1,721,019 research outputs found
Ebola therapy: Developing new drugs or repurposing old ones?
Full text linkThe lack of Ebola therapies has recently kindled the debate about the possible repurposing of approved organotropic (i. e., not etiotropic) drugs for the treatment of this unmet medical emergency [1]. The scientific community is now facing an apparently dichotomal opportunity: focusing efforts on the time-consuming attempt to develop new drugs [2] or preferring the apparently quicker approach of repurposed ones [3]. Of course, each choice would subtract time and resources to the other and some scholars fear the possibility that some of the repurposed drugs might even worsen the viral pathology by changing the immune response [1]. Probably, what we are going to say is trivial, but we wonder if any statistical analysis of the organotropic therapies circumstantially used so far by Ebola patients has been done. This study could suggest which drugs might be more suited to offer beneficial effect against Ebola, if any. For example, some cardiovascular drugs previously demonstrated to be endowed with antiviral properties in vitro [3], might display higher prevalence amongst survived Ebola patients, thus proposing themselves as candidates for repurposing. Conversely, the systematic review of the medicines assumed in unlucky anecdotes might indicate which drugs should be considered as the second choice in the above studies
Microchip capillary electrophoresis–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of paracetamol metabolites in human urine: An intriguing case.
No full textThe strange case of abnormal quantities of unmetabolized paracetamol found in human urine [J. Chromatogr. A 1218 (2011) 739] was examined and an alternative explanation was proposed
Repurposing therapeutic agents and herbal medicines to defeat viral nemesis
Full text linkThe world has witnessed numerous deadly viral influenzas pandemics with the most iconic being the Spanish flue a century ago that infected some 500 million people around the globe. In the last two decades, new human coronavirus infections such as SARs and MERs have also shown us the need to continue our research and strengthen both our prevention and therapeutic strategies. Ironically, the current 2019-nCoV causing COVID-19 demonstrated that our preparedness for emerging respiratory viral infections is far too inadequate. As with our ancestors a century ago, our best remedy for COVID-19 is constant hand washing and social distancing. Despite all these and reality, however, we have numerous antivirals, anti-inflammatory and organo-protective therapeutic agents of natural and synthetic origins. We also have antibiotics for secondary pneumonia infection of bacterial origin and other therapeutic agents with specific pharmacological targets. Repurposing what we already have appears to be our best option in the time of urgent need like the nemeses we face now by COVID-19. Against such background, this Commentary article was designed to stimulate research in this field by looking into targets and medicines (both traditional and modern) with implication to COVID-19
Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Anti-a-glucosidase Activity Evaluations of Bergenia cordifolia
No full textThe antioxidant, anti-a-glucosidase and anticholinesterase activity of the leaves and rhizomatous extract of
Bergenia cordifolia were investigated. The rhizomes extract that showed a higher degree of 1,1-diphenyl-2-
picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and anti-a-glucosidase activity than reference compounds (rutin and acarbose
respectively) were subjected to phytochemical analysis. The study revealed that previously unknown minor
constituents from the plant, (+)-catechin 3-O-gallate, (+)-catechin 3,5-di-O-gallate and 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-galloylb-
D-glucopyranoside, were the radical scavenging and anti-a-glucosidase principles. These compounds as well
as the crude extracts were weak acetylcholienesterase inhibitors, suggesting a higher degree of selectivity against
a-glucosidase enzyme. In comparison with the minor constituents, the previously known major constituents of
the plant, bergenin and arbutin, were poor radical scavengers and enzyme inhibitors. Copyright © 2011
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Comment on "in Situ Derivatization of (RS)-Mexiletine and Enantioseparation Using Micellar Liquid Chromatography: A Green Approach"
No full textabstrac
Valutazione dell'attività fitochimica, antiossidante e anti-alfa-glucosidasica di Bergenia cordifolia
No full textCovid-19, chloroquine repurposing, and cardiac safety concern: Chirality might help
Full text linkThe desperate need to find drugs for COVID-19 has indicated repurposing strategies as our quickest way to obtain efficacious medicines. One of the options under investigation is the old antimalarial drug, chloroquine, and its analog, hydroxychloroquine. Developed as synthetic succedanea of cinchona alkaloids, these chiral antimalarials are currently in use as the racemate. Besides the ethical concern related to accelerated large-scale clinical trials of drugs with unproven efficacy, the known potential detrimental cardiac effects of these drugs should also be considered. In principle, the safety profile might be ameliorated by using chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine single enantiomers in place of the racemate
Activity of natural hydroxytyrosol versus a synthetic sample and its chiral analogues: Hypothesis on mechanism of action
No full textCurcumin and Liver Disease: from Chemistry to Medicine
No full textCurcumin, the natural yellow-colored active principle, also called turmeric yellow, extracted from the perennial
herb Curcuma longa L., has potent biological and pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
antifungal, antibacterial, anti-ischemic, antitumor, and anticancer actions. The molecular mechanism of the hepatoprotective
action of curcumin is due to its antioxidant properties and inhibitory activity against nuclear factor (NF)-κB that
regulates different proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines. Overall, scientific reports demonstrate that curcumin has
high therapeutic ability for treating hepatic disorders. Here is a systematic discussion of the hepatoprotective activity of
curcumin and its possible mechanisms of actions
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