Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Elena Catanzaro, Donatella Canistro, Valentina Pellicioni, Fabio Vivarelli, Carmela Fimognari
Summary: This review presents and critically discusses the chemistry and biosynthesis of allicin, its pharmacokinetic profile, its anticancer mechanisms and molecular targets, and its selectivity towards tumor cells. The research carried out so far reveals that allicin suppresses the growth of different types of tumors by targeting multiple signaling pathways associated with cancer development. Future research directions are outlined to further explore the potential of allicin as a natural product for cancer treatment.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Ramos-Martin, Claudia Herrera-Leon, Nicola D'Amelio
Summary: Cecropin A and Cecropin XJ are antimicrobial peptides with activity against esophageal cancer cells. They exhibit different structural adaptations when interacting with DPC micelles, with CecA forming a three-helix bundle for enhanced adaptability. Specific interactions with different lipid bilayers may account for their selective targeting of cancer, bacterial, and mitochondrial membranes.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shaymaa Mahmoud, Sobhy Hassab El-Nabi, Asmaa Hawash, Hesham R. El-Seedi, Shaden A. M. Khalifa, Sami Ullah, Abdullah G. Al-Sehemi, Islam M. El-Garawani
Summary: This study investigated the role of curcumin in enhancing the anticancer effect of Musca domestica larval hemolymph. The results showed that curcumin-injected larval hemolymph exhibited significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while showing no cytotoxicity against normal cells. Furthermore, curcumin stimulation upregulated the expression of cecropin, which was linked to the increased cytotoxicity towards cancer cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexey V. Trifonov, Almir S. Gazizov, Anipa S. Tapalova, Lyudmila K. Kibardina, Nurbol O. Appazov, Alexandra D. Voloshina, Anastasiia S. Sapunova, Anna P. Luybina, Gulmira M. Abyzbekova, Alexey B. Dobrynin, Igor A. Litvinov, Akerke K. Tauekel, Sholpan O. Yespenbetova, Alexander R. Burilov, Michail A. Pudovik
Summary: In this study, novel 7-aza-coumarine-3-carboxamides were designed and synthesized using a scaffold-hopping strategy, and their in vitro anticancer activity was evaluated. Additionally, an improved non-catalytic synthesis of 7-azacoumarin-3-carboxylic acid was reported, which utilizes water as the reaction medium and offers a convenient alternative to known methods. The most potent 7-aza-coumarine-3-carboxamides exhibited anticancer activity against the HuTu 80 cell line that is comparable to the reference drug Doxorubicin, with 9-14 times higher selectivity towards the normal cell line.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sandra Ramos-Inza, Andreina Henriquez-Figuereo, Esther Moreno, Melibea Berzosa, Ignacio Encio, Daniel Plano, Carmen Sanmartin
Summary: In this study, a series of selenium-containing compounds were designed and synthesized, and their antiproliferative, antileishmanial, and antibacterial activities were evaluated in vitro. Some of these compounds showed promising therapeutic potential against multiple pathologies, making them attractive candidates for drug development.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chenyu Zhang, Xiang Li, Zhenjian Xing, Honglan Zhong, Dianbao Yu, Rui Yu, Xin Deng
Summary: In this study, an anticancer AMP (Mastoparan) and its derivatives were designed and evaluated. Preliminary studies showed that the Mastoparan analogue KM8 exhibited selective antitumor effects but had metabolic instability. By substituting the 9Ala residue in KM8, a long-acting derivative KM8-Aib was generated, which showed higher metabolic stability, potent anticancer activity, and lower toxicity. Therefore, KM8-Aib is suggested as a potential antimalignant agent for further study.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew A. Walker, Samuel D. Robinson, Jean-Paul Paluzzi, David J. Merritt, Samantha A. Nixon, Christina Schroeder, Jiayi Jin, Mohaddeseh Hedayati Goudarzi, Andrew C. Kotze, Zoltan Dekan, Andy Sombke, Paul F. Alewood, Bryan G. Fry, Marc E. Epstein, Irina Vetter, Glenn F. King
Summary: The study reveals that the limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans, produces a complex venom containing 151 proteinaceous toxins, most of which are peptides <10 kDa. Three families of venom peptides seem to be responsible for inducing pain in mammals. The findings suggest that lepidopteran venoms are a potential source of novel bioactive peptides.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Estefania Burgos-Moron, Nuria Pastor, Manuel Luis Orta, Julio Jose Jimenez-Alonso, Carlos Palo-Nieto, Margarita Vega-Holm, Jose Manuel Vega-Perez, Fernando Iglesias-Guerra, Santiago Mateos, Miguel Lopez-Lazaro, Jose Manuel Calderon-Montano
Summary: AzGalp, a promising compound for anticancer treatment, induces DNA damage to exert cytotoxicity, especially towards cancer cells deficient in the nucleotide excision repair pathway. Combination with oxaliplatin or 5-fluorouracil slightly enhances its selective cytotoxicity, with the highest selectivity observed against acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Further preclinical studies are needed to evaluate the anticancer potential of AzGalp.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tianxi Li, Lulu Li, Fangyuan Du, Lei Sun, Jichao Shi, Miao Long, Zeliang Chen
Summary: This review focuses on antifungal peptides isolated from various microorganisms, outlining their antifungal activity, toxic effects, and mechanisms of action, as well as common solutions to mitigate their toxicity. This work serves as a useful reference for further clinical research and the development of safe antifungal drugs with high efficiencies and broad application spectra.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sajjad Eshtiaghi, Razieh Nazari, Mahdi Fasihi-Ramandi
Summary: In recent years, drug-resistant infectious diseases have increased, leading to research on antimicrobial peptides as potential antibacterial agents. The modified mCM11 peptide showed potent antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains and no significant cytotoxic or apoptotic effects on eukaryotic cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE RESEARCH AND THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alicja Chrzanowska, Marta Struga, Piotr Roszkowski, Michal Kolinski, Sebastian Kmiecik, Karolina Jalbrzykowska, Anna Zabost, Joanna Stefanska, Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopec, Malgorzata Wrzosek, Anna Bielenica
Summary: Novel conjugates of moxifloxacin with fatty acids were synthesized and found to have stronger cytotoxic potential than the parent drug. Some of these conjugates showed high cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells. Additionally, they exhibited activity against standard and clinical bacterial strains, as well as mycobacteria.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Venelin Petkov, Tsvetelina Batsalova, Plamen Stoyanov, Tsvetelina Mladenova, Desislava Kolchakova, Mariana Argirova, Tsvetanka Raycheva, Balik Dzhambazov
Summary: This study investigated the anticancer and antibacterial properties of three Asplenium ferns, revealing their cytotoxicity and selective anticancer activity against human cervical cancer cells. Among the three species, A. ceterach extract exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on both cancer cells and bacterial cells, suggesting a species-specific effect. Further experiments linked the mechanism of action of A. ceterach extract with oxidative stress induction and proapoptotic potential against the cervical cancer cell line HeLa.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmed M. Omer, Abdelazeem S. Eltaweil, Esmail M. El-Fakharany, Eman M. Abd El-Monaem, Magda M. F. Ismail, Mohamed S. Mohy-Eldin, Mohammed S. Ayoup
Summary: This study developed a novel bioactive chitosan Schiff base (CTS-SB) derivative by coupling chitosan (CTS) with 4-((5, 5-dimethyl-3-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl) amino) benzene-sulfonamide. The CTS-SB derivative exhibited enhanced antibacterial, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities compared to pure CTS. It showed improved ion exchange capacity, increased antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, higher inhibitory values of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, and potential anticancer activity.
ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huan Li, Shuang Fu, Yudan Wang, Xuan Yuan, Lijia Liu, Hongxing Dong, Qiang Wang, Zhijia Zhang
Summary: Thirteen cationic peptidomimetics derived from amino acids were designed and synthesized to mimic the structure of cationic antibacterial peptides. Most of them showed significant broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against various bacteria, with some exhibiting low cytotoxicity. These peptidomimetics may have potential for the treatment of bacterial infections.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Faten Eshrati Yeganeh, Amir Eshrati Yeganeh, Bahareh Farasati Far, Afsoun Mansouri, Belay Zeleke Sibuh, Saravanan Krishnan, Soumya Pandit, Walaa F. Alsanie, Vijay Kumar Thakur, Piyush Kumar Gupta
Summary: In this study, smart magnetic nanoparticles coated with methionine were successfully fabricated. These nanoparticles showed pH-responsive controlled drug release behavior and demonstrated strong biocompatibility, anticancer activity, and antibacterial activity.
