Publications by authors named "Mayra R do Bomfim"

Alzheimer's disease causes chronic neurodegeneration and is the leading cause of dementia in the world. The causes of this disease are not fully understood but seem to involve two essential cerebral pathways: cholinergic and amyloid. The simultaneous inhibition of AChE, BuChE, and BACE-1, essential enzymes involved in those pathways, is a promising therapeutic approach to treat the symptoms and, hopefully, also halt the disease progression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The enhancement of cholinergic functions via acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition is considered a valuable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of ZINC390718, previously filtered using computational approaches, on both cholinesterases and to characterize, using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the possible binding mode of this compound inside the cholinesterase enzymes. The in vitro cytotoxicity effect was also investigated using a primary astrocyte-enriched glial cell culture.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology responsible for 70% of dementia cases worldwide. Despite its relevance, the few drugs available for the treatment of this disease offer only symptomatic relief, with limited efficacy and serious adverse effects. The most accepted hypothesis about the pathogenesis involves the aggregation and deposition of β-amyloid peptides, mainly in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, through the catalytic action of beta-secretase 1 (BACE-1), making this enzyme a promising target for the development of new drugs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Malaria is a protozoan infection transmitted by the bite of the infected female mosquito belonging to the genus ., which causes more than 445 million annual deaths worldwide. Available drugs have serious adverse effects ( blurred vision, hypotension and headache) and species-dependent efficacy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF