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Ji Y, Zhang R, Bensalel J, Morcol T, Gu R, Gallego-Delgado J, Kennelly EJ, Long C. Metabolomic and chemometric analyses of St. John's wort and related Asian Hypericum species linked to bioactivity. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 329:118163. [PMID: 38588986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Plants in the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae), include more than 500 species worldwide, and many are valued for their medicinal properties, and are used as traditional herbal medicines. However, only H. perforatum is officially recognized as herbal drug in several pharmacopoeias, and used as an antidepressant clinically. Hypericum perforatum had been used as an herbal medicine since the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -220 A.D.) in China. It taxonomically belongs to the section Hypericum in the genus Hypericum. There are about 42 species in the section Hypericum, with six species occurring in China. All six are recorded as traditional herbal medicines for treating aliments, including hepatitis, malaria, traumatic hemorrhage, irregular menstruation, wounds, and bruises. AIM OF THE STUDY The study aimed to characterize the chemical profiles of five phylogenetically related Hypericum species, and compare their metabolites with three H. perforatum products. Informed by ethnobotanical use, the extracts prepared from the five species were further investigated into anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiplasmodial activity. This study tested the hypothesis that systematic metabolomic and bioactivity characterization of species in section Hypericum will help to validate their phytotherapeutic use and reveal potential drug lead compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS Targeted and non-targeted metabolic analyses coupled with chemometrics were conducted on H. perforatum and four medicinal species, H. attenuatum, H. enshiense, H. erectum, and H. faberi, native to China from section Hypericum. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-TQD-MS/MS were used for non-targeted and targeted metabolic analyses, respectively. Cytotoxicity bioassays on four cancer cell lines, anti-inflammation tests and anti-plasmodial activity on Plasmodium falciparum 3D7, selected based on traditional medicinal use, were evaluated on extracts from Hypericum species. Progenesis QI and EZinfo were used for chemometrics analysis to link the chemical profile and bioassay activity to aid in the identification of bioactive compounds. RESULTS In total, 58 compounds were identified from the five species, including compounds with well-characterized bioactivity. Hypericum attenuatum, H. erectum, and H. perforatum, displayed the highest cytotoxicity, and contain the cytotoxic compounds petiolin A, prolificin A, and hypercohin G, respectively. Hypericum faberi and H. perforatum showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity, with pseudohypericin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid being observed at higher concentrations. Hypericum perforatum and H. erectum showed anti-plasmodial activity, with higher hyperforin and xanthones in these species that may account for the anti-plasmodial activity. CONCLUSIONS This study characterized the chemical differences among five Hypericum species using metabolomics. These ethnomedically important species were tested for their biological activities in three distinct in vitro assays. The ethnobotanical data were useful for identifying bioactive Hypericum species. Hypericum attenuatum, H. erectum and H. faberi are promising phytotherapeutic species, although they are much less studied than H. perforatum, St. John's wort. Combining ethnobotanical surveys with chemometric analyses and bioactivity screening can greatly enhance the discovery of promising active constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Ji
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States.
| | - Ruifei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States.
| | - Johanna Bensalel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Taylan Morcol
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Ronghui Gu
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Huixia Road in Huaxi District, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Julio Gallego-Delgado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Edward J Kennelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Chunlin Long
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Beteck RM, Isaacs M, Legoabe LJ, Hoppe HC, Tam CC, Kim JH, Petzer JP, Cheng LW, Quiambao Q, Land KM, Khanye SD. Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal evaluation of novel metronidazole-Schiff base hybrids. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200409. [PMID: 36446720 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200409] [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] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Herein we report the synthesis of 21 novel small molecules inspired by metronidazole and Schiff base compounds. The compounds were evaluated against Trichomonas vaginalis and cross-screened against other pathogenic protozoans of clinical relevance. Most of these compounds were potent against T. vaginalis, exhibiting IC50 values < 5 µM. Compound 20, the most active compound against T. vaginalis, exhibited an IC50 value of 3.4 µM. A few compounds also exhibited activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosomal brucei brucei, with compound 6 exhibiting an IC50 value of 0.7 µM against P. falciparum and compound 22 exhibiting an IC50 value of 1.4 µM against T.b. brucei. Compound 22 is a broad-spectrum antiprotozoal agent, showing activities against all three pathogenic protozoans under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Beteck
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacen), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Michelle Isaacs
- Centre for Chemico- and Biomedical Research, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Lesetja J Legoabe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacen), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Heinrich C Hoppe
- Centre for Chemico- and Biomedical Research, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa.,Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Christina C Tam
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, California, USA
| | - Jong H Kim
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, California, USA
| | - Jacobus P Petzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacen), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Luisa W Cheng
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, California, USA
| | - Quincel Quiambao
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, USA
| | - Kirkwood M Land
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, USA
| | - Setshaba D Khanye
- Centre for Chemico- and Biomedical Research, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa.,Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
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das Neves GM, Kagami LP, Battastini AMO, Figueiró F, Eifler-Lima VL. Targeting ecto-5'-nucleotidase: A comprehensive review into small molecule inhibitors and expression modulators. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 247:115052. [PMID: 36599229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The purinergic signaling has drawn attention from academia and more recently from pharmaceutical industries as a potential therapeutic route for cancer treatment, since ATP may act as chemotactic agent and possess in vitro antineoplastic activity. On the other way, adenosine, produced in extracellular medium by ecto-5'-NT, acts as immunosuppressor and is related to neoangiogenesis, vasculogenesis and evasion to the immune system. Consequently, inhibitors of ecto-5'-NT may prevent tumor progression, reducing adenosine concentrations, preventing escape from the host's immune system and slowing cancer's growth. This review aims to highlight important biochemical and structural features of ecto-5'NT, highlight its expression profile in normal and cancer cell lines detailing compounds which may act as expression regulators and to review the several classes of ecto-5'NT inhibitors developed in the past 12 years, in order to build a general structure-activity relationship model to guide further compound design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Machado das Neves
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Luciano Porto Kagami
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Oliveira Battastini
- Laboratório de Imunobioquímica do Câncer (LIBC), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Figueiró
- Laboratório de Imunobioquímica do Câncer (LIBC), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Vera Lucia Eifler-Lima
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Caldeira GI, Gouveia LP, Serrano R, Silva OD. Hypericum Genus as a Natural Source for Biologically Active Compounds. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11192509. [PMID: 36235373 PMCID: PMC9573133 DOI: 10.3390/plants11192509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Hypericum L. genus plants are distributed worldwide, with numerous species identified throughout all continents, except Antarctica. These plant species are currently used in various systems of traditional medicine to treat mild depression, wounds and burns, diarrhea, pain, fevers, and their secondary metabolites previously shown, and the in vitro and/or in vivo cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and hepatoprotective activities, as well as the acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities. We conducted a systematic bibliographic search according to the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines to answer the question: "What is known about plants of Hypericum genus as a source of natural products with potential clinical biological activity?" We documented 414 different natural products with confirmed in vitro/in vivo biological activities, and 58 different Hypericum plant species as sources for these natural products. Phloroglucinols, acylphloroglucinols, xanthones, and benzophenones were the main chemical classes identified. The selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells, cell protection, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-Alzheimer's, and adipogenesis-inhibition biological activities are described. Acylphloroglucinols were the most frequent compounds with anticancer and cell-protection mechanisms. To date, no work has been published with a full descriptive list directly relating secondary metabolites to their species of origin, plant parts used, extraction methodologies, mechanisms of action, and biological activities.
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Ferla M, Tasca T. The Role of Purinergic Signaling in Trichomonas vaginalis Infection. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:181-192. [PMID: 32888270 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620999200904122212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis, one of the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections worldwide, is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The pathogen colonizes the human urogenital tract, and the infection is associated with complications such as adverse pregnancy outcomes, cervical cancer, and an increase in HIV transmission. The mechanisms of pathogenicity are multifactorial, and controlling immune responses is essential for infection maintenance. Extracellular purine nucleotides are released by cells in physiological and pathological conditions, and they are hydrolyzed by enzymes called ecto-nucleotidases. The cellular effects of nucleotides and nucleosides occur via binding to purinoceptors, or through the uptake by nucleoside transporters. Altogether, enzymes, receptors and transporters constitute the purinergic signaling, a cellular network that regulates several effects in practically all systems including mammals, helminths, protozoa, bacteria, and fungi. In this context, this review updates the data on purinergic signaling involved in T. vaginalis biology and interaction with host cells, focusing on the characterization of ecto-nucleotidases and on purine salvage pathways. The implications of the final products, the nucleosides adenosine and guanosine, for human neutrophil response and vaginal epithelial cell damage reveal the purinergic signaling as a potential new mechanism for alternative drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheli Ferla
- Research Team on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduation Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Research Team on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduation Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Friedman M, Tam CC, Cheng LW, Land KM. Anti-trichomonad activities of different compounds from foods, marine products, and medicinal plants: a review. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20:271. [PMID: 32907567 PMCID: PMC7479404 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03061-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human trichomoniasis, caused by the pathogenic parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease that contributes to reproductive morbidity in affected women and possibly to prostate cancer in men. Tritrichomonas foetus strains cause the disease trichomoniasis in farm animals (cattle, bulls, pigs) and diarrhea in domestic animals (cats and dogs). Because some T. vaginalis strains have become resistant to the widely used drug metronidazole, there is a need to develop alternative treatments, based on safe natural products that have the potential to replace and/or enhance the activity of lower doses of metronidazole. To help meet this need, this overview collates and interprets worldwide reported studies on the efficacy of structurally different classes of food, marine, and medicinal plant extracts and some of their bioactive pure compounds against T. vaginalis and T. foetus in vitro and in infected mice and women. Active food extracts include potato peels and their glycoalkaloids α-chaconine and α-solanine, caffeic and chlorogenic acids, and quercetin; the tomato glycoalkaloid α-tomatine; theaflavin-rich black tea extracts and bioactive theaflavins; plant essential oils and their compounds (+)-α-bisabolol and eugenol; the grape skin compound resveratrol; the kidney bean lectin, marine extracts from algae, seaweeds, and fungi and compounds that are derived from fungi; medicinal extracts and about 30 isolated pure compounds. Also covered are the inactivation of drug-resistant T. vaginalis and T. foetus strains by sensitized light; anti-trichomonad effects in mice and women; beneficial effects of probiotics in women; and mechanisms that govern cell death. The summarized findings will hopefully stimulate additional research, including molecular-mechanism-guided inactivations and human clinical studies, that will help ameliorate adverse effects of pathogenic protozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mendel Friedman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Healthy Processed Foods Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Albany, CA, 94710, USA.
| | - Christina C Tam
- United States Department of Agriculture, Foodborne Toxins Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Albany, California, 94710, USA
| | - Luisa W Cheng
- United States Department of Agriculture, Foodborne Toxins Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Albany, California, 94710, USA
| | - Kirkwood M Land
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, USA
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Rigo GV, Tasca T. Vaginitis: Review on Drug Resistance. Curr Drug Targets 2020; 21:1672-1686. [PMID: 32753007 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200804112340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Female genital tract infections have a high incidence among different age groups and represent an important impact on public health. Among them, vaginitis refers to inflammation of the vulva and/or vagina due to the presence of pathogens that cause trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Several discomforts are associated with these infections, as well as pregnancy complications and the facilitation of HIV transmission and acquisition. The increasing resistance of microorganisms to drugs used in therapy is remarkable, since women report the recurrence of these infections and associated comorbidities. Different resistant mechanisms already described for the drugs used in the therapy against Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida spp., and Gardnerella vaginalis, as well as aspects related to pathogenesis and treatment, are discussed in this review. This study aims to contribute to drug design, avoiding therapy ineffectiveness due to drug resistance. Effective alternative therapies to treat vaginitis will reduce the recurrence of infections and, consequently, the high costs generated in the health system, improving women's well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziela Vargas Rigo
- Research Group on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Research Group on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Trichomonas vaginalis NTPDase inhibited by lycorine modulates the parasite-neutrophil interaction. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2587-2595. [PMID: 32524267 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06739-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Lycorine is an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid that presents anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity. T. vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection. The modulation of T. vaginalis purinergic signaling through the ectonucleotidases, nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase), and ecto-5'-nucleotidase represents new targets for combating the parasite. With this knowledge, the aim of this study was to investigate whether NTPDase and ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibition by lycorine could lead to extracellular ATP accumulation. Moreover, the lycorine effect on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by neutrophils and parasites was evaluated as well as the alkaloid toxicity. The metabolism of purines was assessed by HPLC. ROS production was measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity against epithelial vaginal cells and fibroblasts was tested, as well as the hemolytic effect of lycorine and its in vivo toxicity in Galleria mellonella larvae. Our findings showed that lycorine caused ATP accumulation due to NTPDase inhibition. The alkaloid did not affect the ROS production by T. vaginalis; however, it increased ROS levels in neutrophils incubated with lycorine-treated trophozoites. Lycorine was cytotoxic against vaginal epithelial cells and fibroblasts; conversely, it was not hemolytic neither exhibited toxicity against the in vivo model of G. mellonella larvae. Overall, besides having anti-T. vaginalis activity, lycorine modulates ectonucleotidases and stimulates neutrophils to secrete ROS. This mechanism of action exerted by the alkaloid could enhance the susceptibility of T. vaginalis to host immune cell, contributing to protozoan clearance.
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Küng E, Fürnkranz U, Walochnik J. Chemotherapeutic options for the treatment of human trichomoniasis. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2018; 53:116-127. [PMID: 30612993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. The infection may be associated with severe complications, including infertility, preterm labour, cancer and an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Treatment remains almost exclusively based on 5-nitroimidazoles, but resistance is on the rise. This article provides an overview of clinically evaluated systemic and topical treatment options for human trichomoniasis and summarises the current state of knowledge on various herbal, semisynthetic and synthetic compounds evaluated for their anti-Trichomonas efficacy in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Küng
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Fürnkranz
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum species trigger mitochondrial dysfunction in Leishmania amazonensis. Parasitology 2018; 145:1199-1209. [PMID: 29482667 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Bioactive molecules isolated from plants are promising sources for the development of new therapies against leishmaniasis. We investigated the leishmanicidal activity of cariphenone A (1), isouliginosin B (2) and uliginosin B (3) isolated from Hypericum species. Promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis were incubated with compounds 1-3 at concentrations 1-100 µm for 48 h. The anti-promastigote effect of compounds was also tested in combinations. The cytotoxicity against macrophages and human erythrocytes were determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and hemolysis assay, respectively. The compounds 1-3 showed high leishmanicidal activity against promastigotes, IC50 values of 10.5, 17.5 and 11.3 µm, respectively. Synergistic interactions were found to the associations of compounds 1 and 2 [Σ fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) = 0.41], and 2 and 3 (ΣFIC = 0.28) on promastigotes. All Hypericum compounds induced mitochondrial hyperpolarization and reactive oxygen species production in promastigotes. The compounds showed low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells, high selectivity index and killed intracellular amastigotes probably mediated by oxidative stress. These results indicate that these compounds are promising candidates for the development of drugs against leishmaniasis.
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