Publications by authors named "Kofi B Owusu"

Aberrant activation of the cGAS-STING signaling results in innate immune response induction. Herein, we report HSKB142, an orally bioavailable compound containing the 3H-pyrazolo [4,3-]quinoline synthesized a Povarov-Doebner MCR. HSKB142 is non-cytotoxic towards immune cells and suppresses type-1 interferon expression in human THP-1 monocytes upon treatment with 2'3'-cGAMP.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new polyhydroxylated triterpene named 2β,6β,21α-trihydroxyfriedelan-3-one was discovered in the root and stem bark of A. Chev, along with six known triterpenoids and other compounds.
  • The novel compound and some known triterpenoids exhibited antimicrobial activities against certain bacteria, with IC values indicating effectiveness compared to standard antibiotics.
  • Molecular docking studies suggest that 3β-acetyl tormentic acid and sitosterol-3β--D-glucopyranoside could potentially act as inhibitors of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH).
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Malaria affects about half of the world's population. The sub-Saharan African region is the most affected. Plant natural products have been a major source of antimalarial drugs; the first (quinine) and present (artemisinin) antimalarials are of natural product origin.

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Dichapetalum madagascariense Poir (Dichapetalaceae) is traditionally used to treat bacterial infections, jaundice, urethritis and viral hepatitis in Africa. Its root contains a broad spectrum of biologically active dichapetalins. To evaluate the plant's effect on human MCF-7 cells and its' antibacterial and antiparasitic potentials, we isolated and identified the known dichapetalins A and M from the roots.

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Several anti-HIV-1 peptides have previously been found among overlapping fragment peptide libraries that contain an octa-arginyl moiety and cover the whole sequence of an HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein. Several derivatives based on a potent CA fragment peptide CA-19L have been synthesized. CA-19L overlaps with the Helix 9 region of the CA protein, which could be important for oligomerization of the CA proteins.

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Utilizing overlapping fragment peptide libraries covering the whole sequence of an HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein with the addition of an octa-arginyl moiety, we had previously found several peptides with anti-HIV-1 activity. Herein, among these potent CA fragment peptides, CA-15L was examined because this peptide sequence overlaps with Helix 7, a helix region of the CA protein, which may be important for oligomerization of the CA proteins. A CA-15L surrogate with hydrophilic residues, and its derivatives, in which amino acid sequences are shifted toward the C-terminus by one or more residues, were synthesized and their anti-HIV activity was evaluated.

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A new alkaloid paenidigyamycin A () was obtained from the novel Ghanaian sp. isolated from the mangrove rhizosphere soils of the tree growing in the wetlands of the Digya National Park, Ghana. Compound was isolated on HPLC at t = 37.

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Trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and malaria are protozoan infections of public health importance with thousands of new cases recorded annually. Control of these infection(s) with existing chemotherapy is limited by drug toxicity, lengthy parenteral treatment, affordability, and/or the emergence of resistant strains. Medicinal plants on the other hand are used in the treatment of various infectious diseases although their chemical properties are not fully evaluated.

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Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Diseases which can be prevented with mass deworming chemotherapy. The reliance on a single drug, praziquantel, is a motivation for the search of novel antischistosomal compounds. This study investigated the anthelmintic activity of the stem bark and roots of against two life stages of .

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Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by the sand fly. It is caused by over 20 different species of Leishmania and has affected over 14 million people worldwide. One of the main forms of control of leishmaniasis is chemotherapy, but this is limited by the high cost and/or toxicity of available drugs.

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Trypanosoma brucei parasites are kinetoplastid protozoa that devastate the health and economic well-being of millions of people in Africa through the disease human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). New chemotherapy has been eagerly awaited due to severe side effects and the drug resistance issues plaguing current drugs. Recently, there has been an emphasis on the use of medicinal plants worldwide.

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Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness has remained a serious health problem in many African countries with thousands of new infected cases annually. Chemotherapy, which is the main form of control against HAT has been characterized lately by the viewpoints of toxicity and drug resistance issues. Recently, there have been a lot of emphases on the use of medicinal plants world-wide.

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