Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 17, Issue 5, 2017

Chitosan is a linear amino-polysaccharide and a natural polymer with a structure based on repetitive deacetylated and acetylated units randomly distributed. It is produced from chitin, one of the most common naturally occurring polysaccharides. Its numerous biomedical applications have been extensively described in the literature. It becomes more and more popular as a therapeutic agent and its use is constantly extended. Given its commonness, regenerative properties, easy chemical treatment, and biocompatibility, it might be used in the treatment of damaged oral cavity tissues. Due to its antimicrobial and regenerative-inducting properties as well as high biocompetency, chitosan is more and more frequently used in medicine and dentistry. It can be applied in all fields of dentistry including preventive dentistry, conservative dentistry, endodontics, surgery, periodontology, prosthodontics and orthodontics. Several data discussing the effectiveness of chitosan use on new bone formation are still inconclusive. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the applicability and biochemical impact of chitosan on oral health maintenance. Even though chitosan might find its adhibition in all dental specialities, it should still be considered as a potential allergen and thus further studies on this topic should be carried out.

Chitosan and propolis are natural substances that can be commonly found in the environment. Chitosan is one of the several cationic polysaccharides found in nature. It is a natural biopolymer transformed from chitin which is a product of crustacean shells. Propolis is produced by honeybees through mixing the secretions of their hypopharyngeal glands with the digested product of resins collected from plants. Due to their excellent chemical and biological properties, chitosan and propolis arouse keen interest in dental science, including endodontics. There are various possibilities for applying propolis and chitosan based medicaments in endodontic treatment of root canals, and what is particularly emphasized is their potential effectiveness against resistant microorganisms such as E. faecalis and C. albicans, as well as biocompatible to the periapical tissues in comparison with the most commonly used agents. They aim at microflora which is difficult to eliminate, and their medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiseptic properties, make them suitable for use in endodontic treatment. Due to the potential side effects of commonly used synthetic drugs and other safety related reasons, natural alternatives for endodontic usage are continuously explored and tested. The paper presents the possibilities of applying propolis and chitosan in endodontic treatment on the basis of chosen articles published in recent years.

Gingival margin retraction/displacement (GMR/D) is a commonly accepted procedure in restorative dentistry. Of the various retraction methods, the chemo-mechanical approach with retraction media and chemical retraction agents (ChRAs) is mostly used. Different local and/or systemic side effects were observed after “chemical attacks” from these retraction agents. Moreover, no consensus exists as to the compatibility of chemical agents with different impression materials. This paper reports the findings of in vivo and in vitro studies and we discuss the physico-chemical properties of chemical retraction agents, their undesirable clinical side effects, biological activity and compatibility with selected groups of elastomer impression materials.

In the course of temporomandibular joint, dysfunctions very often occur to the excessive increase in tension of masticatory muscles, so the main aim of the treatment is reduction of this hypertension of muscles. For this reason, we use botulinum toxin type A, which is produced by Grampositive Clostridium bacteria. There are six serotypes of the toxin: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The botulinum toxin type A was first isolated in 1920s. Today, botulinum toxin type A is used increasingly more often as an efficient and patient-friendly therapy in neurology, ophthalmology, neurology, urology and laryngology. The aim of the article was to review the literature and description of the current knowledge concerned with mechanism of action of botulinum toxin type A, clinical applications and metabolic determinants of muscle contraction and the beneficial effect of this drug on the state of muscle tension.

Vaccination is defined as the administration of an antigenic material in order to stimulate the immune system, leading to the development of adaptive immunity to a pathogen. Vaccines can prevent or reduce morbidity from a vast number of infections. This manuscript presents an analysis of vaccine types and vaccine substances, concentrating on individual components including the active ingredient, adjuvants, preservatives, stabilizers, inactivators, antibiotics, diluents and other substances. While many papers have been published on individual vaccine components, this review provides detail on a wide range of the most commonly-used vaccine ingredients and components that have been tested in clinical trials.

Schistosomiasis is a notable neglected tropical disease caused by trematodes that infect mainly the intestines, bladder, and liver. Because of the unavailability of a schistosomiasis vaccine, control of the disease depends mainly on chemotherapy. Praziquantel (PZQ), which is active against all schistosome species (Among the five major species of human schistosomes−S. mansoni, S. haematobium, S. japonicum, S. intercalatum, and S. mekongi, S. mansoni is the most prevalent) as well as probably their hybrids and the recommended drug by the World Health Organization for schistosomiasis treatment at either the community or individual level, has become the exclusive drug because of its low cost and efficacy against the adult form of all schistosome species. In view of rapid re-infection following treatment and concern about the development of tolerance and/or resistance to praziquantel, there is an urgent need for research and development of novel drugs for the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis. This comprehensive review shall attempt to briefly review the recent advances in the synthesis of antischistosomal drugs and agents in the literature from 1990s to now, particularly focusing on the context of potential development of antischistosomal agents. It shall be of interest for the pharmacologist.