Sulfur Compounds as Inhibitors of Enzymatic Activity of a Snake Venom Phospholipase A2: Benzyl 4-nitrobenzenecarbodithioate as a Case of Study

Biofungicides Based on Plant Extracts: On the Road to Organic Farming

Phytopathogenic fungi are responsible for diseases in commercially important crops and cause major supply problems in the global food chain. Plants were able to protect themselves from disease before humans played an active role in protecting plants. They are known to synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites (SMs), such as terpenes, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds, which can be extracted using conventional and unconventional techniques to formulate biofungicides; plant extracts have antifungal activity and various mechanisms of action against these organisms. In addition, they are considered non-phytotoxic and potentially effective in disease control. They are a sustainable and economically viable alternative for use in agriculture, which is why biofungicides are increasingly recognized as an attractive option to solve the problems caused by synthetic fungicides. Currently, organic farming continues to grow, highlighting the importance of developing environmentally friendly alternatives for crop production. This review provides a compilation of the literature on biosynthesis, mechanisms of action of secondary metabolites against phytopathogens, extraction techniques and formulation of biofungicides, biological activity of plant extracts on phytopathogenic fungi, regulation, advantages, disadvantages and an overview of the current use of biofungicides in agriculture.

Study on the synthesis and structure-activity relationship of 1,2,3-triazoles against toxic activities of Bothrops jararaca venom

Snakebite envenoming is a health concern and has been a neglected tropical disease since 2017, according to the World Health Organization. In this study, we evaluated the ability of ten 1,2,3-triazole derivatives AM001 to AM010 to inhibit pertinent in vitro (coagulant, hemolytic, and proteolytic) and in vivo (hemorrhagic, edematogenic, and lethal) activities of Bothrops jararaca venom. The derivatives were synthesized, and had their molecular structures fully characterized by CHN element analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Nuclear magnetic resonance. The derivatives were incubated with the B. jararaca venom (incubation protocol) or administered before (prevention protocol) or after (treatment protocol) the injection of B. jararaca venom into the animals. Briefly, the derivatives were able to inhibit the main toxic effects triggered by B. jararaca venom, though with varying efficacies, and they were devoid of toxicity through in vivo, in silico or in vitro analyses. However, it seemed that the derivatives AM006 or AM010 inhibited more efficiently hemorrhage or lethality, respectively. The derivatives were nontoxic. Therefore, the 1,2,3-triazole derivatives may be useful as an adjuvant to more efficiently treat the local toxic effects caused by B. jararaca envenoming.

Diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide in garlic as novel therapeutic agents to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. It is a cancer that originates from the mammary ducts and involves mutations in multiple genes. Recently, the treatment of breast cancer has become increasingly challenging owing to the increase in tumor heterogeneity and aggressiveness, which gives rise to therapeutic resistance. Epidemiological, population-based, and hospital-based case-control studies have demonstrated an association between high intake of certain Allium vegetables and a reduced risk in the development of breast cancer. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) are the main allyl sulfur compounds present in garlic, and are known to exhibit anticancer activity as they interfere with breast cancer cell proliferation, tumor metastasis, and angiogenesis. The present review highlights multidrug resistance mechanisms and their signaling pathways in breast cancer. This review discusses the potential anticancer activities of DADS and DATS, with emphasis on drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Understanding the anticancer activities of DADS and DATS provides insights into their potential in targeting drug resistance mechanisms of TNBC, especially in clinical studies.

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The review describes the causes of drug resistance in TNBC.

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The effects of DADS and DATS on drug resistance mechanisms in TNBC are presented.

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The impacts of DADS and DATS on metastasis of TNBC are discussed.

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Antitumor immune activities of DADS and DATS against TNBC are illustrated.