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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 40059

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dominique Delmas

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Guest Editor

University of Bourgogne, Inserm Research Center UMR 1231”Lipids, Nutrition, Cancers”, Dijon, France
Interests: bioactive molecules; polyphenols; degenerative diseases; cancers; inflammation;
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Numerous studies have shown that various bioactive molecules from the plant kingdom could play a key role in prevention or in therapeutic strategies, alone or in association with classical pharmacological drugs. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that 40% of the approved molecules are natural compounds or inspired by them, of which 74% are used in anticancer therapy. In other various contexts of degenerative diseases (ocular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, auto-immune disorders, etc.), natural products, due to their pleiotropic pharmaceutical actions, could contribute to prevent the occurrence of these pathologies. Among them, polyphenols, fatty acids such as omega-3, oil extracts, and marine compounds could be candidates of choice to exert a preventive action against many of the evils of our century, and could act as therapeutic adjuvants.

This Special Issue aims to cover areas related to the potential health benefits of various bioactive molecules from plants. Specifically, this Special Issue will highlight the biological properties and molecular mechanisms in major pathologies in terms of public health, including metabolic diseases, cancers, degenerative age-related diseases, ocular diseases, and inflammatory/immune pathologies.

I cordially invite authors to contribute original articles as well as review articles that will give the readers of International Journal of Molecular Sciences updated and new perspectives about bioactive molecules and their derivatives, which could contribute to the establishment new interest in the development of natural compounds for health.

Subtopics:

- Structure–activity relationships of natural bioactive compounds.

- Bioactive molecules and cancers.

- Bioactive molecules and degenerative diseases.

- Bioactive molecules and ocular diseases.

- Bioactive molecules and inflammatory diseases.

- Bioactive molecules and metabolic disorders.

Prof. Dominique Delmas
Guest Editor

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

polyphenols
polyunsaturated fatty acids
oil extracts
marine products
molecular mechanisms
signaling pathways
degenerative diseases
cancers
prevention

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 8572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovery of Tryptanthrin and Its Derivatives and Its Activities against NSCLC In Vitro via Both Apoptosis and Autophagy Pathways

by Yayu Zou, Guanglong Zhang, Chengpeng Li, Haitao Long, Danping Chen, Zhurui Li, Guiping Ouyang, Wenjing Zhang, Yi Zhang and Zhenchao Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021450 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2001

Abstract

In this study, a series of novel tryptanthrin derivatives were synthesized and their inhibitory activities against selected human cancer cell lines, namely, lung (A549), chronic myeloid leukemia (K562), prostate (PC3), and live (HepG2), were evaluated using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorimetric (MTT) assay. Among the tested compounds, compound C1 exhibited a promising inhibitory effect on the A549 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 0.55 ± 0.33 µM. The observation of the cell morphological result showed that treatment with C1 could significantly inhibit the migration of A549 cells through the cell migration assay. Moreover, after treatment with C1, the A549 cells exhibited a typical apoptotic morphology and obvious autophagy. In addition, the detection of apoptosis and the mitochondrial membrane potential indicated that C1 induced A549 cell apoptosis via modulating the levels of Bcl2 family members and disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential. Compound C1 also suppressed the expression of cyclin D1 and increased the expression of p21 in the A549 cells, inducing cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase in a dose dependent manner. The further mechanism study found that C1 markedly increased the transformation from LC3-I to LC3-II. Taken together, our results suggest that C1 is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, inducing cell apoptosis, and triggering autophagy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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14 pages, 3725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yeast Protein Asf1 Possesses Modulating Activity towards Protein Kinase CK2

by Andrea Baier, Ryszard Szyszka and Monika Elżbieta Jach

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415764 - 12 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1149

Abstract

Protein kinase CK2 plays an important role in cell survival and protects regulatory proteins from caspase-mediated degradation during apoptosis. The consensus sequence of proteins phosphorylated by CK2 contains a cluster of acidic amino acids around the phosphorylation site. The poly-acidic sequence in yeast protein Asf1 is similar to the acidic loop in CK2β, which possesses a regulatory function. We observed that the overexpression of Asf1 in yeast cells influences cell growth. Experiments performed in vitro and in vivo indicate that yeast protein Asf1 inhibits protein kinase CK2. Our data suggest that each CK2 isoform might be regulated in a different way. Deletion of the amino or carboxyl end of Asf1 reveals that the acidic cluster close to the C-terminus is responsible for the activation or inhibition of CK2 activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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21 pages, 3526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Piperine Attenuates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Oxidative Stress, Lung Inflammation, and Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition by Modulating the SIRT1/Nrf2 Axis

by Pritam Saha, Sneha Durugkar, Siddhi Jain, P. A. Shantanu, Samir R. Panda, Aishwarya Jala, Sharad Gokhale, Pawan Sharma and V. G. M. Naidu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14722; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314722 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

Piperine (PIP) is a major phytoconstituent in black pepper which is responsible for various pharmacological actions such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activity. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of PIP on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung pathology using both in-vitro and in-vivo models. BEAS-2B and A549 cells were exposed to CS extract (CSE) for 48 h; BALB/c mice were exposed to CS (9 cigarettes/day, 4 days) to induce features of airway disease. PIP at doses of (0.25, 1.25, and 6.25 µM, in vitro; 1 and 10 mg/kg, in vivo, i.n) and DEX (1 µM, in vitro; 1 mg/kg, in vivo, i.n) were used to assess cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), inflammation-related cellular signaling, and lung function. PIP treatment protects cells from CSE-induced lung epithelial cell death. PIP treatment restores the epithelial marker (p < 0.05) and decreases the mesenchymal, inflammatory markers (p < 0.05) in both in vitro and in vivo models. The PIP treatment improves the altered lung function (p < 0.05) in mice induced by CS exposure. Mechanistically, PIP treatment modulates SIRT1 thereby reducing the inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α (p < 0.05) and enhancing the epigenetic marker HDAC2 (p < 0.05) and antioxidant marker Nrf2 (p < 0.05) expressions. Thus, PIP alleviates pulmonary inflammation by modulating the SIRT1-mediated inflammatory cascade, inhibits EMT, and activates Nrf2 signaling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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13 pages, 3212 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pharmacological Actions of 5-Hydroxyindolin-2 on Modulation of Platelet Functions and Thrombus Formation via Thromboxane A₂ Inhibition and cAMP Production

by Hyuk-Woo Kwon, Sung Dae Kim, Man Hee Rhee and Jung-Hae Shin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14545; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314545 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1473

Abstract

Platelets play a very significant role in hemostasis while simultaneously posing a risk for the development of various cardiovascular diseases. Platelet-mediated issues can occur in blood vessels and trigger various medical problems. Therefore, controlling platelet function is important in the prevention of thrombosis. In this regard, we need to find compounds that provide potent antiplatelet activity with minimum side effects. Therefore, we examined the effect of 5-hydroxyindolin-2-one isolated from Protaetia brevitarsis larvae having antiplatelet properties and investigated different pathways that mediate the antiplatelet activity. We examined the effect of 5-hydroxyindolin-2-one (5-HI) on the regulation of phosphoproteins, thromboxane A₂ generation, and integrin αIIbβ3 action. Our data showed that human platelet aggregation was inhibited by 5-HI (75, 100, 150, 200 μM) without cytotoxicity, and it suppressed intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration through the regulation of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor I (Ser¹⁷⁵⁶) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Moreover, collagen-elevated thromboxane A₂ production and αIIbβ3 action were inhibited by 5-HI through the regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂), mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (p38^MAPK), vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and Akt (protein kinase B). Therefore, we suggested that 5-HI could be a potential substance for the prevention of thrombosis-mediated thrombosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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16 pages, 3207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resvega, a Nutraceutical Preparation, Affects NFκB Pathway and Prolongs the Anti-VEGF Effect of Bevacizumab in Undifferentiated ARPE-19 Retina Cells

by Randa Sghaier, Maude Perus, Clarisse Cornebise, Flavie Courtaut, Alessandra Scagliarini, Céline Olmiere, Virginie Aires, François Hermetet and Dominique Delmas

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911704 - 3 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an irreversible chronic degenerative pathology that affects the retina. Despite therapeutic advances thanks to the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, resistance mechanisms have been found to accentuate the visual deficit. In the present study, we explored whether a nutraceutical formulation composed of omega-3 fatty acids and resveratrol, called Resvega^®, was able to disrupt VEGF-A secretion in human ARPE-19 retina cells. We found that Resvega^® inhibits VEGF-A secretion through decreases in both the PI3K-AKT-mTOR and NFκB signaling pathways. In NFκB signaling pathways, Resvega^® inhibits the phosphorylation of the inhibitor of NFκB, IκB, which can bind NFκB dimers and sequester them in the cytoplasm. Thus, the NFκB subunits cannot migrate to the nucleus where they normally bind and stimulate the transcription of target genes such as VEGF-A. The IκB kinase complex (IKK) is also affected by Resvega^® since the nutraceutical formulation decreases both IKKα and IKKβ subunits and the IKKγ subunit which is required for the stimulation of IKK. Very interestingly, we highlight that Resvega^® could prolong the anti-angiogenic effect of Avastin^®, which is an anti-VEGF agent typically used in clinical practice. Our results suggest that Resvega^® may have potential interest as nutritional supplementation against AMD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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13 pages, 4267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tumor Promoting Effects of Sulforaphane on Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Murine Hepatocarcinogenesis

by Jie Zheng, Do-Hee Kim, Xizhu Fang, Seong Hoon Kim, Soma Saeidi, Su-Jung Kim and Young-Joon Surh

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5397; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105397 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1784

Abstract

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a key transcription factor involved in protection against initiation of carcinogenesis in normal cells. Notably, recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant activation of NRF2 accelerates the proliferation and progression of cancer cells. The differential effects of NRF2 on multi-stage carcinogenesis have raised a concern about the validity of NRF2 activators for chemoprevention. This prompted us to assess the effects of sulforaphane (SFN), a prototypic NRF2 activating chemopreventive phytochemical, on experimentally induced carcinogenesis. In the present study, SFN was daily injected intraperitoneally (25 mg/kg) for 3 months to male C57BL/6 mice at 6 months after single intraperitoneal administration of a hepatocarcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The liver to body weight ratio, tumor growth, and the number and the size of hepatomas measured at 9 months after DEN administration were significantly higher in SFN-treated mice than those in vehicle-treated mice. Moreover, the expression of NRF2, its target protein NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, and the cell proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen was further elevated in DEN plus SFN-treated mice. These results suggest that once hepatocarcinogenesis is initiated, SFN may stimulate tumor progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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29 pages, 3649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resveratrol Prevents Cytoarchitectural and Interneuronal Alterations in the Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism

by Júlio Santos-Terra, Iohanna Deckmann, Giovanna Carello-Collar, Gustavo Della-Flora Nunes, Guilherme Bauer-Negrini, Gustavo Brum Schwingel, Mellanie Fontes-Dutra, Rudimar Riesgo and Carmem Gottfried

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(8), 4075; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084075 - 7 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2720

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by several alterations, including disorganized brain cytoarchitecture and excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance. We aimed to analyze aspects associated with the inhibitory components in ASD, using bioinformatics to develop notions about embryonic life and tissue analysis for postnatal life. We analyzed microarray and RNAseq datasets of embryos from different ASD models, demonstrating that regions involved in neuronal development are affected. We evaluated the effect of prenatal treatment with resveratrol (RSV) on the neuronal organization and quantity of parvalbumin-positive (PV+), somatostatin-positive (SOM+), and calbindin-positive (CB+) GABAergic interneurons, besides the levels of synaptic proteins and GABA receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (HC) of the ASD model induced by valproic acid (VPA). VPA increased the total number of neurons in the mPFC, while it reduced the number of SOM+ neurons, as well as the proportion of SOM+, PV+, and CB+ neurons (subregion-specific manner), with preventive effects of RSV. In summary, metabolic alterations or gene expression impairments could be induced by VPA, leading to extensive damage in the late developmental stages. By contrast, due to its antioxidant, neuroprotective, and opposite action on histone properties, RSV may avoid damages induced by VPA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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22 pages, 4325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Menthone Inhalation Alleviates Local and Systemic Allergic Inflammation in Ovalbumin-Sensitized and Challenged Asthmatic Mice

by Yi-Hsuan Su and Jin-Yuarn Lin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 4011; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23074011 - 4 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2166

Abstract

Menthone is rich in Mentha × Piperita L. essential oil and it has anti-inflammatory properties; research shows that it is useful, via percutaneous absorption, in treating inflammation-related diseases. However, anti-allergic inflammatory effects of volatile menthone have not yet been used to treat allergic asthma, in vivo. We hypothesized that menthone inhalation may have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects in patients with allergic asthma. Therefore, in our study, menthone inhalation was used to treat ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and challenged asthmatic mice. Allergic inflammation mediator changes in the lungs and airways, sera, splenocytes, and peritoneal macrophages of the mice were measured. Relative expression amounts of six receptor genes related to allergic inflammation of the lungs and airways were quantitated using a two-step real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results showed that menthone inhalation increased serum OVA-specific IgG2a/IgG1 and IgG2a/IgE ratios, increased Th1-type cytokine production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and decreased nitric oxide, protein, and eotaxin levels. Menthone inhalation inhibited mast cell and eosinophil degranulation, and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 3 (Ccr3) gene expression amounts, but (relatively) increased Th1 cytokine secretion by splenocytes. Our results evidence that menthone inhalation alleviates local and systemic allergic inflammation in asthmatic mice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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22 pages, 3969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Conjugation with Octaarginine, a Cell-Penetrating Peptide on Antifungal Activity of Imidazoacridinone Derivative

by Kamila Rząd, Ewa Paluszkiewicz, Damian Neubauer, Mateusz Olszewski, Katarzyna Kozłowska-Tylingo, Wojciech Kamysz and Iwona Gabriel

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(24), 13190; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413190 - 7 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2834

Abstract

Acridine cell-penetrating peptide conjugates are an extremely important family of compounds in antitumor chemotherapy. These conjugates are not so widely analysed in antimicrobial therapy, although bioactive peptides could be used as nanocarriers to smuggle antimicrobial compounds. An octaarginine conjugate of an imidazoacridinone derivative (Compound 1-R8) synthetized by us exhibited high antifungal activity against reference and fluconazole-resistant clinical strains (MICs ≤ 4 μg mL⁻¹). Our results clearly demonstrate the qualitative difference in accumulation of the mother compound and Compound 1-R8 conjugate into fungal cells. Only the latter was transported and accumulated effectively. Microscopic and flow cytometry analysis provide some evidence that the killing activity of Compound 1-R8 may be associated with a change in the permeability of the fungal cell membrane. The conjugate exhibited low cytotoxicity against human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and human liver (HEPG2) cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, the selectivity index value of the conjugate for human pathogenic strains remained favourable and no hemolytic activity was observed. The inhibitory effect of the analysed compound on yeast topoisomerase II activity suggested its molecular target. In summary, conjugation with R8 effectively increased imidazoacridinone derivative ability to enter the fungal cell and achieve a concentration inside the cell that resulted in a high antifungal effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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17 pages, 3782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RESVEGA, a Nutraceutical Omega-3/Resveratrol Supplementation, Reduces Angiogenesis in a Preclinical Mouse Model of Choroidal Neovascularization

by Flavie Courtaut, Virginie Aires, Niyazi Acar, Lionel Bretillon, Ida Chiara Guerrera, Cerina Chhuon, Jean-Paul Pais de Barros, Céline Olmiere and Dominique Delmas

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(20), 11023; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222011023 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2026

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that is characterized by damage to the central part of the retina, the macula, and that affects millions of people worldwide. At an advanced stage, a blind spot grows in the center of vision, severely handicapping patients with this degenerative condition. Despite therapeutic advances thanks to the use of anti-VEGF, many resistance mechanisms have been found to accentuate the visual deficit. In the present study, we explored whether supplementation with Resvega^®, a nutraceutical formulation composed of omega-3 fatty acids and resveratrol, a well-known polyphenol in grapes, was able to counteract laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. We highlight that Resvega^® significantly reduced CNV in mice compared with supplementations containing omega-3 or resveratrol alone. Moreover, a proteomic approach confirmed that Resvega^® could counteract the progression of AMD through a pleiotropic effect targeting key regulators of neoangiogenesis in retina cells in vivo. These events were associated with an accumulation of resveratrol metabolites within the retina. Therefore, a supplementation of omega-3/resveratrol could improve the management or slow the progression of AMD in patients with this condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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17 pages, 2844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antitumor Activity of Fucus vesiculosus-Derived Phlorotannins through Activation of Apoptotic Signals in Gastric and Colorectal Tumor Cell Lines

by Marcelo D. Catarino, Iva Fernandes, Hélder Oliveira, Mylene Carrascal, Rita Ferreira, Artur M. S. Silva, Maria Teresa Cruz, Nuno Mateus and Susana M. Cardoso

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7604; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147604 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2917

Abstract

Seaweeds are one of the largest producers of biomass in the marine environment and a source of multiple bioactive metabolites with valuable health benefits. Among these, phlorotannins have been widely recognized for their promising bioactive properties. The potential antitumor capacity of Fucus vesiculosus-derived phlorotannins remains, however, poorly explored, especially in gastrointestinal tract-related tumors. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic properties and possible mechanisms by which F. vesiculosus crude extract (CRD), phlorotannin-rich extract (EtOAc), and further phlorotannin-purified fractions (F1–F9) trigger cell death on different tumor cell lines of the gastrointestinal tract, using flow cytometry. The results indicate that F. vesiculosus samples exert specific cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines without affecting the viability of normal cells. Moreover, it was found that, among the nine different phlorotannin fractions tested, F5 was the most active against both Caco-2 colorectal and MKN-28 gastric cancer cells, inducing death via activation of both apoptosis and necrosis. The UHPLC-MS analysis of this fraction revealed, among others, the presence of a compound tentatively identified as eckstolonol and another as fucofurodiphlorethol, which could be mainly responsible for the promising cytotoxic effects observed in this sample. Overall, the results herein reported contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the antitumor properties of F. vesiculosus phlorotannin-rich extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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Review

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18 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessReview

New Function of Cholesterol Oxidation Products Involved in Osteoporosis Pathogenesis

by Yanting Che, Jingzhi Yang, Fen Tang, Ziheng Wei, Yufan Chao, Na Li, Henghui Li, Si Wu and Xin Dong

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2020; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23042020 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3245

Abstract

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic bone disease characterized by decreased bone strength, microarchitectural changes in bone tissues, and increased risk of fracture. Its occurrence is closely related to various factors such as aging, genetic factors, living habits, and nutritional deficiencies as well as the disturbance of bone homeostasis. The dysregulation of bone metabolism is regarded as one of the key influencing factors causing OP. Cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) are important compounds in the maintenance of bone metabolic homeostasis by participating in several important biological processes such as the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, bone formation in osteoblasts, and bone resorption in osteoclasts. The effects of specific COPs on mesenchymal stem cells are mainly manifested by promoting osteoblast genesis and inhibiting adipocyte genesis. This review aims to elucidate the biological roles of COPs in OP development, starting from the molecular mechanisms of OP, pointing out opportunities and challenges in current research, and providing new ideas and perspectives for further studies of OP pathogenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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37 pages, 617 KiB

Open AccessReview

Augmentative Pharmacological Strategies in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Comprehensive Review

by Alice Caldiroli, Enrico Capuzzi, Ilaria Tagliabue, Martina Capellazzi, Matteo Marcatili, Francesco Mucci, Fabrizia Colmegna, Massimo Clerici, Massimiliano Buoli and Antonios Dakanalis

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(23), 13070; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222313070 - 2 Dec 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8055

Abstract

Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is associated with poor outcomes, but a consensus is lacking in the literature regarding which compound represents the best pharmacological augmentation strategy to antidepressants (AD). In the present review, we identify the available literature regarding the pharmacological augmentation to AD in TRD. Research in the main psychiatric databases was performed (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo). Only original articles in English with the main topic being pharmacological augmentation in TRD and presenting a precise definition of TRD were included. Aripiprazole and lithium were the most investigated molecules, and aripiprazole presented the strongest evidence of efficacy. Moreover, olanzapine, quetiapine, cariprazine, risperidone, and ziprasidone showed positive results but to a lesser extent. Brexpiprazole and intranasal esketamine need further study in real-world practice. Intravenous ketamine presented an evincible AD effect in the short-term. The efficacy of adjunctive ADs, antiepileptic drugs, psychostimulants, pramipexole, ropinirole, acetyl-salicylic acid, metyrapone, reserpine, testosterone, T3/T4, naltrexone, SAMe, and zinc cannot be precisely estimated in light of the limited available data. Studies on lamotrigine and pindolol reported negative results. According to our results, aripiprazole and lithium may be considered by clinicians as potential effective augmentative strategies in TRD, although the data regarding lithium are somewhat controversial. Reliable conclusions about the other molecules cannot be drawn. Further controlled comparative studies, standardized in terms of design, doses, and duration of the augmentative treatments, are needed to formulate definitive conclusions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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31 pages, 3136 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Involvement of Natural Polyphenols in the Chemoprevention of Cervical Cancer

by Georgiana Drețcanu, Cristian I. Iuhas and Zorița Diaconeasa

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8812; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168812 - 16 Aug 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3954

Abstract

From all types of cancer, cervical cancer manages to be in top four most frequent types, with a 6.5% rate of occurrence. The infectious vector that induces the disease, the high-risk Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted virus, is capable of transforming the host cell by modulating some of the principal signaling pathways responsible for cell cycle arrest, proliferation, and survival. Fortunately, like other cancer types, cervical cancer can be treated by chirurgical interventions or chemoradiotherapy, but these methods are not exactly the lucky clover of modern medicine because of the adverse effects they have. That is the reason why in the last years the emphasis has been on alternative medicine, more specifically on phytochemicals, as a substantial number of studies showed that diet contributes to cancer prevention and treatment. All these studies are trying to find new chemopreventive agents with less toxicity but high effectiveness both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this review is to evaluate the literature in order to underline the advantages and disadvantages of polyphenols, a class of dietary compounds, as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. This review also aims to present polyphenols from different perspectives, starting with mechanisms of action and ending with their toxicity. The bigger picture illustrates that polyphenols have great potential in cervical cancer prevention, with strong effects on gene modulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules and Health)

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