Current drug discovery technologies最新文献

The self-association of DNA formed by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding comprises several layers of four guanine or G-tetrads or G4s. The distinct feature of G4s, such as the G-tetrads and loops, qualify structure-selective recognition by small molecules and various ligands and can act as potential anticancer therapeutic molecules. The G4 selective ligands can influence gene expression by targeting a nucleic acid structure rather than sequence. Telomere G4 can be targeted for cancer treatment by small molecules inhibiting the telomerase activity, whereas c-MYC is capable of controlling transcription and can be targeted to influence transcription. The k-RAS is one of the most frequently encountered oncogenic driver mutations in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. The k-RAS oncogene plays an important role in acquiring and increasing drug resistance and can also be directly targeted by small molecules to combat k-RAS mutant tumors. Modular G4 ligands with different functional groups, side chains, and rotatable bonds, as well as conformation, affect the binding affinity/ selectivity in cancer chemotherapeutic interventions. These modular G4 ligands act by targeting the diversity of G4 loops and groves and assist in developing more drug-like compounds with selectivity. In this review, we present the recent research on synthetic G4 DNA-interacting ligands as an approach towards the discovery of target-specific anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Background: Anticancer drug development is a tedious process, requiring several in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. In order to avoid chemical toxicity in animals during an experiment, it is necessary to envisage toxic doses of screened drugs in vivo at different concentrations. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have been reported to discover the management of cancer.

Materials and methods: This study focused on bringing together a wide range of in vivo and in vitro assay methods developed to evaluate each hallmark feature of cancer.

Result: This review provides detailed information on target-based and cell-based screening of new anticancer drugs in the molecular targeting period. This would help in inciting an alteration from the preclinical screening of pragmatic compound-orientated to target-orientated drug selection.

Conclusion: Selection methodologies for finding anticancer activity have importance for tumor- specific agents. In this study, advanced rationalization of the cell-based assay is explored along with broad applications of the cell-based methodologies considering other opportunities.

Background: Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, with predicted numbers of about 700 million adults affected by 2045. Among the several anti-diabetic drug therapies available in the market, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach with scope for exploration in the segment of peptidomimetics.

Objective: Series of proline-containing peptidomimetic compounds were designed and investigated for their drug-likeness through Lipinski's rule of five, lead-likeness through the rule of three, predictive pharmacokinetic studies (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), and toxicity properties through in-silico approaches. The designed compounds were evaluated for their interactions with binding sites of the enzyme DPP-4 using an extra precision docking approach.

Methods: Proline-containing peptidomimetic compounds were designed rationally. Drug-likeness and lead-likeness properties were calculated using Schrödinger Maestro v11.2 software. ADME and toxicity properties were predicted using PreADMET version 2.0. Docking study was performed using Schrödinger Maestro v11.2 software, and ligands for the study were designed using MarvinSketch software.

Results: 5(S)-methyl-L-proline containing 17 ligands were designed. All of them were found to obey Lipinski's rule of five. Compounds were found to have good ADME profile and low toxicity predictions.

Conclusion: Four compounds were found to have good interactions with DPP-4 binding sites and hence created the scope to develop DPP-4 inhibitors containing 5(S)-methyl-L-proline moiety.

Background: Despite advances and the availability of newer drugs to facilitate childbirth, the interest in using natural treatments is on the rise. More than 20 percent of pregnancies require induction of labor, which is associated with side effects and increased risk of cesarean surgery. For this reason, the use of medicinal plants is considered healthier.

Objective: The present study is a systematic review of the role of oral herbs in facilitating childbirth.

Method: This review was conducted via searching the Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SID databases. The review began systematically and with no time constraints. It lasted until December 29, 2020.

Results: Twenty clinical trials investigated the impact of edible plants on increasing cervical readiness, stimulating labor onset, reducing pain intensity, and shortening the duration of labor. Five studies have revealed the positive impact of saffron. Two studies reported the same effect by chamomile. Three studies showed the positive impact of boiled dill seeds, and two studies showed the impact of date and date syrup. Another study reported the impact of Descurainia Sophia, and six studies also showed the positive effect of castor oil on uterine stimulation, strengthening and relieving labor pains, which eventually lead to facilitating labor. One study also showed no improvement in bishop score after consumption of primrose capsules.

Conclusion: The positive effect of edible medicinal plants on facilitating childbirth has been shown in the mentioned studies. However, more studies with a larger sample size are needed, and there is also a need for a more detailed study of the possible mechanisms of plant effects.

Background: Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) constitutes about 15 % of adult leukaemia and is characterized by the overproduction of immature myeloid cells.

Methods: In this study, a virtual high throughput screening (vHTS) technique was employed to screen a library of phytochemicals of reported plants having anticancer activity. A docking score of -10 kcalmol^-1 was used as the cut-off for the selection of phyto-compounds for pharmacophore-based virtual screening. Statistically robust and thoroughly validated QSAR model (R = 0.914, R² = 0.836, Adjusted R² = 0.764, LOO-CV= 0.6680) was derived for the inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase domain.

Results: The virtual screening, pharmacophore screening, QSAR model and molecular docking techniques applied herein revealed ellagic acid, a polyphenolic compound, as a potential competitive inhibitor of the BCR-ABL kinase domain. Ellagic acid binds to the inactive ABL state and forms similar interactions with key residues within the BCR-ABL Kinase domain as obtained in ponatinib (having inhibitory effects on the ABL thr-315I mutant). It forms hydrogen bond interaction with thr-315 residue (the gatekeeper residue). It is not likely to be prone to the various mutations associated with nilotinib because of its small size.

Conclusion: The procedure of VHTs, Pharmacophore, QSAR, and molecular docking applied in this study could help in detecting more anti-CML compounds.

Background: Prunella vulgaris , family Lamiaceae also known as self-heal, has been traditionally used as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and anti-rheumatic. Due to the widespread distribution of the plant, Vulgaris is also called 'vulgar' in Latin adjective meaning common.

Objective: The objective of this review was to describe the relevant aspects of phytochemistry and therapeutic uses of different fractions as well as isolated compounds from Prunella vulgaris . An attempt was also made to enumerate the possible leads, e.g . betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, umbelliferone, scopoletin, esculetin, luteolin, homoorientin, Rosmarinic acid and cinaroside, for further development.

Method: For peer-reviewed research literature, we undertook a structured search of bibliographic databases using a focused review question. Scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched.

Results: Phytochemistry of Prunella vulgaris (PV) after a thorough literature survey revealed varied and copious metabolites, such as triterpenoids, phenolic acid, sterols, carbohydrates, coumarins, fatty acids, and volatile oils. Many of these compounds have been found to possess a wide range of biological activities per se, including anti-microbial, immunosuppressive, anti-cancer, cardio- protective, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Conclusion: Prunella vulgaris is a medicinal plant of immense medicinal importance having a variety of compounds, such as triterpenoids, phenolic acid, sterols, carbohydrates, coumarins, fatty acids, and volatile oils, and diversity in the pharmacological spectrum. The plant could be further exploited to isolate the various biologically active constituents responsible for its activity.

Background: Various medications, surgeries, and assisted reproductive techniques are used to treat male infertility, but the high cost and low effectiveness have made these methods unpopular. The use of herbal medicines such as Withania somnifera, Ceratonia siliqua, Nigella sativa and Alpinia officinarum for the treatment of male infertility has become highly popular in recent years.

Objective: We conducted this systematic review to evaluate the recent scientific evidence regarding herbal medicines used to treat idiopathic male infertility (IMI).

Methods: Online literature resources were checked using different search engines, including ISI, Web of Knowledge, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Date restrictions were applied to 2020, and the publication language was restricted to English and Persian. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane method.

Results: Out of 851 articles, 14 trials with 1218 participants were included. Of the 15 plants and medicinal products introduced in the selected studies, 12 cases were effective in treating male infertility. Each of these plants or products affects specific components of male fertility for which various mechanisms were mentioned, but most of them had antioxidant effects. No serious side effects were reported.

Conclusion: Whitania somnifera roots, Alpinia officinarum, Nigella sativa seeds, Tomato, and Ceratonia siliqua and the formulation of Xperm, PHF, Churna Ratnam, Svaguptadi Churna, Y virilin capsule, manix capsule, and Tradafertil tablet revealed successful outcomes in treatment of idiopathic male infertility.

Since the early twentieth century, with the isolation of penicillin and streptomycin in the 1940s, the modern era of anti-infective drug development has gained momentum. Due to the enormous success of early drug discovery, many infectious diseases were successfully prevented and eradicated. However, this initial hope was wrongheaded, and pathogens evolved as a significant threat to human health. Drug resistance develops as a result of natural selection's relentless pressure, necessitating the identification of new drug targets and the creation of chemotherapeutics that bypass existing drug resistance mechanisms. Fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS) is a crucial metabolic mechanism for bacteria during their growth and development. Several crucial enzymes involved in this biosynthetic pathway have been identified as potential targets for new antibacterial agents. In Escherichia coli (E. coli), this pathway has been extensively investigated. The present review focuses on progress in the development of Kas A, Kas B, and Fab H inhibitors as mono-therapeutic antibiotics.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe and debilitating neuropsychiatric condition. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and cognitive- behavioral therapy are the first-line medication and treatment for OCD, an estimated 30% of patients are treatment-resistant, and complete functional recovery is rare. Natural products as adjuvant or alternative therapies should be examined to find safer and more effective ways to manage OCD.

Objectives: To investigate the potential benefits of a combined herbal drug based on Echium amoenum in treating OCD.

Methods: Design and Setting: In the psychiatric clinics of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 40 patients who met the criteria for the obsessive-compulsive disorder based on DSM-5 were studied in a parallel, double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

Intervention: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive Echium amoenum-Melissa officinalis syrup and fluvoxamine or placebo syrup and fluvoxamine for 8 weeks.

Outcome measures: The efficacy of treatment and recurrence of disease were surveyed and compared according to the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale at weeks 0, 4, and 8.

Results: Evaluation at the 4th and 8th week showed no significant differences between the two groups (p-value = 0.11, p-value = 0.445, respectively). At the 8th week of treatment, patients in the intervention group showed a remarkable reduction in scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale questionnaire (p- value= 0.003), and patients in the control group didn't ((p- value= 0.180). This study showed that the E.amoneum-M.officinalis syrup was not significantly more efficacious than the fluvoxamine tablet, but the intervention group showed a significant improving trend (p-value= 0.001).

Conclusion: While monotherapy is usually the gold standard methodology, combination or augmentation therapy may also be of merit. Consequently, studies with larger sample sizes and the inclusion of para-clinical assessments such as serologic tests can further shed light on the mechanism of action of the E. amoneum- M. officinalis syrup and deepen our understanding of its effects.

Background: The world is suffering from health and economic devastation due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the number of people affected and also the death rate, the virus is definitely a serious threat to humanity. The novel replication mechanism of the coronavirus is likely well understood, similar to prior studies on the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) virus.

Objective: The antiviral activity of various compounds of the flavonoid class was checked against SARS-COVID-19 using diverse tools and software.

Methods: From the flavonoid compound class, 100 synthetic compounds with potential antiviral activity were selected and improved for screening and induced fit docking, which was reduced to 25 compounds with good docking scores and docking energies. In addition to the apparent match of the molecule with the shape of the binding pocket, a full analysis of the non-covalent interactions in the active site was assessed.

Results: Compounds nol26, fla37-fl40, an32, an39 showed a maximum docking score, which shows essential interactions for a tight bond. Now, all compounds are synthetic with beneficial drug-like properties.

Conclusion: During the docking study, an increased lipophilic interaction of compounds due to the presence of chlorine in nol26, fla37-fl40, an32, an39 was discovered. fla37-fla40 can be investigated as lead molecules against SARS-COV-2 in futuristic drug development.