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Gamboa J, Lourenço P, Cruz C, Gallardo E. Aptamers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Compounds: A Review. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:541. [PMID: 38675202 PMCID: PMC11053555 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural compounds have a high potential for the treatment of various conditions, including infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. However, they usually present poor pharmacokinetics, low specificity, and even toxicity, which limits their use. Therefore, targeted drug delivery systems, typically composed of a carrier and a targeting ligand, can enhance natural product selectivity and effectiveness. Notably, aptamers-short RNA or single-stranded DNA molecules-have gained attention as promising ligands in targeted drug delivery since they are simple to synthesize and modify, and they present high tissue permeability, stability, and a wide array of available targets. The combination of natural products, namely plant-based compounds, with a drug delivery system utilizing aptamers as targeting agents represents an emerging strategy that has the potential to broaden its applications. This review discusses the potential of aptamers as targeting agents in the delivery of natural compounds, as well as new trends and developments in their utilization in the field of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Gamboa
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (J.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Pedro Lourenço
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (J.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Carla Cruz
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (J.G.); (P.L.)
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês de Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Eugenia Gallardo
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (J.G.); (P.L.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, EM506, 6200-000 Covilhã, Portugal
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Liu Y, Du Z, Li T, Zhang J, Cheng Y, Huang J, Yang J, Wen L, Tian M, Yang M, Chen C. Lycorine eliminates B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by targeting PSAT1 through the serine/glycine metabolic pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 961:176162. [PMID: 37951487 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176162] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) has been confirmed as the most common malignant hematologic neoplasm among children. A novel antitumor mechanism of lycorine was elucidated in this study. As revealed by the result of this study, lycorine significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of REH and NALM-6 and induced their apoptosis. The result of the RNA-seq analysis suggested that lycorine targeted PSAT1 of serine/glycine metabolism in B-ALL cells. As indicated by the result of the GSEA analysis, the genes enriched in the amino acid metabolic pathways were down-regulated by lycorine. As revealed by the results of ectopic expression, shRNA knockdown assays, and further liquid-phase tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, lycorine reduced serine/glycine metabolites by down-regulating PSAT1, further disrupting carbon metabolism and eliminating B-ALL cells. Furthermore, lycorine showed a synergistic effect with cytarabine in ALL treatments. Lastly, lycorine significantly down-regulated leukemia progression in the cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) model. In brief, this study has suggested for the first time that lycorine is a promising anti-ALL drug, and a novel amino acid metabolism-associated property of lycorine was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Liu
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China; Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zefan Du
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianwen Li
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yucai Cheng
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junbing Huang
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Luping Wen
- Department of Pharmacy, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mengyao Tian
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mo Yang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Chun Chen
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China.
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Paiva MJM, Nascimento GNL, Damasceno IAM, Santos TT, Silveira D. Pharmacological and toxicological effects of Amaryllidaceae. BRAZ J BIOL 2023; 83:e277092. [PMID: 38126586 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.277092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Amaryllidaceae family is widely distributed in the tropics, presenting biological activity attributed mostly to alkaloids, such as an important inhibitory activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antifungal, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities. The present study aims to review the spectrum of action of the main biological activities and toxicity of secondary metabolites found in Amaryllidaceae through a literature review, using Prisma and the descriptors "Pharmacological effects of Amaryllidaceae" and "Amaryllidaceae family" and "Pharmacological actions of Amaryllidaceae", used in English and Portuguese. The literature search was done in March and May 2023. Original works published from 2012 to 2023, available in full, and presenting experimental and clinical studies were included. After the selection considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 articles fulfilled the defined criteria. From a pharmacological point of view, the highlight is due to the alkaloid galantamine, which has the potential- and is already used - for treating Alzheimer's. The toxicological aspect must be considered and evaluated carefully, as alkaloids have been associated with adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cardiovascular, neurological, and respiratory changes. Furthermore, some studies indicate that consuming these plants in significant quantities can lead to hepatic and renal toxicity. Therefore, the therapeutical use of this family's plant drugs and derivatives requires further studies to elucidate its effects and point out metabolites with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J M Paiva
- Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - G N L Nascimento
- Universidade Federal do Tocantins - UFT, Laboratório de Ciências Básicas e da Saúde, Palmas, TO, Brasil
| | - I A M Damasceno
- Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - T T Santos
- Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia - UFOB, Centro Multidisciplinar de Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Curso de Bacharelado em Engenharia de Biotecnologia, Luís Eduardo Magalhães, BA, Brasil
| | - D Silveira
- Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais, Brasília, DF, Brasil
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