Search results for "medicinal"
showing 10 items of 2966 documents
Pharmacological Properties of Shikonin – A Review of Literature since 2002
2013
The naphthoquinone shikonin is the main active principle of Zicao, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine made from the dried root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Studies carried out over the past 30 years have provided a scientific basis for the use of Zicao which has been long employed in folk medicine to treat a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases. In particular, shikonin has been shown to possess many diverse properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, and wound healing effects. The fact that shikonin shows so many beneficial properties has increased the interest in this molecule dramatically, especially in the past few years. The aim o…
Polycerasoidol, a Natural Prenylated Benzopyran with a Dual PPARα/PPARγ Agonist Activity and Anti-inflammatory Effect
2019
Dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α/γ (PPARα/γ) agonists regulate both lipid and glucose homeostasis under different metabolic conditions and can exert anti-inflammatory activity. We investigated the potential dual PPARα/γ agonism of prenylated benzopyrans polycerasoidol (1) and polycerasoidin (2) and their derivatives for novel drug development. Nine semisynthetic derivatives were prepared from the natural polycerasoidol (1) and polycerasoidin (2), which were evaluated for PPARα, -γ, -δ and retinoid X receptor-α activity in transactivation assays. Polycerasoidol (1) exhibited potent dual PPARα/γ agonism and low cytotoxicity. Structure–activity relationship studies revealed th…
Antibacterial activity of Pleurotus species
2013
Basidiomycetes express promising antitumor, immune modulating, cardiovascular and hypercholesterolemia, antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic effects (Wasser & Weis, 1999; Reshetnikov et al., 2001; Wasser, 2002, Didukh et al., 2003). They are also well known for their safety and efficacy as functional foods and dietary supplements (Wasser & Akavia, 2008). The antibacterial and antiviral value of different genera of Basidiomycetes has been tested by different authors (Benedict & Brady, 1972; Donnelly et al., 1986; Gao et al., 2003;). In particular the antibacterial and antiparasitic therapeutic effects were investigated in the genera Flammulina P. Karst, Fomes (Fr.) Fr., Ganoderma P. Ka…
Steroidal saponins from Smilax medica and their antifungal activity.
2005
Three new steroidal saponins (1-3) were isolated from the roots of Smilax medica, together with the known disporoside A (4). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated mainly by extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR, FABMS, and HRESIMS). Compounds 1, 2, and 4 demonstrated weak antifungal activity against the human pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and C.tropicalis, with MIC values between 12.5 and 50 microg/mL.
Antifungal activity and tautomeric cyclization equilibria of formylphenylboronic acids
2019
2-Formylphenylboronic acid and four isomeric fluoro-2-formylphenylboronic acids have been found active against a series of fungal strains: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Candida. The level of antifungal activity was evaluated by agar diffusion tests as well as the determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by serial dilution method. Among the tested compounds, 4-fluoro-2-formylphenylboronic acid - an analogue of the known antifungal drug Tavaborole (AN2690) - proved to be the most potent antifungal agent. The tautomeric equilibrium leading to the formation of 3-hydroxybenzoxaboroles as well as the position of the fluorine substituent were revealed to play a crucial ro…
Chemical composition of essential oils of Anthemis secundiramea Biv. subsp. secundiramea (Asteraceae) collected wild in Sicily and their activity on …
2016
In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Anthemis secundiramea Biv. subsp. secundiramea L. collected in Sicily was evaluated by GC and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The main components of A. secundiramea were (Z)-lyratyl acetate (14.6%), (Z)-chrysanthenyl acetate (9.9%), (Z)-chrysanthenol (8.7%) and (E)-chrysanthenyl acetate (7.7%). The comparing with other studied oils of genus Anthemis belonging to the same clade is discussed. Antibacterial and antifungal activities against some micro-organisms infesting historical art craft, were also determined.
Recent Trends in the Pharmacological Activity of Isoprenyl Phenolics
2012
Abstract A number of prenylated phenols, mainly flavonoids, have been identified as active constituents of medicinal plants. Due to their beneficial effects on human health, this class of compounds has received a great deal of attention, not only from the pharmaceutical industry, but also from other areas of applied sciences, including the food, brewing, and cosmetics industries. The addition of prenyl residues through the activity of isoprenyltransferases, the key biosynthetic enzymes for these plant metabolites, endows flavonoids with a variety of biological activities, mostly due to improved interaction with membranes and proteins. The role of prenylated flavonoids in plants correlates w…
Bioactivity of essential oils in phytopathogenic and post-harvest fungi control
2017
[EN] Commercial thyme and lavender essential oils were analysed by GC/MS. Sixty-six compounds accounting for 98.6¿99.6% of total essential oil were identified. Thymol (52.14 ± 0.21%), followed by pcymene (32.24 ± 0.16%), carvacrol (3.71 ± 0.01%) and ¿-terpinene (3.34 ± 0.02%), were the main compounds in thyme essential oil, while large amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes linalool acetate (37.07 ± 0.24%) and linalool (30.16 ± 0.06%) were found in lavender one. In vitro antifungal activity of the essential oils was evaluated at 200 and 300 ¿g/mL against 10 phytopathogenic and post-harvest fungi, which significantly affect agriculture. Micelial growth inhibition was calculated for each tested f…
ChemInform Abstract: New Highly Asymmetric Henry Reaction Catalyzed by CuIIand a C1-Symmetric Aminopyridine Ligand, and Its Application to the Synthe…
2008
A new catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction has been developed that uses a C(1)-symmetric chiral aminopyridine ligand derived from camphor and picolylamine. A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic, and unsaturated aldehydes react with nitromethane and other nitroalkanes in the presence of DIPEA (1.0 equiv), Cu(OAc)(2)*H(2)O (5 mol %), and an aminopyridine ligand (5 mol %) to give the expected products in high yields (up to 99 %), moderate-to-good diastereoselectivites (up to 82:18), and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 %). The reaction is air-tolerant and has been used in the synthesis of the antifungal agent miconazole.
Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials
2021
Medicinal mushrooms have important health benefits and exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antiallergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, antidepressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive activities. The growing interest in mycotherapy requires a strong commitment from the scientific community to expand clinical trials and to propose supplements of safe origin and genetic purity. Bioactive compounds of selected medicinal mushrooms and their effects and mechanisms in in vitro and in vivo clinical stu…