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Life
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Advances in Biochemical Characterization of New Drugs and Nutraceuticals in...
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Advances in Biochemical Characterization of New Drugs and Nutraceuticals in Diseases

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 December 2023) | Viewed by 5069

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vincenzo Vestuto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Interests: protein misfolding disorders; ER stress; antioxidants; biochemistry of cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Michela Pecoraro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Interests: oxidative stress; ER stress; UPR pathway; inflammation; mitochondria; cardiotoxicity; cystic fibrosis
Dr. Consiglia Longobardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: in vivo models; oxidative stress; nutraceuticals; nephrotoxicity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern technological advances such as omics sciences, high-throughput screening, and drug repurposing methodologies are crucial for a deeper biochemical and pharmacological evaluation of bioactive compounds (BACs). Thus, these approaches for elucidating new mechanisms of action of a natural, semisynthetic, or completely (bio)synthetic drug against human or animal diseases are gaining popularity. Consequently, it is always of interest to understand and study the functional and toxic mechanisms of potentially active molecules. Traditional preclinical tests are often insufficient to assess the numerous efficacy and safety impacts. The health benefits of BACs should be evaluated using isolated compounds or well-characterized mixtures or extracts in selected and validated in vitro and in vivo systems. These include their bioavailability, dose–effect levels in target tissues, and the identification of biological markers that allow for the examination or investigation of an effect of a BAC at a very early stage of disease development.

We would like to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue with original research articles and review articles, which will increase the knowledge about new drug candidates and nutraceutical mechanisms through the use of innovative techniques. Contributes to the characterization of new BAC activity, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antibiofilm effects, with the aim of preventing, delaying, or suppressing a variety of human and animal diseases and disorders, as well as the study of toxic side effects of drugs, will be highly appreciated.

Dr. Vincenzo Vestuto
Dr. Michela Pecoraro
Dr. Consiglia Longobardi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • drug discovery
  • omics sciences
  • molecular modeling
  • oxidative stress
  • bioactive compounds
  • inflammation
  • cancer
  • neurodegeneration
  • toxic effects

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 5399 KiB  
Article
An Exploratory Bioinformatic Investigation of Cats’ Susceptibility to Coronavirus-Deriving Epitopes
by Michela Buonocore, Davide De Biase, Domenico Sorrentino, Antonio Giordano, Orlando Paciello and Anna Maria D’Ursi
Life 2024, 14(3), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030334 - 2 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1004
Abstract
Coronaviruses are highly transmissible and pathogenic viruses for humans and animals. The vast quantity of information collected about SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic helped to unveil details of the mechanisms behind the infection, which are still largely elusive. Recent research demonstrated that different class [...] Read more.
Coronaviruses are highly transmissible and pathogenic viruses for humans and animals. The vast quantity of information collected about SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic helped to unveil details of the mechanisms behind the infection, which are still largely elusive. Recent research demonstrated that different class I/II human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles might define an individual susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 spreading, contributing to the differences in the distribution of the infection through different populations; additional studies suggested that the homolog of the HLA in cats, the feline leukocyte antigen (FLA), plays a pivotal role in the transmission of viruses. With these premises, this study aimed to exploit a bioinformatic approach for the prediction of the transmissibility potential of two distinct feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) in domestic cats (feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV) and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV)) using SARS-CoV-2 as the reference model. We performed an epitope mapping of nonapeptides deriving from SARS-CoV-2, FeCV, and FIPV glycoproteins and predicted their affinities for different alleles included in the three main loci in class I FLAs (E, H, and K). The predicted complexes with the most promising affinities were then subjected to molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to provide insights into the stability and binding energies in the cleft. Results showed the FLA proteins encoded by alleles in the FLA-I H (H*00501 and H*00401) and E (E*01001 and E*00701) loci are largely responsive to several epitopes deriving from replicase and spike proteins of the analyzed coronaviruses. The analysis of the most affine epitope sequences resulting from the prediction can stimulate the development of anti-FCoV immunomodulatory strategies based on peptide drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biochemical Characterization of New Drugs and Nutraceuticals in Diseases)
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14 pages, 3234 KiB  
Article
Therapeutic Potential of P110 Peptide: New Insights into Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
by Ankita Srivastava, Maryann Johnson, Heather A. Renna, Katie M. Sheehan, Saba Ahmed, Thomas Palaia, Aaron Pinkhasov, Irving H. Gomolin, Joshua De Leon and Allison B. Reiss
Life 2023, 13(11), 2156; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13112156 - 2 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1558
Abstract
Mitochondrial degeneration in various neurodegenerative diseases, specifically in Alzheimer’s disease, involves excessive mitochondrial fission and reduced fusion, leading to cell damage. P110 is a seven-amino acid peptide that restores mitochondrial dynamics by acting as an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission. However, the role of [...] Read more.
Mitochondrial degeneration in various neurodegenerative diseases, specifically in Alzheimer’s disease, involves excessive mitochondrial fission and reduced fusion, leading to cell damage. P110 is a seven-amino acid peptide that restores mitochondrial dynamics by acting as an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission. However, the role of P110 as a neuroprotective agent in AD remains unclear. Therefore, we performed cell culture studies to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of P110 on amyloid-β accumulation and mitochondrial functioning. Human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were incubated with 1 µM and 10 µM of P110, and Real-Time PCR and Western blot analysis were done to quantify the expression of genes pertaining to AD and neuronal health. Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to P110 significantly increased APP mRNA levels at 1 µM, while BACE1 mRNA levels were increased at both 1 µM and 10 µM. However, protein levels of both APP and BACE1 were significantly reduced at 10 µM of P110. Further, P110 treatment significantly increased ADAM10 and Klotho protein levels at 10 µM. In addition, P110 exposure significantly increased active mitochondria and reduced ROS in live SH-SY5Y cells at both 1 µM and 10 µM concentrations. Taken together, our results indicate that P110 might be useful in attenuating amyloid-β generation and improving neuronal health by maintaining mitochondrial function in neurons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biochemical Characterization of New Drugs and Nutraceuticals in Diseases)
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15 pages, 2272 KiB  
Article
The Protecting Activity of RIPACUT®: A New Therapeutic Approach Preserving Epithelial Health Based on the Combination of Iceland Lichen Extract, Silver Salt, and Sodium Hyaluronate
by Raffaella Belvedere, Nunzia Novizio, Daniela Eletto, Amalia Porta, Umberto Di Maio and Antonello Petrella
Life 2023, 13(5), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051088 - 26 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1058
Abstract
Epithelial integrity and function must be maintained in a dynamic healthy equilibrium, keeping unaltered the oxidative and inflammatory conditions and the microbiome of the cutaneous layers. Beside the skin, other mucous membranes can be injured, such as the nasal and anal ones, because [...] Read more.
Epithelial integrity and function must be maintained in a dynamic healthy equilibrium, keeping unaltered the oxidative and inflammatory conditions and the microbiome of the cutaneous layers. Beside the skin, other mucous membranes can be injured, such as the nasal and anal ones, because of the contact with the external environment. Here, we detected the effects of RIPACUT®, a combination of Iceland lichen extract, silver salt and sodium hyaluronate that individually act in diverse biological ways. The findings we obtained on keratinocytes, nasal and intestinal epithelial cells reveal that this combination showed a marked antioxidant activity, further assessed by the DPPH assay. Additionally, by analyzing the release of the IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines, we proved the anti-inflammatory effect of RIPACUT®. In both cases, the main preserving action was due to Iceland lichen. We also observed a notable antimicrobial activity mediated by the silver compound. These data suggest that RIPACUT® could signify the basis for an attractive pharmacological approach to maintaining healthy epithelial conditions. Interestingly, this may be extended to the nasal and anal areas where it protects against oxidative, inflammatory and infectious insults. Thus, these outcomes encourage the creation of sprays or creams for which sodium hyaluronate can guarantee a surface film-forming effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biochemical Characterization of New Drugs and Nutraceuticals in Diseases)
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Review

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25 pages, 900 KiB  
Review
Antitumor Mechanisms of Lycium barbarum Fruit: An Overview of In Vitro and In Vivo Potential
by Maria Rosaria Miranda, Vincenzo Vestuto, Giuseppina Amodio, Michele Manfra, Giacomo Pepe and Pietro Campiglia
Life 2024, 14(3), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030420 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 922
Abstract
Lycium barbarum, known as goji berry or wolfberry, is a fruit long associated with health benefits, showing a plethora of effects ranging from antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Its potential is attributed to the significant presence of polysaccharides, glycopeptides, polyphenols, flavonoids, [...] Read more.
Lycium barbarum, known as goji berry or wolfberry, is a fruit long associated with health benefits, showing a plethora of effects ranging from antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Its potential is attributed to the significant presence of polysaccharides, glycopeptides, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and their derivatives. These compounds effectively counteract the action of free radicals, positively influencing cellular balance and intracellular signaling, contributing to overall cell health and function acting on multiple molecular pathways. Several fractions extracted from goji berries demonstrate antitumor properties, particularly effective against breast cancer, without showing cytotoxic effects on normal human cells. Hence, the review explored the fundamental traits of bioactive elements in Lycium barbarum and their potential in cancer treatment and, specifically, breast cancer. It focused on elucidating wolfberry’s influenced biochemical pathways, its synergism with anticancer drugs, and its potential to alleviate the side effects associated with existing cancer treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biochemical Characterization of New Drugs and Nutraceuticals in Diseases)
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