Antiparasitic Natural Products

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Derived Antibiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 661

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
Interests: Leishmania; Trypanosoma; Acanthamoeba; chemotherapy; treatment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the ever-evolving landscape of drug discovery, the exploration of naturally occurring compounds has emerged as a promising frontier, particularly in the field of anti-parasitic drugs. This special feature would first delve into the intrinsic value of tapping into nature's pharmacopoeia, highlighting the rich diversity of bioactive compounds that exist in plants, fungi and microorganisms. This approach not only harnesses millions of years of evolutionary refinement, but also offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic drug development.

This special feature will highlight the importance of anti-parasitic drug research, considering the global impact of parasitic infections on human health, especially in resource-limited regions. By emphasising the unique chemical structures and mechanisms of action inherent in natural compounds, the narrative would advocate a shift in focus towards bioprospecting and the exploration of traditional medicinal knowledge. In addition, it could discuss how synergy between modern scientific techniques and traditional wisdom could unveil novel and effective solutions to parasitic diseases, ultimately benefiting both developed and developing nations.

Finally, the challenges and opportunities associated with this approach are likely to be addressed, encouraging collaboration between scientists, ethnobotanists and pharmacologists. It would call for greater investment in interdisciplinary research, recognising that the path towards the discovery of new anti-parasitic drugs from natural sources requires a collective effort. By highlighting success stories and ongoing efforts in this field, the special will seek to inspire researchers and pharmaceutical industries to prioritise the exploration of naturally occurring compounds, thereby encouraging a more sustainable and globally impactful approach to the development of anti-parasitic drugs.

Dr. Atteneri López Arencibia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • anti-parasitic drugs
  • protozoa
  • parasite
  • drug discovery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 1359 KiB  
Article
EDBD—3,6-Epidioxy-1,10-Bisaboladiene—An Endoperoxide Sesquiterpene Obtained from Drimys brasiliensis (Winteraceae) Exhibited Potent Preclinical Efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni Infection
by Eric Umehara, Thainá R. Teixeira, Rayssa A. Cajás, Monique C. Amaro, Josué de Moraes and João Henrique G. Lago
Antibiotics 2024, 13(8), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13080779 - 18 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease impacting over 250 million individuals globally, remains a major public health challenge due to its prevalence and significant impact on affected communities. Praziquantel, the sole available treatment, highlights the urgency of the need for novel anthelmintic agents to [...] Read more.
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease impacting over 250 million individuals globally, remains a major public health challenge due to its prevalence and significant impact on affected communities. Praziquantel, the sole available treatment, highlights the urgency of the need for novel anthelmintic agents to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of schistosomiasis elimination. Previous studies reported the promising antiparasitic activity of different terpenoids against Schistosoma mansoni Sambon (Diplostomida: Schistosomatidae). In the present work, the hexane extract from branches of Drimys brasiliensis afforded a diastereomeric mixture of endoperoxide sesquiterpenes, including 3,6-epidioxy-bisabola-1,10-diene (EDBD). This compound was evaluated in vitro and in vivo against S. mansoni. EDBD exhibited a significant reduction in S. mansoni viability in vitro, with an effective concentration (EC50) value of 4.1 µM. Additionally, EDBD demonstrated no toxicity to mammalian cells. In silico analysis predicted good drug-likeness properties, adhering to pharmaceutical industry standards, including favorable ADME profiles. Furthermore, oral treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with EDBD (400 mg/kg) resulted in a remarkable egg burden reduction (98% and 99% in tissues and feces, respectively) surpassing praziquantel’s efficacy. These findings suggest the promising potential of EDBD as a lead molecule for developing a novel schistosomiasis treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antiparasitic Natural Products)
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