Potential effects of fungicide and algaecide extracts of Annona glabra L. (Annonaceae) on the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata and on the oomycete Pythium.

Annona glabra L. is a semi-deciduous tree that contains several active substances, including secondary metabolites, with antifungal activity. Phytopathogenic strains of the genus Pythium cause billion dollar losses all over the world on natural and crop species.

Evaluation of flavonols and derivatives as human cathepsin B inhibitor.

Cathepsin B (catB) is a cysteine protease involved in tumour progression and represents a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Among the 15 evaluated extracts from cerrado biome, Myrcia lingua Berg. (Myrtaceae) extract demonstrated to be a source of compounds with potential to inhibit catB.

Triterpenoids as novel natural inhibitors of human cathepsin L.

Cathepsins L (catL) and B play an important role in tumor progression and have been considered promising therapeutic targets in the development of novel anticancer agents. Using a bioactivity-guided fractionation, a series of triterpenoids was identified as a new class of competitive inhibitors towards cathepsin L with affinity values in micromolar range. Among the 14 compounds evaluated, the most promising were 3-epiursolic acid (3), 3-(hydroxyimino)oleanolic acid (9), and 3-(hydroxyimino)masticadienoic acid (13) with IC50 values of 6.