κ- and λ-Carrageenans from Marine Alga Exhibit Anticancer In Vitro Activity in Human Gastrointestinal Cancers Models.

The carrageenans isolated from red algae demonstrated a variety of activities from antiviral and immunomodulatory to antitumor. The diverse structure and sulfation profile of carrageenans provide a great landscape for drug development. In this study, we isolated, purified and structurally characterized κo- and λo- oligosaccharides from the marine algae .

Marine Natural Products from the Russian Pacific as Sources of Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are growing to become one of humanity's biggest health problems, given the number of individuals affected by them. They cause enough mortalities and severe economic impact to rival cancers and infections. With the current diversity of pathophysiological mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases, on the one hand, and scarcity of efficient prevention and treatment strategies, on the other, all possible sources for novel drug discovery must be employed.

Chlorin Endogenous to the North Pacific Brittle Star for Photodynamic Therapy Applications in Breast Cancer and Glioblastoma Models.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a powerful avenue for anticancer treatment. PDT relies on the use of photosensitizers-compounds accumulating in the tumor and converted from benign to cytotoxic upon targeted photoactivation. We here describe (3,4)-14-Ethyl-9-(hydroxymethyl)-4,8,13,18-tetramethyl-20-oxo-3-phorbinepropanoic acid (ETPA) as a major metabolite of the North Pacific brittle stars .

A Cytotoxic Porphyrin from North Pacific Brittle Star .

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the deadliest form of gynecological tumors currently lacking targeted therapies. The ethanol extract of the North Pacific brittle star presented promising anti-TNBC activities. After elimination of the inert material, the active extract was submitted to a bioguided isolation approach using high-resolution semipreparative HPLC-UV, resulting in one-step isolation of an unusual porphyrin derivative possessing strong cytotoxic activity.

Addressing the Issue of Tetrodotoxin Targeting.

This review is devoted to the medical application of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent non-protein specific blocker of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. The selectivity of action, lack of affinity with the heart muscle NaV channels, and the inability to penetrate the blood⁻brain barrier make this toxin an attractive candidate for anesthetic and analgesic drug design. The efficacy of TTX was shown in neuropathic, acute and inflammatory pain models.

High-throughput targeted screening in triple-negative breast cancer cells identifies Wnt-inhibiting activities in Pacific brittle stars.

Pro-proliferative oncogenic signaling is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Specific targeting of such signaling pathways is one of the main approaches to modern anti-cancer drug discovery, as opposed to more traditional search for general cytotoxic agents. Natural products, especially from marine sources, represent a largely untapped source of chemical diversity, which so far have mostly been screened for cytotoxicity.

Hematopoietic stem cells as a tool for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive malignant brain tumor with terminal consequences. A primary reason for its resistance to treatment is associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs), of which there are currently no effective ways to destroy. It remains unclear what cancer cells become a target of stem cell migration, what the role of this process is in oncogenesis and what stem cell lines should be used in developing antitumor technologies.

Directional migration of adult hematopoeitic progenitors to C6 glioma .

Multiform glioblastoma is the most common primary, highly invasive, malignant tumor of the central nervous system, with an extremely poor prognosis. The median survival of patients following surgical resection, radiation therapy and chemotherapy does not exceed 12-15 months and thus, novel approaches for the treatment of the disease are required. The phenomenon of the directed migration of stem cells in tumor tissue presents a novel approach for the development of technologies that facilitate the targeted delivery of drugs and other therapeutic agents to the tumor foci.

Lead removal in rats using calcium alginate.

Lead (Pb) exposure, even at low levels, causes a variety of health problems. The aims of this study were to investigate the tissue distribution of lead in the bodies of rats, to evaluate lead removal from the internal organs and bones using calcium alginate in doses of 500, 200 and 100 mg/kg per day for 28 days and to assess the impact of calcium alginate on the level of essential elements. Lead (Pb), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels in the blood, hearts, kidneys, livers and femurs of the experimental animals were measured using mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma.

Carrageenans as a new source of drugs with metal binding properties.

Carrageenans are abundant and safe non-starch polysaccharides exerting their biological effects in living organisms. Apart from their known pro-inflammation properties and some pharmacological activity, carrageenans can also strongly bind and hold metal ions. This property can be used for creation of the new drugs for elimination of metals from the body or targeted delivery of these metal ions for healing purposes.

Cerium binding activity of different pectin compounds in aqueous solutions.

Cerium binding activity of different water soluble pectin compounds varying according to their degree of esterification and insoluble calcium pectate beads in aqueous solution was studied in a batch sorption system. The cerium uptake by all pectin compounds was highest within the pH range from 4.0 to 6.