Publications by authors named "Octavian T Olaru"

Article Synopsis
  • Dysregulation of lipid metabolism can cause dyslipidemia and obesity, which contribute significantly to cardiovascular disease, prompting this study to explore six plant extracts (ACE-, RSE-, CHE-, CE-, AGE-, CGE-) as potential therapies for these conditions.
  • The study found that RSE contained the highest levels of polyphenols and phenolcarboxylic acids, while CGE exhibited significant concentrations of flavones; both rosemary and hawthorn extracts showed notable antioxidant properties.
  • Using computational methods, the research suggested that rosmarinic acid and chlorogenic acid could effectively interact with the active site of carbonic anhydrase 5A, indicating their potential as anti-obesity agents, warranting further experimental validation in vivo.
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A promising strategy for combating bacterial infections involves the development of agents that disarm the virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria, thereby reducing their pathogenicity without inducing direct lethality. Sortase A, a crucial enzyme responsible for anchoring virulence factors to the cell surface of several pathogenic bacteria, has emerged as a possible target for antivirulence strategies. A series of hippocastanum species (, , , and ) were used to prepare ethanol- and water-based extracts for assessing their effect on sortase A.

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The present study focuses on the chemical characterization of a dry extract obtained from the species (L.) Schreb, evaluating its antioxidant properties, toxicity, and in silico profile. Quantitative analysis of the dry extract revealed a notable amount of phytochemical compounds: 59.

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(L.) has remarkable ethnopharmacological properties and is widely used in traditional medicine. The present study investigated stem bark (Berberidis cortex) by extraction with 50% ethanol.

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(L.) is one of the essential spices most frequently used in our daily routine and has remarkable ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties. Its fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and numerous other phenolic metabolites with a well-known antioxidant activity.

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Thiadiazole derivatives have garnered significant attention in the field of medicinal chemistry due to their diverse pharmacological activities, including anticancer properties. This article presents the synthesis of a series of thiadiazole derivatives and investigates their chemical characterization and potential anticancer effects on various cell lines. The results of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses confirmed the successful formation of the target compounds.

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Osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive articular cartilage degradation, subchondral bone changes, and synovial inflammation, and affects various joints, causing pain and disability. Current osteoarthritis therapies, primarily focused on pain management, face limitations due to limited effectiveness and high risks of adverse effects. Safer and more effective treatments are urgently needed.

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Endothelial dysfunction is the basis of the physiopathological mechanisms of vascular diseases. In addition to the therapeutic activity of plant extracts, cytotoxicity is significant. This research evaluates the cytotoxicity of three vegetal extracts ( extract-CE, extract-GE, and extract-SE).

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The use of natural compounds as an alternative to synthetic molecules has become a significant subject of interest in recent decades. Stilbenoids are a group of phenolic compounds found in many plant species and they have recently gained the focus of a multitude of studies in medicine and chemistry, resveratrol being the most representative molecule. In this review, we focused on the research that illustrates the therapeutic potential of this class of natural molecules considering various diseases with higher incidence rates.

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Article Synopsis
  • Protein kinases (PKs) are key targets in cancer research, and inhibiting them with small molecule inhibitors (PKIs) is a promising treatment option.
  • The pyrazole ring structure is significant in medicinal chemistry, serving as a versatile framework for many PKIs due to its drug-like properties and ease of synthesis.
  • Among the 74 FDA-approved small molecule PKIs, 8 include the pyrazole ring, and this review emphasizes the importance of this structural component in developing effective cancer therapies.
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Oxidative stress is the most critical factor in multiple functional disorders' development, and natural antioxidants could protect the human body against it. Our study aims to investigate the polyphenol content of four extracts of two medicinal plants ( L. and L.

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New pyrrolo[1,2-]pyridazines were synthesized by 3 + 2 cycloaddition reaction between mesoionic oxazolo-pyridazinones and methyl/ethyl propiolate. The mesoionic compounds were generated in situ by action of acetic anhydride on 3(2)pyridazinone acids obtained from corresponding esters by alkaline hydrolysis followed by acidification. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses and IR, H-NMR, C-NMR, and X-ray diffraction data.

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The aim of the present study was to obtain, characterize, and evaluate the antioxidant potential of some extracts obtained from the bark of var. Roth., the root of L.

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This paper describes the synthesis of new heterocycles from oxazol-5(4)-one and 1,2,4-triazin-6(5)-one classes containing a phenyl-/4-bromophenylsulfonylphenyl moiety. The oxazol-5(4)-ones were obtained via condensation of 2-(4-(4-X-phenylsulfonyl)benzamido)acetic acids with benzaldehyde/4-fluorobenzaldehyde in acetic anhydride and in the presence of sodium acetate. The reaction of oxazolones with phenylhydrazine, in acetic acid and sodium acetate, yielded the corresponding 1,2,4-triazin-6(5)-ones.

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Diseases such as cancer, neurological pathologies and chronic pain represent currently unmet needs. The existing pharmacotherapeutic options available for treating these conditions are limited by lack of efficiency and/or side effects. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 ion channel emerged as an attractive therapeutic target for developing new analgesic, anti-cancer and antiepileptic agents.

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Since medicinal plants are widely used in treating various diseases, phytoconstituents enrichment strategies are of high interest for plant growers. First of all, we investigated the impact of phytosociological cultivation on polyphenolic content (total flavonoids-TFL, and total polyphenols-TPC) of peppermint ( L.) and lemon balm ( L.

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The current study describes the synthesis, physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation of a new series of pyrrole derivatives in order to identify new bioactive molecules. The new pyrroles were obtained by reaction of benzimidazolium bromide derivatives with asymmetrical acetylenes in 1,2-epoxybutane under reflux through the Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition of several ylide intermediates to the corresponding dipolarophiles. The intermediates salts were obtained from corresponding benzimidazole with bromoacetonitrile.

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Oxidative stress is among the major triggers for many important human functional disorders, which often lead to various metabolic or tissue diseases. The aim of the study is to obtain five standardized vegetal extracts (-CE, -RE, -TE, -CHE, and -AE) that contain active principles with an essential role in protecting liver cells against free radicals and quantify their antioxidant actions. The compounds of therapeutic interest from the analyzed extracts were identified and quantified using the UHPLC-HRMS/MS technique.

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A series of new pyrrole derivatives were designed as chemical analogs of the 1,4-dihydropyridines drugs in order to develop future new calcium channel blockers. The new tri- and tetra-substituted -arylpyrroles were synthesized by the one-pot reaction of 1-methyl-3-cyanomethyl benzimidazolium bromide with substituted alkynes having at least one electron-withdrawing substituent, in 1,2-epoxybutane, acting both as the solvent and reagent to generate the corresponding benzimidazolium N3-ylide. The structural characterization of the new substituted pyrroles was based on IR, NMR spectroscopy as well as on single crystal X-ray analysis.

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The multi-step synthesis, physico-chemical characterization, and biological activity of novel valine-derived compounds, i.e., -acyl-α-amino acids, 1,3-oxazol-5(4)-ones, -acyl-α-amino ketones, and 1,3-oxazoles derivatives, bearing a 4-[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]phenyl moiety are reported here.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers synthesized new valine-derived compounds with a specific phenyl fragment to create potential bioactive substances.
  • They used various analytical methods, like elemental analysis and spectral data, to confirm the structures and purity of the compounds, and tested their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities as well as toxicity.
  • The most effective compound showed strong antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, indicating promise for developing better antimicrobial agents through further modifications.
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, autoimmune disease that affects a large number of young adults. Novel therapies for MS are needed considering the efficiency and safety limitations of current treatments. In our study, we investigated the effects of venlafaxine (antidepressant, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), risperidone (atypical antipsychotic) and febuxostat (gout medication, xanthine oxidase inhibitor) in the cuprizone mouse model of acute demyelination, hypothesizing an antagonistic effect on TRPA1 calcium channels.

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In order to develop novel chemotherapeutic agents with potent anticancer activities, a series of new 2,5-diaryl/heteroaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles were designed and synthesized. The structures of the new compounds were established using elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectral data. The compounds were evaluated for their anticancer potential on two standardized human cell lines, HT-29 (colon adenocarcinoma) and MDA-MB-231 (breast adenocarcinoma).

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Increasingly ineffective antibiotics and rapid spread of multi- and pan-resistant bacteria represent a global health threat; hence, the need of developing new antimicrobial medicines. A first step in this direction is identifying new molecular targets, such as virulence factors. Sortase A represents a virulence factor essential for the pathogenesis of Gram-positive pathogens, some of which have a high risk for human health.

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One of the most commonly discussed topics in the field of drug discovery is the continuous search for anticancer therapies, in which small‑molecule development plays an important role. Although a number of techniques have been established over the past decades, one of the main methods for drug discovery and development is still represented by rational, ligand‑based drug design. However, the success rate of this method could be higher if not affected by cognitive bias, which renders many potential druggable scaffolds and structures overlooked.

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