Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elaine-Jinfeng Chin, Kuan-Chieh Ching, Zann Y. Tan, Mario Wibowo, Chung-Yan Leong, Lay-Kien Yang, Veronica W. P. Ng, Deborah C. S. Seow, Yoganathan Kanagasundaram, Siew-Bee Ng
Summary: Four actinobacterial strains from Singapore soil were investigated and a previously undescribed tetronomycin A and several known antimicrobial compounds were isolated. Tetronomycin showed higher antibacterial activity than tetronomycin A, indicating the importance of an oxy-methyl group at the C-27 position for antibacterial activity.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yadollah Bahrami, Sasan Bouk, Elham Kakaei, Mohammad Taheri
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural actinobacterial compounds and their effects on CRC. The study highlights the chemical structure and sources of these compounds, as well as their potential for drug development. The findings suggest that actinobacteria could be a valuable resource for the discovery of new anti-CRC drugs in the future.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Barbhara Mota Marinho, Victor Hugo Dantas Guimara, Daniel Silva Moraes, Guilherme Henrique Mendes Ribeiro, Rodrigo Moreira da Silva, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Andre Luiz Sena Guimara, Alfredo Mauricio Batista de Paula, Sergio Henrique Sousa Santos
Summary: The present study investigated the effects of Lychnophora ericoides ethanolic extract (EELE) on cutaneous wound healing and the underlying mechanisms. The results revealed that EELE significantly reduced the wound area, improved anatomical skin features, promoted collagen production and angiogenesis, and decreased the number of mast cells at the injury site. Real-time PCR data showed that EELE increased important factors for wound healing, such as FGF, VEGF, collagen formation, and the expression of the proliferative axis of the renin-angiotensin system.
Article
Microbiology
Beatriz M. Assad, Daiani C. Savi, Stellee M. P. Biscaia, Barbara F. Mayrhofer, Jucelia Iantas, Mathias Mews, Jaqueline C. de Oliveira, Edvaldo S. Trindade, Chirlei Glienke
Summary: The study on the endophytic actinobacteria of the native plant Hymenachne amplexicaulis in the Pantanal wetland revealed the potential antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of these microorganisms. The results emphasize the importance of discovering new drugs and the urgent need to conserve ecosystems such as the Brazilian Pantanal.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Petinatti Pavarini, Joao Semir, Joao Luis Callegari Lopes, Ricardo Roberto da Silva, Norberto Peporine Lopes
Summary: This study investigated the volatile organic compounds of Lychnophora ericoides, a Brazilian folk medicinal plant, through chemical analysis, emission surveys, and pollinator records. It was found that sesquiterpene concentrations were higher in younger leaves, with rising temperatures and during flowering seasons, while terpene levels may be controlled by daylight. Hummingbirds, hemiptera insects, and wasps were observed visiting the plants for the first time, and bisabolene-derivatives were found to be more abundant than monoterpenes during the flowering season throughout the summer.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Luiz Liberato, Marcela Nunes Rosa, Matheus C. Romeiro Miranda, Joao Luis Callegari Lopes, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Leonardo Gobbo-Neto, Andreia C. K. Fontana, Wagner Ferreira Dos Santos
Summary: Lychnophora, also known as Brazilian arnica, is a South American flowering plant used in traditional medicine. Its active components, derived from chlorogenic acid and C-flavonoids, exhibit anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In this study, it was found that chlorogenic acid and 4,5-di-O-[E]-caffeoylquinic acid from Lychnophora plants have neuroprotective effects in a rodent glaucoma model. The pretreatment with these compounds protected the retinal layers against damage and reduced neuronal death after ischemic insult.
Article
Microbiology
Osama Abdalla Abdelshafy Mohamad, Yong-Hong Liu, Li Li, Jin-Biao Ma, Yin Huang, Lei Gao, Bao-Zhu Fang, Shuang Wang, Ashraf F. El-Baz, Hong-Chen Jiang, Wen-Jun Li
Summary: In this study, 71 bacterial endophytes associated with the medicinal plant Thymus roseus were screened for their plant growth promotion (PGP) abilities and biocontrol potential. The results showed that certain strains had positive effects on plant growth, pathogen resistance, and stress tolerance. Strains XIEG05 and XIEG12 significantly enhanced plant tolerance to salt stress, while strain XIEG57 reduced cotton disease incidence caused by Verticillium dahliae. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of antimicrobial and antifungal compounds in these strains. These findings provide valuable insights for the application of these strains as bioinoculant fertilizers and biological control agents in saline soil conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Polpass Arul Jose, Anjisha Maharshi, Bhavanath Jha
Summary: Actinobacteria are recognized as important biosynthetic factories that produce a wide range of secondary metabolites. Recent genomic insights have impacted the exploitation and discovery of new compounds from these metabolically active bacteria, leading to significant progress in the field of drug discovery.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Syed Shams ul Hassan, Ishaq Muhammad, Syed Qamar Abbas, Mubashir Hassan, Muhammad Majid, Hui-Zi Jin, Simona Bungau
Summary: This research investigated the effect of heavy metals on actinobacteria Streptomyces sp. SH-1312 for the production of secondary metabolite MVL with pharmacological and pharmacokinetic activities. The compound MVL showed strong antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, with significant upregulation of P53 and BAX and downregulation of BCL-2 expressions. ADMET evaluation indicated a safer profile for MVL, and molecular docking studies revealed good binding energy in the active region of target proteins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Q. A. Tuan Vo, Ross A. Ballard, Stephen J. Barnett, Christopher M. M. Franco
Summary: Endophytic actinobacteria isolated from chickpea roots, such as Actinomadura sp. CP84B, Microbispora sp. CP56, and Streptomyces spp. CP21A2 and CP200B, have shown potential in promoting the growth and nodulation of chickpea plants.
Article
Microbiology
Jucelia Iantas, Daiani Cristina Savi, Renata da Silva Schibelbein, Sandriele Aparecida Noriler, Beatriz Marques Assad, Guilherme Dilarri, Henrique Ferreira, Juergen Rohr, Jon S. Thorson, Khaled A. Shaaban, Chirlei Glienke
Summary: This study explored the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi from medicinal plants in two regions of Brazil, identifying strains with activity against phytopathogens. Notably, new species of fungi showing promising bioactive natural product production were discovered, highlighting the biotechnological potential of medicinal plants in Brazil.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Luis D. Gonzalez-Morales, Adriana Moreno-Rodriguez, Lenci K. Vazquez-Jimenez, Timoteo Delgado-Maldonado, Alfredo Juarez-Saldivar, Eyra Ortiz-Perez, Alma D. Paz-Gonzalez, Edgar E. Lara-Ramirez, Lilian Yepez-Mulia, Patricia Meza, Gildardo Rivera
Summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a global public health problem without available vaccines and with limited effective treatments. This study performed virtual screening of natural products against Leishmania mexicana using molecular docking, and selected four compounds with promising leishmanicidal activity. The ADME-Tox analysis suggested favorable properties for these compounds, and one of them, S-8, exhibited higher activity than the reference drug glucantime.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cetin Bayrak, Parham Taslimi, Namik Kilinc, Ilhami Gulcin, Abdullah Menzek
Summary: In this study, the natural bromophenol butyl 2-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate (1) and indene derivatives 34 and 35 were successfully synthesized. Several known natural bromophenols and their derivatives were also synthesized. The synthesized compounds exhibited strong inhibition effects against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and α-glycosidase enzymes.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuele Sala, Scott K. Micke, Gavin R. Flematti
Summary: This review focuses on marine natural products found along the Western Australian coastline. Various types of secondary metabolites, including terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, fatty acid derivatives, peptides, and arsenic-containing compounds, have been identified through over 40 years of research. Many of these compounds have been reported to exhibit diverse bioactivities. The compound classes and their associated bioactivities from marine organisms found along the Western Australian coastline are described in this article.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Flaminia Mazzone, Viktor E. Simons, Lasse van Geelen, Marian Frank, Attila Mandi, Tibor Kurtan, Klaus Pfeffer, Rainer Kalscheuer
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogen that can infect various warm-blooded animals, including humans, causing toxoplasmosis. Current treatments for toxoplasmosis have severe side effects and are not effective in eradicating chronic infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel anti-toxoplasma drugs with low toxicity. In this study, eight natural products were isolated from the crude extract of the endophytic fungus Paraboeremia selaginellae obtained from the leaves of the plant Philodendron monstera. Six of these natural products showed antitoxoplasma activity with low or no cytotoxicity in human cell lines. These findings suggest that biphenyl ethers, bioxanthracenes, and 5S,6S-phomalactone from P. selaginellae are potential candidates for novel anti-toxoplasma drugs.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Camila de Souza Araujo, Daniel Amando Nery, Ana Paula de Oliveira, Raimundo Goncalves De Oliveira-Junior, Larissa Araujo Rolim, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Maria Francilene de Souza Silva, Claudia do O. Pessoa, Raimundo Braz-Filho, Livia Macedo Dutra, Josean Fechine Tavares, Lucas Silva Abreu, Marcelo Sobral da Silva, Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva Almeida
Summary: A new nor-ent-kaurene diterpene and ten other compounds were isolated from the stems of Annona vepretorum. Their chemical structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic activity of some compounds was evaluated and found to be low.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Ferreira de Lima Neto, Vagner Fonseca, Ronaldo Jesus, Leonardo Hermes Dutra, Layssa Miranda de Oliveria Portela, Carla Freitas, Eduardo Fillizola, Breno Soares, Andre Luiz de Abreu, Sandeep Twiari, Vasco Azevedo, Aristoteles Goes-Neto, Arnaldo Correia de Medeiros, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Paolo Marinho de Andrade Zanotto, Rodrigo Bentes Kato
Summary: This study used the structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to examine the impact of mutations on the protein's stability and interaction with ACE-2 receptor. Molecular dynamics simulations and protein-protein docking experiments revealed that the mutations affected the stability of the protein and improved its interaction with ACE-2 receptor, particularly in the Gamma variant.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ricardo Moreira Borges, Fernanda das Neves Costa, Fernanda O. Chagas, Andrew Magno Teixeira, Jaewon Yoon, Marcio Barczyszyn Weiss, Camila Manoel Crnkovic, Alan Cesar Pilon, Bruno C. Garrido, Luz Adriana Betancur, Abel M. Forero, Leonardo Castellanos, Freddy A. Ramos, Monica T. Pupo, Stefan Kuhn
Summary: DAFdiscovery is a pipeline designed to accelerate the annotation and discovery of bioactive compounds by combining mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and bioactivity data and using statistical total correlation spectroscopy and statistical heterospectroscopy calculations. It provides a simple-to-use method for analyzing data from different sources in various situations.
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Luiz Liberato, Marcela Nunes Rosa, Matheus C. Romeiro Miranda, Joao Luis Callegari Lopes, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Leonardo Gobbo-Neto, Andreia C. K. Fontana, Wagner Ferreira Dos Santos
Summary: Lychnophora, also known as Brazilian arnica, is a South American flowering plant used in traditional medicine. Its active components, derived from chlorogenic acid and C-flavonoids, exhibit anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In this study, it was found that chlorogenic acid and 4,5-di-O-[E]-caffeoylquinic acid from Lychnophora plants have neuroprotective effects in a rodent glaucoma model. The pretreatment with these compounds protected the retinal layers against damage and reduced neuronal death after ischemic insult.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Diego B. Carvalho, Amarith R. das Neves, Gisele B. Portapilla, Ozildeia Soares, Larissa B. B. Santos, Jefferson R. S. Oliveira, Luan S. Vianna, Wagner A. S. Judice, Iara A. Cardoso, Pedro H. Luccas, M. Cristina Nonato, Norberto P. Lopes, Sergio de Albuquerque, Adriano C. M. Baroni
Summary: Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, requires new antitrypanosomal agents due to the adverse effects and toxicity of current drugs. 5-Nitrofuran-isoxazole analogs synthesized in this study showed significant in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against T. cruzi. Analog 7s exhibited the highest efficacy, with an IC50 value of 40 nM and selectivity index of 132.50. The active analogs showed substrate activity for type I nitroreductase, suggesting their potential as agents for CD treatment.
ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Luis Gustavo A. Patrone, Gustavo D. D. Ferrari, Rodrigo Moreira da Silva, Luciane C. C. Alberici, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Angelita M. M. Stabile, Wilfried Klein, Kenia C. Bicego, Luciane H. H. Gargaglioni
Summary: Cannabis legalization has led to increased cannabis use during pregnancy. This study found that prenatal exposure to synthetic cannabinoid WIN can affect the respiratory control system of neonatal and juvenile rats, with greater CO2 sensitivity in males and breathing and brainstem changes. In females, it leads to increased apnea and reduced serotonin neurons. These findings demonstrate long-term and sex-specific consequences of excessive stimulation of the endocannabinoid system during gestation.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Diego B. Carvalho, Pedro A. N. Costa, Gisele B. Portapilla, Amarith R. das Neves, Cristiane Y. K. Shiguemoto, Bruno I. Pelizaro, Fernanda Silva, Eliane M. Piranda, Carla C. P. Arruda, Priscyla D. M. Gaspari, Iara A. Cardoso, Pedro H. Luccas, M. Cristina Nonato, Norberto P. Lopes, Sergio de Albuquerque, Adriano C. M. Baroni
Summary: Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are neglected diseases of high priority as a public health problem. In this study, a series of newly synthesized compounds showed promising antitrypanosomatid properties, indicating their potential as future treatments for these diseases.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Andres E. Brunetti, Carlos A. Fuzo, Silvana Aguilar, Mauricio Rivera-Correa, Mariela M. Marani, Norberto P. Lopes
Summary: Amphibians' skin is a rich source of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which show sequence divergence related to the arms race between host and pathogens. In this study, the evolution of AMPs in Cophomantini, a diverse clade of neotropical tree frogs, and their interaction with bacterial membranes were investigated using peptidomics, molecular modeling, and phylogenetic analyses.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Juliana Neves de Paula e Souza, Rodrigo Moreira da Silva, Simone Silveira Fortes, Anderson Rodrigo Moraes de Oliveira, Leandro S. S. Ferreira, Ricardo Vessecchi, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Denise Brentan Silva
Summary: Licarin A, a dihydrobenzofuranic neolignan found in medicinal plants and nutmeg seeds, has strong activity against protozoans responsible for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Biomimetic reactions using metalloporphyrin and Jacobsen catalysts resulted in the production of seven products, including four isomeric epoxidation products of licarin A. In vivo acute toxicity assays showed potential liver toxicity, but no tissue damage indicative of toxicity was observed after 14 days of exposure. New metabolic pathways of licarin A were identified through in vitro biomimetic oxidation reactions and in vitro metabolism by rat or human liver microsomes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gabriela Marinho Righetto, Jose Luiz de Souza Lopes, Paulo Jose Martins Bispo, Camille Andre, Julia Medeiros Souza, Adriano Defini Andricopulo, Leila Maria Beltramini, Ilana Lopes Baratella da Cunha Camargo
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health concern and there is a need for novel antimicrobial therapies. This study designed a new antimicrobial peptide Pln149-PEP20 and tested its activity against 60 different species of bacteria. The results showed that Pln149-PEP20 had excellent bactericidal activity and its target was likely genes associated with membrane metabolism.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Renato Dantas-Medeiros, Gabriel Davi Marena, Victor Hugo Sousa Araujo, Francisco de Assis Bezerra Neto, Ana Caroline Zanatta, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Paulina Bermejo, Jose Antonio Guerra, Luis Miguel Bedoya, Bruno Fonseca-Santos, Bruno Amorim-Carmo, Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa, Guilherme Maranhao Chaves, Tais Maria Bauab, Marlus Chorilli, Silvana Maria Zucolotto
Summary: In this study, a hydrogel formulation containing a proanthocyanidin polymer-rich extract of Commiphora leptophloeos was developed and characterized. The hydrogel demonstrated good physico-chemical and microbiological stability and showed higher antifungal potential compared to a free extract. The results suggest that this hydrogel has the potential to be used in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kyoung Jin Park, Sarah Maier, Chengqian Zhang, Shelley A. H. Dixon, Douglas B. Rusch, Monica T. Pupo, Steven P. Angus, Joseph P. Gerdt
Summary: Six new ravidomycin analogs and one fucomycin analog were isolated from Streptomyces sp. Am59. The structures were determined using spectroscopic and computational methods. The absolute configuration of deacetylravidomycin was found to have a positive specific rotation, contrary to previous reports. The compounds exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxicity activities, with some showing greater selectivity than deacetylravidomycin.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2023)
Correction
Biochemical Research Methods
Tiago Cabral Borelli, Gabriel Santos Arini, Luis G. P. Feitosa, Pieter C. Dorrestein, Norberto Peporine Lopes, Ricardo R. da Silva
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carolina A. de Oliveira, Gabriela T. de Paula, Monica T. Pupo
Summary: The advancement of technology is increasingly aiding in the understanding of interactions between organisms. Research on the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and insects has led to the discovery of bioactive compounds with applications in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. This study specifically focuses on the relationship between bees and bacteria, providing a comprehensive review of compounds identified from this relationship until June 2022.
REVISTA VIRTUAL DE QUIMICA
(2023)
