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Topic Review
Magnetic Drug-Delivery System
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are nanoscale particles (1–100 nm) that can be guided through an external magnetic field due to their superparamagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic properties, which may provide features for biomedical applications. 
  • 933
  • 23 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Nucleoside Analogs and Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are positive-sense RNA enveloped viruses, members of the family Coronaviridae, that cause infections in a broad range of mammals including humans. Several CoV species lead to mild upper respiratory infections typically associated with common colds. However, three human CoV (HCoV) species: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-1, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, are responsible for severe respiratory diseases at the origin of two recent epidemics (SARS and MERS), and of the current COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19), respectively.
  • 932
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Fluorescent Probes
Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) is a crucial reactive oxygen species that plays a vital role in cellular signal transduction and homeostatic regulation. Determining and visualizing peroxynitrite accurately in biological systems is important for understanding its roles in physiological and pathological activity.
  • 931
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Hypoglycemic Effect of Resveratrol
El resveratrol (RV) es un compuesto polifenólico con propiedades antioxidantes, antiinflamatorias e hipoglucémicas. Varios estudios in vitro y en modelos animales han demostrado los efectos beneficiosos del RV; sin embargo, los resultados en humanos no son concluyentes.
  • 919
  • 25 Jan 2021
Topic Review
NPECs for Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy
Natural plant extracts and compounds (NPECs), which originate from herbs or plants, have been used in the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for many years. 
  • 918
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Phaseolus multiflorus var. albus
Phaseolus multiflorus var. albus (Leguminosae), commonly known as “white kidney bean”, is a twining perennial vine whose fruit has been used as a popular food worldwide owing to its high nutritional content, in terms of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins.
  • 918
  • 22 Oct 2021
Topic Review
The Medicinal Moroccan Plant Cladanthus arabicus
The yellow-flowering plant Cladanthus arabicus (L.) Cass., commonly called Arabian Cladanthus or palm springs daisy, is typical of the West Mediterranean region and is particularly abundant in Morocco. The plant is used in traditional Moroccan medicine for the treatment of diabetes and other ailments. Over the past 20 years, this abundant wild plant has been neglected from a phytochemical viewpoint.
  • 916
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
New Marine Xanthones Isolated since 2010
Xanthones are considered polyketide derivatives due to their biosynthetic precursor. They are aromatic oxygenated heterocyclic compounds with a dibenzo-γ-pyrone scaffold, known as 9H-xanthen-9-one.
  • 908
  • 27 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Endocytic Properties of vGPCRs
Endocytosis is a fundamental process involved in trafficking of various extracellular and transmembrane molecules from the cell surface to its interior. This enables cells to communicate and respond to external environments, maintain cellular homeostasis, and transduce signals. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a family of receptors with seven transmembrane alpha-helical domains (7TM receptors) expressed at the cell surface, where they regulate physiological and pathological cellular processes. Several herpesviruses encode receptors (vGPCRs) which benefits the virus by avoiding host immune surveillance, supporting viral dissemination, and thereby establishing widespread and lifelong infection, processes where receptor signaling and/or endocytosis seem central. vGPCRs are rising as potential drug targets as exemplified by the cytomegalovirus-encoded receptor US28, where its constitutive internalization has been exploited for selective drug delivery in virus infected cells. Therefore, studying GPCR trafficking is of great importance.
  • 907
  • 30 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Targeting Nrf2 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways in Cancer
Plant secondary metabolites, known as phytochemicals, have gained much attention in light of the “circular economy”, to reutilize waste products deriving from agriculture and food industry. Phytochemicals are known for their onco-preventive and chemoprotective effects, among several other beneficial properties. Apple phytochemicals have been extensively studied for their effectiveness in a wide range of diseases, cancer included.
  • 904
  • 15 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Inhibitor-Enzyme Complexes for New Anti-TB Agents
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is the most devastating human pathogen, as confirmed by the latest TB Report published in October.
  • 903
  • 23 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Indole-Based Macrocyclization by Metal-Catalyzed Approaches
Due to its immense importance, the progress of novel approaches for the synthesis of indole-based scaffolds has increased steadily. The majority of the macrocycles synthesis proceeds through the macrolactamization and macrolactonization, as well as the C–C bond macrocyclization process described by metal-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and coupling reactions.
  • 903
  • 21 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Cyclodextrins/Estrogens Inclusion Complexes
In the pharmaceutical industry, cyclodextrins (CDs) are frequently used to improve the aqueous solubility, stability, and bioavailability of medications. Because estrogens have a low polarity, they can interact with some cyclodextrins’ hydrophobic cavities to create inclusion complexes, if their geometric properties are compatible. Estrogen-CD complexes have been widely applied in several fields for various objectives. 
  • 900
  • 09 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Marine Organisms with Anti-Glioma Activity
Marine organisms are able to produce a plethora of small molecules with novel chemical structures and potent biological properties, being a fertile source for discovery of pharmacologically active compounds, already with several marine-derived agents approved as drugs. Nearly fifty marine compounds were described as anti-glioma agents in the last decade. Glioma is classified by the WHO as the most common and aggressive form of tumor on CNS. Currently, Temozolomide is the only chemotherapeutic option approved by the FDA even though having some limitations. Marine compounds could be promising leads for the discovery of new therapeutic alternatives for glioma treatment. 
  • 890
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
Key Heterocyclic Anti-Angiogenic Leads
Pathological angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer; accordingly, a number of anticancer FDA-approved drugs act by inhibiting angiogenesis via different mechanisms. However, the development process of the most potent anti-angiogenics has met various hurdles including redundancy, multiplicity, and development of compensatory mechanisms by which blood vessels are remodeled. Moreover, identification of broad-spectrum anti-angiogenesis targets is proved to be required to enhance the efficacy of the anti-angiogenesis drugs. In this perspective, a proper understanding of the structure activity relationship (SAR) of the recent anti-angiogenics is required. Various anti-angiogenic classes have been developed over the years; among them, the heterocyclic organic compounds come to the fore as the most promising, with several drugs approved by the FDA.
  • 878
  • 24 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Phytochemicals
 The bioactive chemical compounds responsible for these benefits are known as phytochemicals (PHYs). Specifically, PHYs are defined as bioactive chemical compounds found in plants, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant-derived foods, that may supply health benefits beyond basic nutrition and could help to reduce the risk of major chronic diseases. PHYs are generally produced by plants to help themselves resist fungi, bacteria, and plant virus infections and also to hamper their consumption by insects and other animals
  • 875
  • 08 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Phlorotannins’ Constituents in Fucales
Fucales are an order within the Phaeophyceae that include most of the common littoral seaweeds in temperate and subtropical coastal regions. Many species of this order have long been a part of human culture with applications as food, feedand remedies in folk medicine. Apart from their high nutritional value, these seaweeds are also a well-known reservoir of multiple bioactive compounds with great industrial interest. Among them, phlorotannins, a unique and diverse class of brown algae-exclusive phenolics, have gathered much attention during the last few years due to their numerous potential health benefits. However, due to their complex structural features, combined with the scarcity of standards, it poses a great challenge to the identification and characterization of these compounds, at least with the technology currently available. Nevertheless, much effort has been taken towards the elucidation of the structural features of phlorotannins, which have resulted in relevant insights into the chemistry of these compounds.
  • 870
  • 05 Jan 2023
Topic Review
EGFR-Targeted Pentacyclic Triterpene Analogues for Glioma Therapy
Glioma, particularly its most malignant form, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most common and aggressive malignant central nervous system tumor. The drawbacks of the current chemotherapy for GBM have aroused curiosity in the search for targeted therapies. Aberrantly overexpressed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in GBM results in poor prognosis, low survival rates, poor responses to therapy and recurrence, and therefore EGFR-targeted therapy stands out as a promising approach for the treatment of gliomas. In this context, a series of pentacyclic triterpene analogues were subjected to in vitro and in silico assays, which were conducted to assess their potency as EGFR-targeted anti-glioma agents. In particular, compound 10 was the most potent anti-glioma agent with an IC50 value of 5.82 µM towards U251 human glioblastoma cells. Taking into account its low cytotoxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), compound 10 exerts selective antitumor action towards Jurkat human leukemic T-cells. This compound also induced apoptosis and inhibited EGFR with an IC50 value of 9.43 µM compared to erlotinib (IC50 = 0.06 µM). Based on in vitro and in silico data, compound 10 stands out as a potential orally bioavailable EGFR-targeted anti-glioma agent endowed with the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB).
  • 857
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Metal Ions and Bioactive Glasses
Bioactive glasses (BGs) are of great interest in the field of medical implants due to their osteoinductive, osteoproductive, osteoconductive, and antimicrobial properties. Metal ions with bactericidal action can be incorporated into the glass structure in order to improve the antibiofilm activity of the BGs.
  • 854
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Classification, Toxicity and Bioactivity of Natural Diterpenoid Alkaloids
Diterpenoid alkaloids are natural compounds having complex structural features with many stereo-centres originating from the amination of natural tetracyclic diterpenes and produced primarily from plants in the Aconitum, Delphinium, Consolida genera. Corals, Xenia, Okinawan/Clavularia, Alcyonacea (soft corals) and marine sponges are rich sources of diterpenoids, despite the difficulty to access them and the lack of availability. Researchers have long been concerned with the potential beneficial or harmful effects of diterpenoid alkaloids due to their structural complexity, which accounts for their use as pharmaceuticals as well as their lousy reputation as toxic substances. Compounds belonging to this unique and fascinating family of natural products exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities. Some of these compounds are on the list of clinical drugs, while others act as incredibly potent neurotoxins. Despite numerous attempts to prepare synthetic products, this review only introduces the natural diterpenoid alkaloids, describing ‘compounds’ structures and classifications and their toxicity and bioactivity. The purpose of the review is to highlight some existing relationships between the presence of substituents in the structure of such molecules and their recognised bioactivity.
  • 848
  • 27 Sep 2023
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