Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 23, Issue 9, 2016

Background: Some 15% of all couples in the industrialized world suffer from infertility. Accordingly, any possible life-long morbidity that may result from treatments for infertility presents a significant concern to public health. The use of medications for infertility is specifically relevant to their possible effects on the classical target tissues for hormones involved in the sex axes, i.e., uterus, ovaries, and breast, but may have an effect on other organs, which harbor receptors for some of the hormones involved in reproduction. When one deals with the effect of treatment for infertility on the occurrence of malignant conditions, there is no doubt that certain malignancies tend to occur more frequently in women who suffered from and/or were treated for infertility. Objective: To review the accumulated data on the association of treatments for infertility with subsequent malignancies both in the classical target organs of sex steroids and in non-target organs. Methods: Systematic compilation of the relevant literature. Results & Conclusion: Contrary to popular believes, treatment for infertility is associated with very little increase in malignacies.

Rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) is a multifunctional natural flavonoid glycoside with profound effects on the various cellular functions under pathological conditions. Due to the ability of rutin and/or its metabolites to cross the blood brain barrier, it has also been shown to modify the cognitive and various behavioral symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, its therapeutic potential for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is evaluated through appraisal of current literatures relevant to the various cellular and molecular targets of the disease. Among the most relevant mechanisms involved are effect on amyloid beta (Aβ) processing, aggregation and action; alteration of the oxidant-antioxidant balance associated with neuronal cell loss; removing the inflammatory component of neurodegeneration, etc. The effect of rutin resulting from its physicochemical features related to effects like metal chelation and bioavailability are also discussed.

Parkinson’s disease is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder presenting with characteristic motor symptoms. Non-motor dysfunctions and therapyrelated complications frequently develop, but are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Levodopa- induced dyskinesia and impulse control disorders are suggested to share pathophysiological processes and m a y be related to alterations of the glutamatergic neurotransmission. Anti- glutamatergic interventions are therefore worth considering: several lines of evidence already indicate their beneficial effect. The kynurenine pathway offers the endogenous glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid, which may act as a promising candidate for future drug development with the aim of assessment of the motor symptoms and therapy-related complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) is recognised as a main feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Increasing evidence suggests that small soluble oligomers of Aβ are the toxic form of the peptide and may instigate AD. Different factors including some key residues within Aβ molecule, the cell membrane, prion protein and metals play important roles in developing AD. Significant progress has been made to understand these factors and elucidate the mechanism of cytotoxicity of Aβ. This review summarizes recent findings in the area of Aβ and AD research, and this current knowledge could enable medicinal chemists to design and develop therapeutics to treat AD.

Traditional opioids, mainly alkaloids, have been used in the clinical management of pain for a number of years but are often associated with numerous side-effects including sedation, dizziness, physical dependence, tolerance, addiction, nausea, vomiting, constipation and respiratory depression which prevent their effective use. Opioid peptides derived from food provide significant advantages as safe and natural alternative due to the possibility of their production using animal and plant proteins as well as comparatively less side-effects. This review aims to discuss the current literature on food-derived opioid peptides focusing on their production, methods of detection, isolation and purification. The need for screening more dietary proteins as a source of novel opioid peptides is emphasized in order to fully understand their potential in pain management either as a drug or as part of diet complementing therapeutic prescription.

Isoprenoids represent one of the largest classes of phytochemicals. The structural diversity of these compounds, as well as their remarkable biological activities, makes them suitable candidates for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Several isoprenoids have demonstrated promising potential in the modulation of angiogenesis processes, and therefore provide an appealing alternative and/or addition to the available pharmacotherapies. These compounds could be used per se or combined with standard therapies, which can potentially reduce the undesired secondary effects. Compounds like the sesquiterpenoid artemisinin, and its derivatives, or the diterpenoid triptolide have been successfully tested in a broad range of models (in vitro and in vivo). Moreover, sesquiterpenoids seem to be a promising resource of natural angiogenic modulators, as it can be attested by the significant number of recent publications in this subject. On the other hand, other isoprenoids, such as the triterpenoid ursolic acid, are still under-explored and further studies are needed to understand their role within angiogenic process. Further insights into isoprenoids mode of action in angiogenesis will hopefully pave the way towards their successful clinical use.

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) comprise a group of rare inherited chronic syndromes that cause deficiency of specific native enzymes within the lysosomes. The macromolecular compounds that are usually catabolized by lysosomal enzymes are accumulated within these organelles, causing progressive damage to tissues, skeleton and organs and, in several cases, the central nervous system (CNS). The damage caused by substrate accumulation finally results in physical deterioration, functional impairment and potential death. Up to date, the most promising therapy for most LSDs is enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT), which provides patients with the corresponding active enzyme. However, these enzymes do not have enough stability in blood, the treatment must be therefore periodically administrated by i.v. infusion under medical supervision, and immunogenicity issues are frequent. In addition, affected areas within the CNS, where the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major obstacle, cannot be reached by the enzymes. Nanotechnology can provide useful carriers to successfully protect and preserve enzymes, and transport them through the BBB towards brain locations. Several strategies based on targeting specific receptors on the BBB have led to nanoparticles that successfully carry sensitive molecules to the brain. Then, the main LSDs are described and a thorough review of nanotechnology strategies for brain delivery studied up to date is presented.