Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marina R. Wylie, D. Scott Merrell
Summary: Azadirachta indica, or neem tree, has been traditionally used to treat human ailments and is recognized for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Recent studies suggest that neem may serve as an untapped source of novel therapeutics, particularly in addressing drug-resistant pathogens and biofilm-forming organisms. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and safety of neem as a potential treatment for human pathogens.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. E. Ouedraogo, K. N. Aboua, D. B. Soro, M. Diarra, L. Meite, K. S. Traore, K. Mamadou
Summary: This study focused on determining the physical and chemical characteristics of activated carbons produced from neem bark, using phosphoric acid as the activating agent. Results showed that the activated carbons had high specific surface areas and acidic nature, making them suitable for water treatment applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sandeep P. Shewale, Miraj Kapadia, Virendra K. Rathod
Summary: The current study focused on the ultrasound-assisted extraction of total phenolic compounds from Neem leaves powder. By optimizing various process parameters, the highest yield of phenolic compounds was obtained under specific conditions. The experimental outcomes showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction was more efficient and time-saving compared to traditional methods. The Peleg's mathematical model successfully predicted the extraction values and demonstrated a good fit with experimental results.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING-PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Kangxin Hou, Wantong Yu, Xiaojiao Wang, Jiarou Liu, Yan Liu, Jia Liu, Xinyao Su, Xiaoli Zhang, Qiang Xue, Caixia Wang
Summary: This study confirmed the involvement of the AiCYP71CD2 gene in the biosynthesis of Azadirachtin, and achieved mass production of dihydroniloticin through optimization of catalytic efficiency and construction of a yeast strain.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Francisco Simao Neto, Maria Melo Neta, Ana Sousa, Luana Damasceno, Bruna Sousa, Samuel Medeiros, Rafael Melo, Ada Lopes, Jose Santos, Maria Rios
Summary: The energetic potential of the seed shell of the Neem plant was investigated using various analytical techniques, and the results showed its suitability as a biofuel due to its composition and thermal behavior. The XRF analysis further revealed the presence of several essential elements in the seed shell.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raghul Murugan, Ravi Rajesh, Ajay Guru, B. Haridevamuthu, Bader O. Almutairi, Mikhlid H. Almutairi, Annie Juliet, S. Renganayagi, Pushparathinam Gopinath, Jesu Arockiaraj
Summary: NF2, a semi-natural compound, has a protective effect in zebrafish larvae by reducing ROS production and inflammatory response.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Lulu Chang, Yin Liu, Weiwei Zhang, Guoqi Xu, Lihai Wang, Wenxia Yuan
Summary: The antifungal activities of neem seed extract against Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum were investigated. The extract showed inhibitory effects on fungal growth and caused severe damage to fungal hyphae. The chemical analysis identified several compounds in the extract. Moreover, the neem seed extract displayed potential for protecting wood from fungal infections.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Do-Young Kim, Byeonghwi Lim, Jun-Mo Kim
Summary: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a global health problem for pigs, causing significant losses to the swine industry. Vaccines are ineffective in providing long-term protection, necessitating the development of effective and safe strategies to combat the virus. This study targeted specific proteins involved in PRRSV infection and disease development to identify multi-target antiviral compounds. Through molecular docking and analysis, three compounds were selected based on their binding energy and multi-target inhibitory nature. Further analysis through pharmacokinetics, toxicity assessment, molecular dynamics simulation, and binding free energy estimation confirmed the potential of these compounds as lead compounds for natural drug development against PRRSV. If validated in clinical studies, these compounds can be used individually or in combination for effective treatment against the virus.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Colbert Babe, Dieudonne Kaoga Kidmo, Ahmat Tom, Rachel Raissa Ngono Mvondo, Bernard Kola, Noel Djongyang
Summary: Experimental results show that adding neem fibers to adobes improves their mechanical, thermal, and durability properties, with leaves neem fibers contributing to thermal comfort but potentially reducing durability. Overall, adobes reinforced with neem fibers are suitable as building materials with substantial thermal comfort and environmental benefits.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ahmed Boukeloua, Mostefa Kouadria, Hamdi Bendif, Gabriel Plavan, Sulaiman A. Alsalamah, Mohammed I. Alghonaim, Fehmi Boufahja, Omar H. Abd-Elkader
Summary: This study investigated the physicochemical properties and wound-healing ability of Azadirachta indica fruits. The results showed that the fruits contain abundant fatty acids, phytosterols, and vitamin E, and have significant wound-healing activity.
Review
Plant Sciences
Shashank M. Patil, Prithvi S. Shirahatti, Chandana V. B. Kumari, Ramith Ramu, Nagendra M. N. Prasad
Summary: This review summarizes the efficiency of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. treatment as a contraceptive based on scientific studies. It was found that the phytochemicals from neem possess remarkable contraceptive abilities, but the specific mechanism of action remains unclear. Further clinical studies are needed to prove the efficacy of A. indica as a herbal contraceptive.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ahmed Gareh, Dalia Hassan, Asmaa Essa, Saber Kotb, Mohammed Karmi, Abou El-Hamd H. Mohamed, Abeer Mousa Alkhaibari, Elzahara Elbaz, Nagwa M. Elhawary, Eman A. A. Hassanen, Maha S. Lokman, Fatma A. El-Gohary, Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy
Summary: This study investigated the acaricidal activity of neem seed extracts on camel ticks and found that the hexane extract was the most effective in killing the ticks. It can be used economically for controlling H. dromedarii ticks.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joseph Hawadak, Loick Pradel Kojom Foko, Veena Pande, Vineeta Singh
Summary: Green nanotechnology has gained significant interest as a promising tool for drug discovery. This study synthesized and characterized silver nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica and evaluated their effect on Plasmodium falciparum strains.
ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ammar Tahir, Carina Kampleitner, Theresa Wirglauer, Ulrike Grienke, Oskar Hoffmann, Judith M. Rollinger
Summary: The study developed a biochemometric workflow combining chemometric approaches and cell biological approaches to screen potential in vitro osteoclast inhibitors. The workflow successfully isolated two phenylpropanoids (coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol) from the fruits of neem tree (Azadirachta indica) that showed promising dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclast differentiation with minimal effects on cell viability.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hwang-Ju Jeon, Kyeongnam Kim, Chaeeun Kim, Myoung-Jin Kim, Tae-Oh Kim, Sung-Eun Lee
Summary: Melanogenesis is a complex process that produces melanin, a protective skin pigment, and determines skin color. Gedunin has been shown to effectively inhibit melanin production, making it a promising candidate for anti-melanogenesis agents.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joseph D. Challenger, Daniela Olivera Mesa, Dari F. Da, R. Serge Yerbanga, Thierry Lefevre, Anna Cohuet, Thomas S. Churcher
Summary: Transmission-blocking vaccines for malaria are being tested and their field efficacy is predicted to be higher than in laboratory conditions. Targeting school-aged children is recommended as it can have a significant impact in reducing malaria cases. Utilizing such vaccines alongside existing interventions could have substantial benefits in malaria control.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nicola Relitti, Stefano Federico, Luca Pozzetti, Stefania Butini, Stefania Lamponi, Donatella Taramelli, Sarah D'Alessandro, Rowena E. Martin, Sarah H. Shafik, Robert L. Summers, Simone K. Babij, Annette Habluetzel, Sofia Tapanelli, Reto Caldelari, Sandra Gemma, Giuseppe Campiani
Summary: Resistance to common malaria therapies remains a significant concern worldwide. Research has shown that certain compounds can partially resensitize chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, and new analogues have demonstrated good cytotoxicity against the parasite, with potential inhibitory effects on the PfCRT-mediated transport of chloroquine.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Christopher M. Woodley, Gemma L. Nixon, Nicoletta Basilico, Silvia Parapini, Weiqian David Hong, Stephen A. Ward, Giancarlo A. Biagini, Suet C. Leung, Donatella Taramelli, Keiko Onuma, Takashi Hasebe, Paul M. O'Neill
Summary: Research has developed a method for synthesizing nonlinear analogues of second-generation antimalarials, showing up to 10-fold improvement in solubility compared to linear counterparts. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats revealed that a selected nonlinear analogue demonstrated significantly improved oral absorption and exposure in vivo, with more than double the AUC and increased oral bioavailability.
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Jaromin, Beata Gryzlo, Marek Jamrozik, Silvia Parapini, Nicoletta Basilico, Marek Cegla, Donatella Taramelli, Agnieszka Zagorska
Summary: Malaria remains a major threat with drug resistance on the rise. New tetrahydro-beta-carbolines were synthesized and tested for antiplasmodial activity, with N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-1-octyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b] indole-3-carboxamide (7) showing the most promising results. Further research is being conducted on its potential mechanisms of action and delivery systems.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luca Pozzetti, Roberta Ibba, Sara Rossi, Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati, Donatella Taramelli, Nicoletta Basilico, Sarah D'Alessandro, Silvia Parapini, Stefania Butini, Giuseppe Campiani, Sandra Gemma
Summary: The potential of natural and synthetic chalcones as therapeutic leads against various diseases has been explored, and they have shown interesting anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer properties. This study focuses on investigating the anti-leishmanial activity of natural chalcone lophirone E and its derivatives. The synthesis of lophirone E and a small set of chalcones with different substitution patterns has been described, and the compounds were evaluated for their activity against Leishmania infantum promastigotes. The study highlights the potential of this class of compounds as antiparasitic hits and suggests further investigation.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Andrea Galbiati, Aureliano Zana, Consuelo Coser, Lucia Tamborini, Nicoletta Basilico, Silvia Parapini, Donatella Taramelli, Paola Conti
Summary: By designing and synthesizing a series of simplified analogues, we improved their metabolic stability and antimalarial activity, leading to the identification of two promising new lead compounds.
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Denise P. Ilboudo, Sarah D'Alessandro, Silvia Parapini, Estefania Calvo Alvarez, Paola Misiano, Donatella Taramelli, Nicoletta Basilico
Summary: A simple and inexpensive spectrophotometric assay was developed to measure erythroid differentiation using the K562 cell line as a model. This method replaces benzidine staining with a more accurate and reliable approach, suitable for medium throughput screenings.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sarah D'Alessandro, Silvia Parapini, Yolanda Corbett, Roberta Frigerio, Serena Delbue, Annalisa Modenese, Marina Gramiccia, Pasquale Ferrante, Donatella Taramelli, Nicoletta Basilico
Summary: The interaction between Leishmania promastigotes and endothelial cells leads to the production of chemokines and the recruitment of neutrophils, contributing to the establishment of Leishmania infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aminata Fofana, Mathilde Gendrin, Ottavia Romoli, G. Armel Bienvenu Yarbanga, Georges Anicet Ouedraogo, Rakiswende Serge Yerbanga, Jean-Bosco Ouedraogo
Summary: The study found that amoxicillin significantly impacts the gut microbiota of Anopheles mosquitoes, particularly leading to a decrease in the relative abundance of Eliza ethkingia and A saia during blood digestion. Additionally, the study suggests a comprehensive approach for reporting negative-control data in high-throughput sequencing studies on samples with reduced microbial load.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Dolci, Lucia Signorini, Sarah D'Alessandro, Federica Perego, Silvia Parapini, Michele Sommariva, Donatella Taramelli, Pasquale Ferrante, Nicoletta Basilico, Serena Delbue
Summary: This study investigated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on human microvascular endothelial cells and found that infection leads to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, but the contribution of endothelial cells to viral amplification is minimal.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Estefania Calvo-Alvarez, Maria Dolci, Federica Perego, Lucia Signorini, Silvia Parapini, Sarah D'Alessandro, Luca Denti, Nicoletta Basilico, Donatella Taramelli, Pasquale Ferrante, Serena Delbue
Summary: It has been two years since the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Efforts to find effective treatments have resulted in the repurposing of antiparasitic drugs, which have shown promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. However, their translation into clinical practice has faced challenges due to conflicting results.
Article
Microbiology
Francesca Sisto, Simone Carradori, Sarah D'Alessandro, Nadia Santo, Norma Lattuada, Richard K. Haynes, Donatella Taramelli, Rossella Grande
Summary: This study evaluated the in vitro activity of arylaminoartemisinin GC012 against clinical strains of H. pylori with different antibiotic susceptibilities. GC012 showed significantly lower MIC and MBC values compared to DHA, indicating its potential as an effective treatment for H. pylori infection. Combination of GC012 with metronidazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin displayed synergistic interactions. Additionally, GC012 inhibited biofilm formation and showed minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) on mature biofilm. Structural changes in the bacterial membrane were observed for both GC012 and DHA.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ivan Bassanini, Silvia Parapini, Nicoletta Basilico, Donatella Taramelli, Sergio Romeo
Summary: The study successfully improved the metabolic stability of an antiplasmodial agent by in silico-guided SAR campaigns, resulting in a novel compound with low-nanomolar-range antiplasmodial activity and significantly enhanced metabolic stability when compared with the original lead.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Estefania Calvo Alvarez, Sarah D'Alessandro, Daniela Proverbio, Eva Spada, Roberta Perego, Donatella Taramelli, Nicoletta Basilico, Silvia Parapini
Summary: Leishmaniases are widespread vector-borne diseases with diverse clinical manifestations. The current treatments have limitations, making it crucial to find safer and more effective alternatives. This study demonstrates the potential of ionophores as anti-Leishmania agents, while also challenging the assumption that the same compounds would be equally effective against human and canine leishmaniases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicoletta Basilico, Silvia Parapini, Sarah D'Alessandro, Paola Misiano, Sergio Romeo, Giulio Dondio, Vanessa Yardley, Livia Vivas, Shereen Nasser, Laurent Renia, Bruce M. Russell, Rossarin Suwanarusk, Francois Nosten, Anna Sparatore, Donatella Taramelli
Summary: The novel pyrrolizidinylmethyl derivative MG3 showed excellent antimalarial activity against drug-resistant parasites, both in vitro and in vivo. The compound exhibited comparable or better efficacy than chloroquine and other quinolines in rodent models of malaria, and its pharmacological profile met the requirements for further development.
