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García-Huertas P, Cardona-Castro N. Advances in the treatment of Chagas disease: Promising new drugs, plants and targets. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:112020. [PMID: 34392087 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is treated with only two drugs; benznidazole and nifurtimox. These drugs have some disadvantages, including their efficacy only in the acute or early infection phases, adverse effects during their use, and the resistance that the parasite has developed to their activity. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new, safe and effective therapeutic alternatives to treat Chagas disease, though governments and the pharmaceutical industry have shown a lack of interest in contributing to this solution. Institutions and research groups on the other hand have worked on some strategies that can help to address the problem. Some of these include the modification of conventional drug dosages, drug repurposing, and combined therapy. Plants and derived compounds with antiparasitic effects have also been studied, taking advantage of traditional medicinal knowledge. Others have studied the parasite to identify essential genes that can be used as therapeutic targets to design new, targeted drugs. Some of these studies have generated promising results, but few reach clinical phase studies. Institutions and research groups should be encouraged to unify efforts and cover all aspects of drug development according to resources and knowledge availability. In the end, this exchange of knowledge would lead to the development of new therapeutic alternatives to treat Chagas disease and benefit the populations it affects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia.
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Moreira Szokalo RA, Redko F, Ulloa J, Flor S, Tulino MS, Muschietti L, Carballo MA. Toxicogenetic evaluation of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) as a herbal medicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 257:112854. [PMID: 32325177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H. Robinson, commonly known as yacon, is a medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family used in traditional folk medicine. Its roots and leaves have been used by people suffering from diabetes or from various digestive or renal disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed at evaluating the in vitro potential genotoxic effects of the aqueous extract of yacon in order to determine its safety and at characterizing its phytochemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS The aqueous extract of S. sonchifolius was prepared in a similar way to that commonly used in popular medicine as tea bags. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-MS/MS) were used to identify the main compounds. The MTT test was performed to determine the range of doses and the Cytochalasine B-blocked micronucleus (Cytome assay) was used to assess geneotoxicity. RESULTS The chemical analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of the sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) enhydrin and the dimer enhydrofolin, as the main compounds together with phenolic compounds. Increasing concentrations of the extract induced a cytotoxic effect on CHO-K1 and HepG2 cells. A statistically significant increase in the frequency of MNi, NBUDs and NPBs was observed in CHO-K1 cells, while in HepG2 cells a statistically significant frequency increase was observed with three of the four tested doses for MNi and only with the highest dose for NPBs and NBUs (genotoxic effect). CONCLUSION Results demonstrated the inability of the metabolic system to counteract the genetic instability, allowing the safe consumption of the leaves as a 2% tea infusion in quantities of up to 250 mL/day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Ayelen Moreira Szokalo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, CIGETOX, (Citogenética Humana y Genética Toxicológica), Junín 956 (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC), Córdoba 2351 (1120), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Flavia Redko
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Farmacología, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Junín 956 (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jerónimo Ulloa
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Farmacología, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Junín 956 (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sabrina Flor
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, CONICET, Argentina
| | - María Soledad Tulino
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, CIGETOX, (Citogenética Humana y Genética Toxicológica), Junín 956 (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC), Córdoba 2351 (1120), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liliana Muschietti
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Farmacología, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Junín 956 (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Marta A Carballo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, CIGETOX, (Citogenética Humana y Genética Toxicológica), Junín 956 (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC), Córdoba 2351 (1120), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Muscia GC, Roldán Pacheco FJ, Asís SE, Buldain GY, Frank FM. Hit-to-lead optimization of novel 2-alkylaminomethylquinoline derivatives as anti-chagas agents. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 186:111877. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Moraes Neto RN, Setúbal RFB, Higino TMM, Brelaz-de-Castro MCA, da Silva LCN, Aliança ASDS. Asteraceae Plants as Sources of Compounds Against Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:477. [PMID: 31156427 PMCID: PMC6530400 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease cause great impact on social and economic aspects of people living in developing countries. The treatments for these diseases are based on the same regimen for over 40 years, thus, there is an urgent need for the development of new drugs. In this scenario, Asteraceae plants (a family widely used in folk medicine worldwide) are emerging as an interesting source for new trypanocidal and leishmanicidal compounds. Herein, we provide a non-exhaustive review about the activity of plant-derived products from Asteraceae with inhibitory action toward Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi. Special attention was given to those studies aiming the isolation (or identification) of the bioactive compounds. Ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid (Baccharis uncinella DC.) were efficient to treat experimental leishmaniasis; while deoxymikanolide (Mikania micrantha) and (+)-15-hydroxy-labd-7-en-17-al (Aristeguietia glutinosa Lam.) showed in vivo anti-T. cruzi action. It is also important to highlight that several plant-derived products (compounds, essential oils) from Artemisia plants have shown high inhibitory potential against Leishmania spp., such as artemisinin and its derivatives. In summary, these compounds may help the development of new effective agents against these neglected diseases.
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Chibli LA, Rosa AL, Nonato MC, Da Costa FB. Untargeted LC-MS metabolomic studies of Asteraceae species to discover inhibitors of Leishmania major dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Metabolomics 2019; 15:59. [PMID: 30949823 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-019-1520-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Interesting data about the family Asteraceae as a new source of Leishmania major dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (LmDHODH) inhibitors are presented. This key macromolecular target for parasites causing neglected diseases catalyzes the fourth reaction of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway, which takes part in major cell functions, including DNA and RNA biosynthesis. OBJECTIVES We aimed to (1) determine LmDHODH inhibitor candidates, revealing the type of chemistry underlying such bioactivity, and (2) predict the inhibitory potential of extracts from new untested plant species, classifying them as active or inactive based on their LC-MS based metabolic fingerprints. METHODS Extracts from 150 species were screened for the inhibition of LmDHODH, and untargeted UHPLC-(ESI)-HRMS metabolomic studies were carried out in combination with in silico approaches. RESULTS The IC50 values determined for a subset of 59 species ranged from 148 µg mL-1 to 9.4 mg mL-1. Dereplication of the metabolic fingerprints allowed the identification of 48 metabolites. A reliable OPLS-DA model (R2 > 0.9, Q2 > 0.7, RMSECV < 0.3) indicated the inhibitor candidates; nine of these metabolites were identified using data from isolated chemical standards, one of which-4,5-di-O-E-caffeoylquinic acid (IC50 73 µM)-was capable of inhibiting LmDHODH. The predictive OPLS model was also effective, with 60% correct predictions for the test set. CONCLUSION Our approach was validated for (1) the discovery of LmDHODH inhibitors or interesting starting points for the optimization of new leishmanicides from Asteraceae species and (2) the prediction of extracts from untested species, classifying them as active or inactive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Chibli
- AsterBioChem Research Team, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Annylory L Rosa
- AsterBioChem Research Team, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Nonato
- Laboratory of Protein Crystallography, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Fernando B Da Costa
- AsterBioChem Research Team, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
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Acevedo CH, Scotti L, Scotti MT. In Silico Studies Designed to Select Sesquiterpene Lactones with Potential Antichagasic Activity from an In-House Asteraceae Database. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:634-645. [PMID: 29323468 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an endemic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects more than eight million people, mostly in the Americas. A search for new treatments is necessary to control and eliminate this disease. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are an interesting group of secondary metabolites characteristic of the Asteraceae family that have presented a wide range of biological activities. From the ChEMBL database, we selected a diverse set of 4452, 1635, and 1322 structures with tested activity against the three T. cruzi parasitic forms: amastigote, trypomastigote, and epimastigote, respectively, to create random forest (RF) models with an accuracy of greater than 74 % for cross-validation and test sets. Afterward, a ligand-based virtual screen of the entire SLs of the Asteraceae database stored in SistematX (1306 structures) was performed. In addition, a structure-based virtual screen was also performed for the same set of SLs using molecular docking. Finally, using an approach combining ligand-based and structure-based virtual screening along with the equations proposed in this study to normalize the probability scores, we verified potentially active compounds and established a possible mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonny Herrera Acevedo
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária - Castelo Branco III, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Luciana Scotti
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária - Castelo Branco III, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária - Castelo Branco III, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
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Ulloa JL, Spina R, Casasco A, Petray PB, Martino V, Sosa MA, Frank FM, Muschietti LV. Germacranolide-type sesquiterpene lactones from Smallanthus sonchifolius with promising activity against Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:567. [PMID: 29132413 PMCID: PMC5683217 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2509-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are life-threatening illnesses caused by the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. They are known as “neglected diseases” due to the lack of effective drug treatments and the scarcity of research work devoted to them. Therefore, the development of novel and effective drugs is an important and urgent need. Natural products are an important source of bioactive molecules for the development of new drugs. In this study, we evaluated the activity of enhydrin, uvedalin and polymatin B, three sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) isolated from Smallanthus sonchifolius, on Leishmania mexicana (MNYC/BZ/62/M) and Trypanosoma cruzi (Dm28c). In addition, the in vivo trypanocidal activity of enhydrin and uvedalin and the effects of these STLs on parasites’ ultrastructure were evaluated. Methods The inhibitory effect of the three STLs on the growth of L. mexicana amastigotes and promastigotes as well as T. cruzi epimastigotes was evaluated in vitro. The changes produced by the STLs on the ultrastructure of parasites were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Enhydrin and uvedalin were also studied in a murine model of acute T. cruzi infection (RA strain). Serum activities of the hepatic enzymes alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase were used as biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. Results The three compounds exhibited leishmanicidal activity on both parasite forms with IC50 values of 0.42–0.54 μg/ml for promastigotes and 0.85–1.64 μg/ml for intracellular amastigotes. Similar results were observed on T. cruzi epimastigotes (IC50 0.35–0.60 μg/ml). The TEM evaluation showed marked ultrastructural alterations, such as an intense vacuolization and mitochondrial swelling in both L. mexicana promastigotes and T. cruzi epimastigotes exposed to the STLs. In the in vivo study, enhydrin and uvedalin displayed a significant decrease in circulating parasites (50–71%) and no signs of hepatotoxicity were detected. Conclusions Enhydrin, uvedalin and polymatin B possess significant leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity on different parasite stages. These results show that these compounds may provide valuable leads for the development of new drugs against these neglected parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerónimo L Ulloa
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2° F (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Renata Spina
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, (56 5500), Mendoza, CC, Argentina
| | - Agustina Casasco
- CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 13° F (1211), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Inmunología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4° F (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia B Petray
- CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 13° F (1211), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Martino
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2° F (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miguel A Sosa
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, (56 5500), Mendoza, CC, Argentina
| | - Fernanda M Frank
- CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 13° F (1211), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Inmunología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4° F (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liliana V Muschietti
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2° F (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Serra-Barcellona C, Habib NC, Honoré SM, Sánchez SS, Genta SB. Enhydrin Regulates Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Rats by Inhibition of α-Glucosidase Activity. PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2017; 72:156-160. [PMID: 28161878 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-017-0600-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
During the last few years, numerous attempts were made to identify effective α-glucosidase inhibitors from natural sources in order to develop new alternatives for diabetes management. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) leaves were found to be effective in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia. Enhydrin, a constituent of yacon leaves, was noted for its significant hypoglycemic properties in diabetic rats. These properties were also demonstrated for yacon leaves decoction, which is rich in phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and its derivatives. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential of yacon leaves decoction and the isolated compound enhydrin to inhibit α-glucosidase enzyme, a possible mechanism of the above antihyperglycemic effect. In vitro assays showed that both 10% decoction and enhydrin significantly inhibited the activity of the yeast α-glucosidase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner, IC50 values being 50.40 and 134.17 μg/ml, respectively. In vivo experiments showed a rapid decrease in the hyperglycemic peak after sucrose load (2 g/kg body weight) in normal rats treated with the 10% decoction (140 mg/kg) and enhydrin (0.8 mg/kg). Both treatments caused a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in diabetic rats after sucrose load compared to diabetic control. These results suggest that both products assayed could be effective in the management of postprandial hyperglycemia through inhibition of α-glucosidase in the small intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Serra-Barcellona
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - N C Habib
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - S M Honoré
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - S S Sánchez
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
| | - S B Genta
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
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Herrera Acevedo C, Scotti L, Feitosa Alves M, Formiga Melo Diniz MDF, Scotti MT. Computer-Aided Drug Design Using Sesquiterpene Lactones as Sources of New Structures with Potential Activity against Infectious Neglected Diseases. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22010079. [PMID: 28054952 PMCID: PMC6155652 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This review presents an survey to the biological importance of sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) in the fight against four infectious neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness—as alternatives to the current chemotherapies that display several problems such as low effectiveness, resistance, and high toxicity. Several studies have demonstrated the great potential of some SLs as therapeutic agents for these NTDs and the relationship between the protozoal activities with their chemical structure. Recently, Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) studies have helped increase the knowledge of SLs regarding their mechanisms, the discovery of new lead molecules, the identification of pharmacophore groups and increase the biological activity by employing in silico tools such as molecular docking, virtual screening and Quantitative-Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonny Herrera Acevedo
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
| | - Luciana Scotti
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
| | - Mateus Feitosa Alves
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
| | | | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
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Muschietti LV, Ulloa JL. Natural Sesquiterpene Lactones as Potential Trypanocidal Therapeutic Agents: A Review. Nat Prod Commun 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x1601101036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas’ disease and Human African Trypanosomiasis are parasitic diseases that remain major health problems, mainly among the poorest and the most marginalized communities from Latin America and Africa. The scarcity of effective chemotherapy, due to the low investment in the research and development (R&D) of new drugs, together with a high incidence of side effects, and the emergence of drug resistance phenomena emphasize the urgent need for new prophylactic and therapeutic agents. Over the ages, humans have employed natural products to treat a wide spectrum of diseases. Recently, the pharmaceutical industry has focused on plant research and a large body of evidence has been collected to demonstrate the immense potential of medicinal plants as a source of bioactive compounds and lead molecules. In the field of parasitic diseases, drug development from plants has been successful for the sesquiterpene lactone (STL) artemisinin, which is employed as an antimalarial agent. STLs are a large group of naturally occurring terpenoids derived from plants that mostly belong to the Asteraceae family which exhibit a variety of skeletal arrangements and are the largest and most diverse category of natural products with an α-methylene-λ-lactone motif. STLs display a broad spectrum of biological activities such as antitumor, cytotoxic, antibacterial, anthelmintic, uterus contracting, antimalarial, neurotoxic, antiprotozoal and allergic (contact dermatitis) activities. In this context, the purpose of the present review is to provide an overview of the trypanocidal activity reported for STLs against Trypanosoma cruzi and T. brucei rhodesiense over the period 1993–2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana V. Muschietti
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET). Junín 956 (1113), CABA, Argentina
| | - Jerónimo L. Ulloa
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET). Junín 956 (1113), CABA, Argentina
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De Ford C, Ulloa JL, Catalán CAN, Grau A, Martino VS, Muschietti LV, Merfort I. The sesquiterpene lactone polymatin B from Smallanthus sonchifolius induces different cell death mechanisms in three cancer cell lines. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2015; 117:332-339. [PMID: 26125943 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A 8β-angeloyloxy-9α-hydroxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide and five known melampolide sesquiterpene lactones (uvedalin, enhydrin, polymatin B, sonchifolin, and fluctuanin) were isolated from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius. The compounds were identified by 1D-, 2D-NMR, HRMS, IR and UV analyses. In vitro cytotoxicity assays (MTT) showed that these sesquiterpene lactones display poor cytotoxic effects on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy human subjects, whereas a strong cytotoxicity was observed in leukemia and pancreas cancer cells. For the mechanism of action of polymatin B, oxidative stress seems to be involved. Interestingly, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation mainly induced different effects: apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells, necroptosis in CEM-ADR5000 cells through induction of RIP1K, neither apoptosis nor necroptosis in MIA-PaCa-2 cells. Additionally, cells also died partly by necrosis.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology
- Asteraceae/chemistry
- Cell Cycle/drug effects
- Cell Death/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor/drug effects
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods
- Humans
- Lactones/chemistry
- Lactones/pharmacology
- Leukemia, T-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, T-Cell/pathology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
- Molecular Structure
- Oxidative Stress/drug effects
- Sesquiterpenes/chemistry
- Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology
- Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane/chemistry
- Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian De Ford
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19 (VF), D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Albertstrasse 19a, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jerónimo L Ulloa
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA, Junín 956, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - César A N Catalán
- INQUINOA (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT, Ayacucho 971 (T4000INI), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Alfredo Grau
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, C. C. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Virginia S Martino
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA, Junín 956, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - Liliana V Muschietti
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA, Junín 956, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina.
| | - Irmgard Merfort
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19 (VF), D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Albertstrasse 19a, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
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