Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sara Julio, Raquel A. Ferro, Susana Santos, Andrea Alexandre, Maria Joao Caldeira, Joao Franco, Mario Barroso, Helena Gaspar
Summary: Synthetic cathinones have become an important class of new psychoactive substances in the past 15 years, posing a serious threat to public health and challenges to forensic laboratories. This study aimed to synthesize emerging cathinones and develop an analytical method for their accurate determination in forensic situations. The results show that this method is selective, precise, and accurate, allowing the detection of these compounds even at low concentrations.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
F. Ivy Carroll, Anita H. Lewin, S. Wayne Mascarella, Herbert H. Seltzman, P. Anantha Reddy
Summary: The review discusses the exponential increase in clandestine manufacture of new psychoactive substances designed to circumvent regulations, which has led to a rise in fatalities. It focuses on three compound classes and highlights the medicinal chemistry approaches used by clandestine laboratories to develop new substances, as well as the chemical methods for treating illicit drug abuse.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Caio H. P. Rodrigues, Vitor B. P. Leite, Aline T. Bruni
Summary: This study employs theoretical chemistry and statistical methods to simulate and evaluate differences between new psychoactive substances, providing reliable information for forensic analysis.
CHEMOMETRICS AND INTELLIGENT LABORATORY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Richard Bade, Geoff Eaglesham, Katja M. Shimko, Jochen Mueller
Summary: The growing NPS market poses challenges for public health officers, law enforcement, and chemists. The development of analytical methods is hindered by the low doses, unknown metabolism, and diverse chemical classes of NPS. This study presents a direct injection method to quantify 32 NPS, demonstrating its validity and identifying several NPS in wastewater samples from Australia.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Richard Bade, Jason M. White, Jingjing Chen, Jose Antonio Baz-Lomba, Frederic Been, Lubertus Bijlsma, Daniel A. Burgard, Sara Castiglioni, Noelia Salgueiro-Gonzalez, Alberto Celma, Andrew Chappell, Erik Emke, Ruud Steenbeek, Degao Wang, Ettore Zuccato, Cobus Gerber
Summary: There is growing concern about the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS), with wastewater analysis proving to be an effective method for understanding the prevalence of NPS in communities. This study monitored NPS in 14 locations across eight countries, identifying 16 different substances with geographical variations.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Timothy J. Trinklein, Malati Thapa, Lexie A. Lanphere, John A. Frost, Sandra M. Koresch, Joseph H. Aldstadt
Summary: Synthetic cathinones are a class of new psychoactive substances that present challenges in analytical investigation. A Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) method utilizing solid-phase extraction (SPE) to remove matrix interferences was successfully developed and applied to identify cathinones in various case samples.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
N. La Maida, G. Mannocchi, S. Pichini, G. Basile, A. Di Giorgi, F. P. Busardo, E. Marchei
Summary: A targeted screening and quantification method for synthetic cathinones (SCs) in hair samples was developed and validated. The method showed good selectivity, specificity, and easy and low-cost sample preparation. The most prevalent SCs in hair samples from SCs consumers were 3,4-Methylenedioxy-alpha-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone, alpha-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone, 3-Methylmethcathinone, and 4-Methylethcathinone.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zubair Ahmed, Asgar Ali, K. Iftikhar
Summary: This study investigated the properties of Sm, Eu, Ho, and Er complexes with hfaa and phen in various solvents, including NMR, 4f-4f absorption, and photoluminescence. The results showed that the complexes were stable in both coordinating and non-coordinating solvents, with solvents influencing their properties and changing the symmetry around Ho and Er ions. Additionally, Sm and Eu complexes exhibited superior photophysical properties in non-coordinating solvents.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Claudia Gioe-Gallo, Sandra Ortigueira, Jose Brea, Iu Raich, Jhonny Azuaje, M. Rita Paleo, Maria Majellaro, Maria Isabel Loza, Cristian O. Salas, Xerardo Garcia-Mera, Gemma Navarro, Eddy Sotelo
Summary: Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are the largest and most defiant group of abuse designer drugs, with potent effects and severe consequences. Due to their ever-changing structure, limited information is available to the scientific community and law enforcement. This study provides new insights into the synthesis, pharmacology, and toxicity of SCRAs, identifying potential illegal psychoactive substances and their neurotoxicity on neuronal cells.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Cristina de Mello-Sampayo, Ana Rita Vaz, Sara C. Henriques, Adelaide Fernandes, Fabiana Paradinha, Pedro Florindo, Paulo Faria, Rui Moreira, Dora Brites, Alvaro Lopes
Summary: NEH and Buph are synthetic cathinones that show distinct behavioral effects on mice and differential harmful impacts on human neurons and microglia. NEH induces microglia activation, while Buph causes early apoptosis in microglia. Both drugs exhibit neurotoxicities, with NEH showing unique effects on microglial function.
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alvaro Mallagaray, Lorena Rudolph, Melissa Lindloge, Jarne Moelbitz, Henrik Thomsen, Franziska Schmelter, Mohamad Ward Alhabash, Mohammed R. Abdullah, Roza Saraei, Marc Ehlers, Tobias Graf, Christian Sina, Astrid Petersmann, Matthias Nauck, Ulrich L. Guenther
Summary: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of human serum and plasma can identify the signals GlycA and GlycB, which come from the acetyl groups of glycoprotein glycans and serve as markers for inflammatory processes. This study provides a detailed assignment of glycoprotein glycan NMR signals in human serum, revealing that GlycA and GlycB signals correspond to specific N-glycans. The concentrations of acute phase glycoproteins, determined conventionally, show a strong correlation with distinctive features in the NMR spectra, enabling the simultaneous quantification of multiple acute phase inflammation proteins.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anna Welz, Marcin Koba, Piotr Koslinski, Joanna Siodmiak
Summary: Piperazine derivatives are popular psychostimulating compounds sought by consumers for recreational use due to their stimulating effects. Despite being found in NPS-related poisonings and deaths, confirming the involvement of piperazine derivatives in poisoning can be challenging. A new rapid detection method using LC-MS has been proposed to provide analytical confirmation of poisoning with piperazine designer drugs.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anna Welz, Marcin Koba, Piotr Koslinski, Joanna Siodmiak
Summary: Recreational use of piperazine designer drugs poses a serious threat to human health. These compounds have similar effects to illegal drugs and can induce psychostimulatory effects and hallucinations. The presence of multiple psychoactive substances, including piperazine derivatives, has been found in many poisoning cases, which presents challenges in their identification. This article compares the methods of detecting abused piperazine designer drugs using liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (LC-DAD) or mass spectrometer (LC-MS). Both methods can be used independently or complement each other to provide reliable results for qualitative and quantitative confirmation. The proposed methods can aid in toxicological diagnostics and analytical confirmation of poisonings.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cristian Suarez-Oubina, Ivan Alvarez-Freire, Pamela Cabarcos, Ana Maria Bermejo, Pilar Bermejo-Barrera, Antonio Moreda-Pineiro
Summary: The global market for new psychoactive substances (NPSs) is expanding, and the availability of drugs is increasing. Synthetic cannabinoids (SCRAs) are the largest group of NPSs and are often overlooked in illegal drug market control and toxicological-forensic analysis. Membrane-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) has been proposed as a method for extracting SCRAs from urine samples. The method was validated and found to be selective and sensitive, with low limits of quantification (LOQs).
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sergio Alejandro Ortiz Restrepo, Alina Adams
Summary: Glycols are important chemicals with various applications, but the presence of water can affect their properties. This study introduces a novel method using low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to accurately determine water content in glycols. The method is fast, cost-effective, and does not require reagents or calibration data. Results show that the NMR-based approach can accurately quantify water concentration in ethylene glycol (EG) and triethylene glycol (TEG) mixtures, with high agreement with Karl-Fischer titration results.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Marta B. Afonso, Romina A. Guedes, Rita C. Guedes, Rebeca Alvarino, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Marcia Goettert, Amparo Alfonso, Cecilia M. P. Rodrigues, Maria C. Alpoim, Luis Botana, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: This study evaluated the antitumor potential of the marine compound sphaerococcenol A on different cancer cell lines. The compound displayed broad cytotoxic effects on the malignant cell lines and affected the formation of colorectal cancer stem cell-derived tumorspheres.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Patricia Susano, Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Alice Martins, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Marcia Ines Goettert, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: This study aimed to utilize S. muticum, a marine invasive seaweed, as a resource for skincare product development. The results showed that the extracts of S. muticum possessed antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, photoprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. The diethyl ether fraction demonstrated the highest antioxidant and photoprotective capacity, while the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest anti-enzymatic capacity. This study highlights the importance of S. muticum as a valuable ingredient for skincare applications.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Joaquim Trigo Marques, Catarina Frazao De Faria, Marina Reis, Diana Machado, Susana Santos, Maria da Soledade Santos, Miguel Viveiros, Filomena Martins, Rodrigo F. M. De Almeida
Summary: The increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis has made the challenge of ending this epidemic by 2030 even tougher. This has led to a search for more efficient antitubercular compounds, with a focus on isoniazid derivatives in this study. The study evaluates the cytotoxicity, binding to human serum albumin, and activity against resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis of these derivatives, showing promising results for their potential use as improved treatments.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Margarida Matias, Susete Pinteus, Alice Martins, Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Teresa Mouga, Helena Gaspar, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: In recent decades, seaweeds have been recognized as an excellent source of bioactive molecules. Gelidium corneum, a type of seaweed harvested in a specific area of the Portuguese coast, has the potential to be a sustainable source of antimicrobial ingredients. The chemical characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of sequential extractions revealed that fractions F2 and F3 showed the strongest inhibitory effects against Cutibacterium acnes, suggesting their potential therapeutic advantages for skin dysbiosis-related diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Daniela Pinto, Raquel Goncalo, Mariana Louro, Marta Sousa Silva, Guillem Hernandez, Tiago N. Cordeiro, Carlos Cordeiro, Carlos Sao-Jose
Summary: The occurrence of endolysin genes encoding two polypeptide isoforms by in-frame overlapping ORFs and their organization as enzymatic complexes is more common than previously thought, challenging the established view of endolysins. The discovery of a heteromeric endolysin with a 1:5 subunit stoichiometry provides new insights and has possible implications in the design of alternative antibacterials.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Patricia Susano, Alice Martins, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Amparo Alfonso, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: This study found that different fractions of the brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata have significant antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities, with the ethyl acetate fraction showing the best effects. These fractions can reduce ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death, while inhibiting inflammatory responses.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Susete Pinteus, Romina A. Guedes, Rita C. Guedes, Rebeca Alvarino, Rafaela Freitas, Marcia Goettert, Helena Gaspar, Amparo Alfonso, Maria C. Alpoim, Luis M. Botana, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: This study evaluated the cytotoxic and proteasome inhibitory activities of compounds isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, with potential as anticancer agents. The compounds showed cytotoxic effects on malignant cell lines and induced DNA damage. They also affected mitochondrial function, phosphatidylserine externalization, Caspase-9 activity, and nuclear morphology. Further studies are needed to fully understand the potential of these compounds for anticancer therapeutics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patricia Susano, Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Alice Martins, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Marcia Ines Goettert, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the dermatological potential of fractions obtained from brown seaweed Saccorhiza polyschides and evaluate their antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective properties. The results highlight the potential of these fractions to be incorporated into new nature-based skincare products.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sara Julio, Raquel A. Ferro, Susana Santos, Andrea Alexandre, Maria Joao Caldeira, Joao Franco, Mario Barroso, Helena Gaspar
Summary: Synthetic cathinones have become an important class of new psychoactive substances in the past 15 years, posing a serious threat to public health and challenges to forensic laboratories. This study aimed to synthesize emerging cathinones and develop an analytical method for their accurate determination in forensic situations. The results show that this method is selective, precise, and accurate, allowing the detection of these compounds even at low concentrations.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juliana Andrea Doerr, Fernanda Majolo, Luisa Bortoluzzi, Evelin Zen de Vargas, Joana Silva, Manoela Pasini, Stefani Natali Stoll, Rafael Lopes da Rosa, Mariana Moreira Figueira, Marcio Fronza, Walter O. Beys-da-Silva, Alice Martins, Helena Gaspar, Rui P. Pedrosa, Stefan Laufer, Marcia Ines Goettert
Summary: This study evaluated the antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activities of the stem bark ethanolic extract of Ceiba speciosa. The extract showed potent antioxidant activity, reduced the release of TNF-alpha, inhibited the activity of p38 alpha, JAK3, and JNK3, reduced leukocyte accumulation, and prevented ulcer formation. It demonstrated significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of gastric diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Alice Martins, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: The marine environment is a treasure chest of unexplored organisms, with macroalgae standing out as a major source of natural products. Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) are synthesized by macroalgae and have diverse structures, providing potential biotechnological and therapeutic applications. However, their chemical characterization is challenging due to their complexity, requiring the use of complementary physicochemical techniques. This review compiles state-of-the-art methodologies used in the chemical characterization of macroalgae SPs, providing a key tool for researchers interested in elucidating the structure of these important marine macromolecules.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Joao Alvaro-Martins, Violeta Railean, Filomena Martins, Miguel Machuqueiro, Rita Pacheco, Susana Santos
Summary: Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and melanoma and breast cancer are two aggressive types of cancer that require urgent treatment options. In this study, new thiobenzanilide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic potential against melanoma and breast cancer cells. The results showed promising compounds that could be further developed as anticancer agents.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rita P. Lopes, Raquel A. Ferro, Margarida Milhazes, Margarida Figueira, Maria Joao Caldeira, Alexandra M. M. Antunes, Helena Gaspar
Summary: Synthetic cathinones, including both reported and unreported substances, are widely used for recreational purposes, posing a serious public health issue. It is challenging for forensic authorities to keep up with the constantly changing NPS market. The lack of pharmacokinetic data further complicates forensic and clinical verifications.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Francisca Soledade, Alice Martins, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Amparo Alfonso, Rui Pedrosa
Summary: The increase in life expectancy has led to a rise in the elderly population, resulting in a higher prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD). This review focuses on compounds derived from marine organisms that have neuroprotective effects on PD. Approximately 60 compounds from marine bacteria, fungi, mollusk, sea cucumber, seaweed, soft coral, sponge, and starfish have been isolated, such as peptides, alkaloids, quinones, terpenes, polysaccharides, polyphenols, lipids, pigments, and mycotoxins. These compounds can target various hallmarks of PD and show potential in reducing oxidative stress, preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation, and blocking inflammatory pathways.
