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Natural Products as a Resource for New Medicines

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 6430

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Prof. Dr. José Carlos Tavares Carvalho

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Guest Editor

1. Drugs Research Laboratory, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, Brazil
2. University Hospital of the Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, Brazil
Interests: nutraceutical from the Amazonian; dyslipidemie; anti-inflammatory; anxiolytic; antidepressant; alternative methods
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Dear Colleagues,

Natural products as a resource for new medicines is a topic that we can consider emerging in the attempt to discover a new drug; however, when we talk about natural products, we must consider the different kingdoms of origin and their potential in terms of application, mainly in traditional practice. In the world we find very rich regions in terms of the existence of natural products, with great potential to be submitted to studies, and in the end, there are relevant active principles in terms of biological activities. Therefore, the following topics will be of great interest to this special publication:

a) Traditional knowledge and its applications;

b) Phytochemical and chemical studies of natural products;

c) Pharmacological studies applied to natural products;

d) Results of studies on zoopharmacognosy;

e) In silico study of natural products;

f) Results of clinical studies with natural products;

g) Pharmaceutical technology with natural products;

h) Potential of natural products as nutraceuticals;

i) Natural products in the Amazon.

Prof. Dr. José Carlos Tavares Carvalho
Guest Editor

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Keywords

traditional knowledge
natural products
in silico
phytochemical
zoopharmacognosy
clinical study
nutraceutical
Amazon
pharmaceutical technology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant, Antiapoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Hesperetin in a Mouse Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

by Ah Young Yang, Hye Jin Choi, Kiryeong Kim and Jaechan Leem

Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2759; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062759 - 18 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1947

Abstract

Sepsis is a severe inflammatory condition that can cause organ dysfunction, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Hesperetin is a flavonoid aglycone that has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of hesperetin on septic AKI has not yet been fully investigated. This study examined whether hesperetin has a renoprotective effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic AKI. Hesperetin treatment ameliorated histological abnormalities and renal dysfunction in LPS-injected mice. Mechanistically, hesperetin attenuated LPS-induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by the suppression of lipid and DNA oxidation. This beneficial effect of hesperetin was accompanied by downregulation of the pro-oxidant NADPH oxidase 4, restoration of glutathione levels, and activation of antioxidant enzymes. This flavonoid compound also inhibited apoptotic cell death via suppression of p53-dependent caspase-3 pathway. Furthermore, hesperetin alleviated Toll-like receptor 4-mediated cytokine production and macrophage infiltration. Our findings suggest that hesperetin ameliorates LPS-induced renal structural and functional injury through suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products as a Resource for New Medicines)

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26 pages, 9694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd (Sucuruba) Using the Zebrafish Model

by Agerdânio Andrade de Souza, Brenda Lorena Sánchez Ortíz, Swanny Ferreira Borges, Andria Vanessa Pena Pinto, Ryan da Silva Ramos, Igor Colares Pena, Rosemary de Carvalho Rocha Koga, Carla Estefani Batista, Gisele Custódio de Souza, Adriana Maciel Ferreira, Sergio Duvoisin Junior and José Carlos Tavares Carvalho

Molecules 2022, 27(22), 7741; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27227741 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2306

Abstract

The species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd, (T. rhoifolia), which belongs to the Burseraceae family, is widely used in ethnopharmacological cultural practices by traditional Amazonian people for anti-inflammatory purposes, sometimes as their only therapeutic resource. Although it is used in teas, infusions, macerations and in food, the species is still unexplored in regard to its pharmacophoric potential and chemical profile. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a phytochemical characterization of the hydroethanolic extract of T. rhoifolia leaves (HELTr) and to evaluate the acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of this species using zebrafish (Danio rerio). The extract was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The evaluation of the acute toxicity of the HELTr in adult zebrafish was determined using the limit test (2000 mg/kg), with behavioral and histopathological evaluations, in addition to the analysis of the anti-inflammatory potential of HELTr in carrageenan-induced abdominal edema, followed by the use of the computational method of molecular docking. The phytochemical profile of the species is chemically diverse, suggesting the presence of the fatty acids, ester, alcohol and benzoic acid classes, including propanoic acid, ethyl ester and hexadecanoic acid. In the studies of zebrafish performed according to the index of histopathological changes (IHC), the HELTr did not demonstrate toxicity in the behavioral and histopathological assessments, since the vital organs remained unchanged. Carrageenan-induced abdominal edema was significantly reduced at all HELTr doses (100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) in relation to the negative control, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), while the 200 mg/kg dose showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in relation to the positive control (indomethacin). With these activities being confirmed by molecular docking studies, they showed a good profile for the inhibition of the enzyme Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as the interactions established at the sites of the receptors used in the docking study were similar to the controls (RCX, IMN and CEL). Therefore, the HELTr has an acceptable degree of safety for acute toxicity, defined in the analysis of behavioral changes, mortality and histopathology, with a significant anti-inflammatory action in zebrafish at all doses, which demonstrates the high pharmacophoric potential of the species. These results may direct future applications and drug development but still require further elucidation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products as a Resource for New Medicines)

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16 pages, 1593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Pregnane Glycosides from Mandevilla dardanoi and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity

by Francisca S. V. Lins, Thalisson A. de Souza, Luiza C. F. Opretzka, Joanda P. R. e Silva, Laiane C. O. Pereira, Lucas S. Abreu, Anderson A. V. Pinheiro, George L. D. dos Santos, Yuri M. do Nascimento, José Iranildo Miranda de Melo, Raimundo Braz-Filho, Cristiane F. Villarreal, Marcelo S. da Silva and Josean F. Tavares

Molecules 2022, 27(18), 5992; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27185992 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1615

Abstract

Mandevilla Lindl. is an important genus of the Apocynaceae family, not only as ornamental plants but also for its medicinal uses. In Brazil, Mandevilla species are indicated to treat asthma and skin infections, their anti-inflammatory potential and wound healing properties are also reported in the literature. Concerning their chemical composition, this group of plants is a conspicuous producer of pregnane glycosides. Mandevilla dardanoi is an endemic species from the Brazilian semiarid region not studied by any phytochemical methods. In view of the medicinal potential of Mandevilla species, this study aimed to isolate new pregnane glycosides from M. dardanoi. To achieve this main goal, modern chromatography techniques were employed. Five new pregnane glycosides, dardanols A-E, were isolated from the roots of M. dardanoi by HPLC. Their structures were determined using extensive 1D and 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry (MSⁿ and HRESIMS) data. The cytotoxicity and the anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds were evaluated. The first was evaluated by measuring proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide production by stimulated macrophages. Dardanols were able to inhibit the production of nitric oxide and reduce IL-1β and TNF-α. The current work demonstrates the chemodiversity of Brazilian semiarid species and contributes to amplifying knowledge about the biological potential of the Mandevilla genus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products as a Resource for New Medicines)

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