Cathepsins: Proteases that are vital for survival but can also be fatal.

The state of enzymes in the human body determines the normal physiology or pathology, so all the six classes of enzymes are crucial. Proteases, the hydrolases, can be of several types based on the nucleophilic amino acid or the metal cofactor needed for their activity. Cathepsins are proteases with serine, cysteine, or aspartic acid residues as the nucleophiles, which are vital for digestion, coagulation, immune response, adipogenesis, hormone liberation, peptide synthesis, among a litany of other functions.

Synthesis of aryl pyrazole via Suzuki coupling reaction, in vitro mushroom tyrosinase enzyme inhibition assay and in silico comparative molecular docking analysis with Kojic acid.

Aryl pyrazoles are well recognized class of heterocyclic compounds found in several commercially available drugs. Owing to their significance in medicinal chemistry, in this current account we have synthesized a series of suitably substituted aryl pyrazole by employing Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. All compounds were evaluated for inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase enzyme both in vitro and in silico.

Comparative analysis of Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle) hot and cold extracts in respect to their potential for α-glucosidase inhibition.

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a functional food with potential health benefits, consumed either as hot or cold beverage. To ensure quality control of its various products, accurate measurement of active metabolites is warranted. Herein, we propose a combination of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analytical platforms for the untargeted characterization of metabolites in two roselle cultivars, Aswan and Sudan-1.

Developments in the synthesis of the antiplatelet and antithrombotic drug (S)-clopidogrel.

S-(+)-Methyl 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(6,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridin-5(4H)-yl)acetate, also known as (S)-clopidogrel, is marketed under the trade names Plavix and Iscover. It is a potent thienopyridine-class of antithrombotic and antiplatelet drug (antiaggregant). Among the two available stereoisomers of clopidogrel, for pharmaceutical activities only the S-enantiomer is applicable, as no antithrombotic activity is observed in the R-enantiomer and causes political upheavals and social turmoil in animal experiments.

Essential oils of aromatic Egyptian plants repel nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Due to the role of Ixodes ricinus (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) in the transmission of many serious pathogens, personal protection against bites of this tick is essential. In the present study the essential oils from 11 aromatic Egyptian plants were isolated and their repellent activity against I.

Cytotoxic Effects of Sarcophyton sp. Soft Corals-Is There a Correlation to Their NMR Fingerprints?

sp. soft corals are rich in cembranoid diterpenes, which represent the main chemical defense of corals against their natural predators in addition to their myriad biological effects in humans. Quantitative NMR (qNMR) was applied for assessing the diterpene variation in 16 soft coral specimens in the context of their genotype, origin, and growing habitat.

Phytochemical Profiles and Antimicrobial Activities of Allium cepa Red cv. and A. sativum Subjected to Different Drying Methods: A Comparative MS-Based Metabolomics.

Plants of the genus produce sulphur compounds that give them a characteristic (alliaceous) flavour and mediate for their medicinal use. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of red cv. and in the context of three different drying processes were assessed using metabolomics.

Synthetic approaches towards the multi target drug spironolactone and its potent analogues/derivatives.

Spironolactone is a well-known multi-target drug and is specifically used for the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure. It is also used for the treatment of edema, cirrhosis of the liver, malignant, pediatric, nephrosis and primary hyperaldosteronism. Spironolactone in association with thiazide diuretics treats hypertension and in association with furosemide treats bronchopulmonary dyspepsia.

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Five and Six Membered Enamino Nitriles and Enamino Esters.

Progress in the chemistry of cyclic enamino-nitriles based on the advanced synthetic methodologies is reported. Due to the recent accomplishment, it becomes possible to reactivate these molecules toward electrophiles, nucleophiles and as electron rich dienes in 2+3 dipolar additions and in 4+2 cycloadditions reactions. Synthesizing the poly functionalized 4H-pyrans and their fused derivatives is a fascinating field with a multitude of biological implications such as antitumor, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antibronchitis, as well antifungal activity.

Chemopreventive effect of Phaleria macrocarpa on colorectal cancer aberrant crypt foci in vivo.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Natural products are important ingredients for pharmaceutical applications specifically new entities for treating cancer and other diseases. Phaleria macrocarpa is native of Indonesia and considered as a prolific source of bioactive substances useful for chemoprevention.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the chemopreventive properties of Phaleria macrocarpa on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats.

A Zinc Morpholine Complex Prevents HCl/Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in a Rat Model.

Zinc is a naturally occurring element with roles in wound healing and rescuing tissue integrity, particularly in the gastrointestinal system, where it can be detected in the mucosal and submucosal layers. Zinc chelates are known to have beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa and in cases of gastric ulcer. We synthesized complexes of zinc featuring a heterocyclic amine binding amino acids then investigated their ability to enhance the gastric self-repair.

Evaluation of chemopreventive potential of Strobilanthes crispus against colon cancer formation in vitro and in vivo.

Background: With cancer being one of the major causes of death around the world, studies are ongoing to find new chemotherapeutic leads. There are common mechanisms for colorectal cancer (CRC) formation. Several are connected with oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis and others are related to imbalanced homeostasis or intake of drugs/toxins.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Bioactivity of the Stable Peptide RCB-1 from Ricinus communis.

The Ricinus communis biomarker peptides RCB-1 to -3 comprise homologous sequences of 19 (RCB-1) or 18 (RCB-2 and -3) amino acid residues. They all include four cysteine moieties, which form two disulfide bonds. However, neither the 3D structure nor the biological activity of any of these peptides is known.

Chemopreventive effects of Strobilanthes crispus leaf extract on azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in rat colon.

In this work, microscopic and histological studies suggest that Strobilanthes crispus ethanol extract reduce azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. S. crispus is considered a traditional medicine and used as an antioxidant.

Antibacterial effect of the red sea soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum.

The marine soft corals Sarcophyton trocheliophorum crude extracts possessed antimicrobial activity towards pathogenic bacterial strains, i.e. Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The Chemopreventive Effect of Tanacetum Polycephalum Against LA7-Induced Breast Cancer in Rats and the Apoptotic Effect of a Cytotoxic Sesquiterpene Lactone in MCF7 Cells: A Bioassay-Guided Approach.

Background: Tanacetum polycephalum L. Schultz-Bip is a member of the Asteraceae family. This study evaluated the chemopreventive effect of a T.

Ultrastructural Study on the Antibacterial Activity of Artonin E versus Streptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus Strains.

Staphylococci are facultative anaerobes, perfectly spherical un-encapsulated cocci, with a diameter not exceeding 1 micrometer in diameter. Staphylococcus aureus are generally harmless and remain confined to the skin unless they burrow deep into the body, causing life-threatening infections in bones, joints, bloodstream, heart valves and lungs. Among the 20 medically important staphylococci species, Staphylococcus aureus is one of the emerging human pathogens.

A cactus-derived toxin-like cystine knot Peptide with selective antimicrobial activity.

Naturally occurring cystine knot peptides show a wide range of biological activity, and as they have inherent stability they represent potential scaffolds for peptide-based drug design and biomolecular engineering. Here we report the discovery, sequencing, chemical synthesis, three-dimensional solution structure determination and bioactivity of the first cystine knot peptide from Cactaceae (cactus) family: Ep-AMP1 from Echinopsis pachanoi. The structure of Ep-AMP1 (35 amino acids) conforms to that of the inhibitor cystine knot (or knottin) family but represents a novel diverse sequence; its activity was more than 500 times higher against bacterial than against eukaryotic cells.

Biochanin a gastroprotective effects in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal ulceration in rats.

Background: Biochanin A notable bioactive compound which is found in so many traditional medicinal plant. In vivo study was conducted to assess the protective effect of biochanin A on the gastric wall of Spraguedawley rats` stomachs.

Methodology: The experimental set included different animal groups.

Synthesis of Apoptotic New Quinazolinone-Based Compound and Identification of its Underlying Mitochondrial Signalling Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells.

The anti-carcinogenic effect of the new quinazolinone compound, named MMD, was tested on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. The synthesis of quinazolinone-based compounds attracted strong attention over the past few decades as an alternative mean to produce analogues of natural products. Quinazolinone compounds sharing the main principal core structures are currently introduced in the clinical trials and pharmaceutical markets as anti-cancer agents.

Chemopreventive efficacy of Andrographis paniculata on azoxymethane-induced aberrant colon crypt foci in vivo.

Andrographis paniculata is a grass-shaped medicinal herb, traditionally used in Southeast Asia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemoprotective effects of A. paniculata on colorectal cancer.

Antigenotoxic and antioxidant effects of the Mongolian medicinal plant Leptopyrum fumarioides (L): an in vitro study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leptopyrum fumarioides has been used in the traditional medicine of Mongolia for the treatment of various diseases, including drug intoxications. However, since there is only sparse information about its chemistry, active components, and pharmacological and toxicological effects, the major aim of the present study employing mouse lymphoma cells was to evaluate the genotoxic and antigenotoxic/antioxidative effects of extracts and components isolated from this plant.

Material And Methods: A crude methanol extract was separated into three different sub-extracts: dichloromethane, n-butanol, and water.

The novel steroidal alkaloids dendrogenin A and B promote proliferation of adult neural stem cells.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) and dendrogenin B (DDB) are new aminoalkyl oxysterols which display re-differentiation of tumor cells of neuronal origin at nanomolar concentrations. We analyzed the influence of dendrogenins on adult mice neural stem cell proliferation, sphere formation and differentiation. DDA and DDB were found to have potent proliferative effects in neural stem cells.

Making Ends Meet: Microwave-Accelerated Synthesis of Cyclic and Disulfide Rich Proteins Via In Situ Thioesterification and Native Chemical Ligation.

The development of synthetic methodologies for cyclic peptides is driven by the discovery of cyclic peptide drug scaffolds such as the plant-derived cyclotides, sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1) and the development of cyclized conotoxins. Currently, the native chemical ligation reaction between an N-terminal cysteine and C-terminal thioester group remains the most robust method to obtain a head-to-tail cyclized peptide. Peptidyl thioesters are effectively generated by Boc SPPS.

The traditional medical uses and cytotoxic activities of sixty-one Egyptian plants: discovery of an active cardiac glycoside from Urginea maritima.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Medicinal plants from the Sinai desert are widely used in traditional Bedouin medicine to treat a range of conditions including, cancers, and may thus be useful sources of novel anti-tumor compounds. Information on plants used in this way was obtained through collaboration with Bedouin herbalists.

Aim Of The Study: To document the traditional uses of 61 species from 29 families of Egyptian medicinal plants and to investigate their biological activity using a cytotoxicity assay.