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Sharifi-Rad J, Quispe C, Rahavian A, Pereira Carneiro JN, Rocha JE, Alves Borges Leal AL, Bezerra Morais Braga MF, Melo Coutinho HD, Ansari Djafari A, Alarcón-Zapata P, Martorell M, Antika G, Tumer TB, Cruz-Martins N, Helon P, Paprocka P, Koch W, Docea AO, Calina D. Bioactive Compounds as Potential Agents for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Management: A Review to Explore Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:674682. [PMID: 34504422 PMCID: PMC8421529 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.674682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are produced by pathogens like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, and may generate severe health problems such as cancer, ulcers, and even problems in the newborn. This narrative review aims to present updated information about the use of natural bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. A search of the literature was performed using databases and search engines such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Science Direct. From the pharmacotherapeutic management point of view, any strategies for prevention should contain medical approaches. The bioactive compounds obtained from natural products have shown biological effects against different microorganisms for the treatment of these diseases. The main results showed antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antifungal and antiviral effects such as HIV. Also, the molecular mechanisms, signalling pathways and action targets of natural compounds were highlighted, thus justifying bacterial and antifungal inhibition, apoptosis or reduction of viral replication. From the data of our study, we can conclude that natural compounds may be a significant source for adjuvant drugs / complementary therapies in the treatment of STDs. With all these benefits, the future must conduct extensive clinical trials and the development of pharmaceutical nanotechnologies for a greater therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Sharifi-Rad
- Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Cristina Quispe
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Amirhossein Rahavian
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anahita Ansari Djafari
- Department of Urology, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pedro Alarcón-Zapata
- Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Miquel Martorell
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Centre for Healthy Living, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Universidad de Concepción, Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnológico, UDT, Concepción, Chile
| | - Gizem Antika
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Science, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Tugba Boyunegmez Tumer
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Science, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Natália Cruz-Martins
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paweł Helon
- Branch in Sandomierz, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Sandomierz, Poland
| | - Paulina Paprocka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Kielce, Poland
| | - Wojciech Koch
- Chair and Department of Food and Nutrition, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
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Bowden FJ, Mein J, Plunkett C, Bastian I. Pilot study of azithromycin in the treatment of genital donovanosis. Genitourin Med 1996; 72:17-9. [PMID: 8655160 PMCID: PMC1195585 DOI: 10.1136/sti.72.1.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of azithromycin, an azalide antibiotic with long tissue half-life, in a pilot study of patients with genital donovanosis in the Northern Territory, Australia. DESIGN Patients with histologically confirmed donovanosis were randomised to receive one of two open-label azithromycin dosage regimens: Regimen A--1.0 g once weekly for 4 weeks; or Regimen B--500 mg daily for 7 days. Patients were assessed at 6 weeks and classified as either "cured", "improved" or "failed". RESULTS Seven patients received regimen A and 4 received regimen B. Six weeks after commencing treatment the genital ulcers of four patients receiving regimen A and one patient receiving regimen B had healed; the lesions of the other six patients (3 in each regimen) were "improved". No patient failed to respond and no significant adverse reaction was recognised. The eleven patients were reviewed after completing the six-week trial; all lesions had re-epithelialised without further antibiotic treatment, no relapses had occurred, the longest follow-up period being seven months. A further 17 patients with donovanosis who were unable to meet the entry criteria were also treated successfully with azithromycin during the study period. CONCLUSIONS This is the first time that azithromycin has been shown to have clinical activity against donovanosis. Poor compliance with prolonged courses of antibiotics is one of the major barriers to control of the disease. Intermittent or short-course therapy, made possible by the long tissue half-life of the drug, could facilitate control of donovanosis in endemic populations if the high cost of medication can be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Bowden
- AIDS/STD Unit, Territory Health Services, Darwin, Australia
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O'Farrell N. Global eradication of donovanosis: an opportunity for limiting the spread of HIV-1 infection. Genitourin Med 1995; 71:27-31. [PMID: 7750949 PMCID: PMC1195365 DOI: 10.1136/sti.71.1.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Genital ulcer disease (GUD) is well recognised in the developing world as a co-factor for heterosexual HIV transmission. Men with GUD are an important high frequency HIV transmitter core group in the general population but few interventions have targeted such individuals so far. Donovanosis is an uncommon GUD with low infectivity characterised by large ulcers that bleed readily and has been identified as a risk factor for HIV in men in Durban, South Africa. Donovanosis is also endemic in Papua New Guinea, India, Brazil and amongst the Aboriginal community in Australia. This curious geographical distribution is unique to any of the sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and might lend itself to control measures not tried previously. In the 1950-60s a global eradication programme was successfully introduced against yaws but this strategy has not been implemented against any of the STD. Donovanosis is a symptomatic disease usually diagnosed on clinical grounds and could be targeted for eradication. Any programme would need to be community-based and require co-operation with both hospital doctors, private general practitioners, nurses, primary health care workers, pharmacists and traditional healers. Donovanosis is usually treated by readily available antibiotics but treatment failure may occur in advanced HIV disease. Drug compliance is often a problem but may be improved by counselling. Early implementation of an eradication programme targeting men with donovanosis could have a significant impact in limiting the spread of HIV in donovanosis-endemic countries and would pre-empt the possibility of both the emergence of drug resistance and treatment failure in individuals with immune impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- N O'Farrell
- Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
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Merianos A, Gilles M, Chuah J. Ceftriaxone in the treatment of chronic donovanosis in central Australia. Genitourin Med 1994; 70:84-9. [PMID: 8206481 PMCID: PMC1195199 DOI: 10.1136/sti.70.2.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of intramuscular (IM) ceftriaxone sodium in the treatment of chronic donovanosis, and the acceptability to patients and staff of supervised outpatient treatment in rural clinics. METHODS We collected demographic and sexual health data from participants using a standard questionnaire, and recorded their donovanosis lesions at baseline using genital diagrams. Treatment consisted of a single daily IM injection of 1 g ceftriaxone diluted in 2 ml of 1% lignocaine. Clinic staff followed patients for between three and 12 months, enabling the detection of late recurrences. SETTING Rural Aboriginal communities in central Australia. PARTICIPANTS The study describes eight women and four men with chronic donovanosis in detail, and summarises the outcome in 12 additional cases. All cases presented with advanced lesions which had failed to heal on the standard oral antibiotic regimens used in the region. RESULTS The mean duration of infection was 3.0 years (SD 1.9 years), and between four and ten courses of antibiotics had been prescribed for six of the 12 patients. Patients received between 7-26g of ceftriaxone sodium. Clinical improvement was dramatic in most lesions, and four patients healed completely without recurrence after a total 7-10g of ceftriaxone. Mild recurrences responded to further ceftriaxone or short courses of oral antibiotics. Treatment was well tolerated, and both patient and staff compliance high. CONCLUSION Donovanosis is an important cause of chronic genital ulceration in central Australia, and is potentially an important risk factor for HIV transmission in Aboriginal communities. The pharmacokinetics and safety profile of ceftriaxone make it a useful and cost-effective agent in the ambulatory management of donovanosis, especially in remote communities. Supervised multidrug regimens of two or more long-acting agents may provide the best answer in donovanosis, administered through the existing health care infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Merianos
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra
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