluate reports concerning the safety of aspartame. Some studies evidenced subtle mood and behavioral changes upon daily high-dose intake below the admitted limit. Epidemiology studies also evidenced associations between daily aspartame intake and a higher predisposition for malignant diseases, like non-Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myelomas, particularly in males, but an association by chance still could not be excluded. While the debate over the carcinogenic risk of aspartame is ongoing, it is clear that its use may pose some dangers in peculiar cases, such as patients with seizures or other neurological diseases; it should be totally forbidden for patients with phenylketonuria, and reduced doses or complete avoidance are advisable during pregnancy. It would be also highly desirable for every product containing aspartame to clearly indicate on the label the exact amount of the substance and some risk warnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shurooq Asaad Abdulameer Shaher
- Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 005095 Bucharest, Romania; (S.A.A.S.); (D.F.M.)
- Department of Medical Laboratories, Babylon Technical Institute, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Najaf 54001, Iraq
| | - Dan Florin Mihailescu
- Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 005095 Bucharest, Romania; (S.A.A.S.); (D.F.M.)
| | - Bogdan Amuzescu
- Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 005095 Bucharest, Romania; (S.A.A.S.); (D.F.M.)
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Georgiou N, Gouleni N, Chontzopoulou E, Skoufas GS, Gkionis A, Tzeli D, Vassiliou S, Mavromoustakos T. Structure assignment, conformational properties and discovery of potential targets of the Ugi cinnamic adduct NGI25. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:1253-1266. [PMID: 34963425 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2017356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The structure assignment and conformational analysis of cinnamic derivative N-benzyl-N-(2-(cyclohexylamino)-2-oxoethyl) cinnamamide (NGI25) was carried out through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Quantum Mechanics (QM), i.e. semiempirical and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, Homonuclear (COSY, NOESY) and heteronuclear (HSQC, HMBC) experiments were applied to assign its protons and carbons. After structure identification, NGI25 was subjected to computational calculations to reveal its most favorable conformations. In particular, MD studies were performed in two different solvents, DMSO of intermediate polarity and hydrophobic CHCl3. The obtained results suggest that NGI25 adopts similar conformations in both environments. In particular, the two aromatic rings of the molecule reside in spatial vicinity, while they remain quite distant from the cyclohexane. 2D NOESY experiments confirmed the in silico MD and QM calculations. Finally, molecular docking calculations were performed in order to reveal possible enzyme-targets for NGI25. Swiss target module was used to guide the discovery of new targets based on the structure of NGI. Indeed, it was predicted that NGI25 inhibited butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) and lipoxygenase (LOX). Molecular docking experiments, followed by Molecular Dynamics studies, confirmed the favorable binding of NGI25 to both enzymes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikitas Georgiou
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Niki Gouleni
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Chontzopoulou
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George S Skoufas
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Gkionis
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Demeter Tzeli
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Stamatia Vassiliou
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Borghoff SJ, Cohen SS, Jiang X, Lea IA, Klaren WD, Chappell GA, Britt JK, Rivera BN, Choski NY, Wikoff DS. Updated systematic assessment of human, animal and mechanistic evidence demonstrates lack of human carcinogenicity with consumption of aspartame. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 172:113549. [PMID: 36493943 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aspartame has been studied extensively and evaluated for its safety in foods and beverages yet concerns for its potential carcinogenicity have persisted, driven primarily by animal studies conducted at the Ramazzini Institute (RI). To address this controversy, an updated systematic review of available human, animal, and mechanistic data was conducted leveraging critical assessment tools to consider the quality and reliability of data. The evidence base includes 12 animal studies and >40 epidemiological studies reviewed by the World Health Organization which collectively demonstrate a lack of carcinogenic effect. Assessment of >1360 mechanistic endpoints, including many guideline-based genotoxicity studies, demonstrate a lack of activity associated with endpoints grouped to key characteristics of carcinogens. Other non-specific mechanistic data (e.g., mixed findings of oxidative stress across study models, tissues, and species) do not provide evidence of a biologically plausible carcinogenic pathway associated with aspartame. Taken together, available evidence supports that aspartame consumption is not carcinogenic in humans and that the inconsistent findings of the RI studies may be explained by flaws in study design and conduct (despite additional analyses to address study limitations), as acknowledged by authoritative bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah S Cohen
- EpidStrategies, A Division of ToxStrategies, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Xiaohui Jiang
- EpidStrategies, A Division of ToxStrategies, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Isabel A Lea
- ToxStrategies, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Tzeliou CE, Mermigki MA, Tzeli D. Review on the QM/MM Methodologies and Their Application to Metalloproteins. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092660. [PMID: 35566011 PMCID: PMC9105939 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The multiscaling quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approach was introduced in 1976, while the extensive acceptance of this methodology started in the 1990s. The combination of QM/MM approach with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, otherwise known as the QM/MM/MD approach, is a powerful and promising tool for the investigation of chemical reactions’ mechanism of complex molecular systems, drug delivery, properties of molecular devices, organic electronics, etc. In the present review, the main methodologies in the multiscaling approaches, i.e., density functional theory (DFT), semiempirical methodologies (SE), MD simulations, MM, and their new advances are discussed in short. Then, a review on calculations and reactions on metalloproteins is presented, where particular attention is given to nitrogenase that catalyzes the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen molecules N₂ into NH₃ through the process known as nitrogen fixation and the FeMo-cofactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Eleftheria Tzeliou
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (C.E.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Markella Aliki Mermigki
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (C.E.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Demeter Tzeli
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (C.E.T.); (M.A.M.)
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-210-727-4307
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