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Marine Drugs
Special Issues
Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders
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Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2016) | Viewed by 75528

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. George Perry

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 79249, USA
Interests: mechanism of formation and physiological consequences of the cytopathology of Alzheimer disease; the mechanism for RNA-based redox metal binding; the consequences of RNA oxidation on protein synthesis rate and fidelity; the role of redox active metals in mediating prooxidant and antioxidant properties; the signal transduction pathways altered in Alzheimer disease that allow neurons to evade apoptosis; mechanism of phosphorylation control of oxidative damage to neurofilament proteins

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease have become one of the greatest threats to public health. We are constantly searching for new drugs to treat these diseases. The marine environment is a rich source of chemical structures with significant biological activities. Several marine-derived compounds have shown potential in the treatment of neurological disorders. The Special Issue "Marine Compounds and Its Application in Neurological Disorders" aims to present recent advances in the discovery and development of marine natural products, which can affect the nervous system or have therapeutic potential. As a guest editor, I invite you to submit review papers or original articles to this special issue.

Prof. Dr. George Perry
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • amyloid
  • Parkinson's disease
  • oxidative stress
  • therapeutics

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

127 KiB  
Editorial
Promise from the Sea
by George Perry
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100178 - 9 Oct 2016
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4227
Abstract
The twenty-first century’s greatestmedical challenge is degenerative disease. [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)

Research

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1620 KiB  
Article
Pseudopterosin A: Protection of Synaptic Function and Potential as a Neuromodulatory Agent
by Stacee Lee Caplan, Bo Zheng, Ken Dawson-Scully, Catherine A. White and Lyndon M. West
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14030055 - 10 Mar 2016
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 9479
Abstract
Natural products have provided an invaluable source of inspiration in the drug discovery pipeline. The oceans are a vast source of biological and chemical diversity. Recently, this untapped resource has been gaining attention in the search for novel structures and development of new [...] Read more.
Natural products have provided an invaluable source of inspiration in the drug discovery pipeline. The oceans are a vast source of biological and chemical diversity. Recently, this untapped resource has been gaining attention in the search for novel structures and development of new classes of therapeutic agents. Pseudopterosins are group of marine diterpene glycosides that possess an array of potent biological activities in several therapeutic areas. Few studies have examined pseudopterosin effects during cellular stress and, to our knowledge, no studies have explored their ability to protect synaptic function. The present study probes pseudopterosin A (PsA) for its neuromodulatory properties during oxidative stress using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We demonstrate that oxidative stress rapidly reduces neuronal activity, resulting in the loss of neurotransmission at a well-characterized invertebrate synapse. PsA mitigates this effect and promotes functional tolerance during oxidative stress by prolonging synaptic transmission in a mechanism that differs from scavenging activity. Furthermore, the distribution of PsA within mammalian biological tissues following single intravenous injection was investigated using a validated bioanalytical method. Comparable exposure of PsA in the mouse brain and plasma indicated good distribution of PsA in the brain, suggesting its potential as a novel neuromodulatory agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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4701 KiB  
Article
Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Organs of Stramonita haemastoma: Protein Distribution and Gene Expression in Response to Thermal Stress
by Mattia Toni, Federica De Angelis, Maria Carmela Bonaccorsi Di Patti and Carla Cioni
Mar. Drugs 2015, 13(11), 6636-6664; https://doi.org/10.3390/md13116636 - 30 Oct 2015
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5372
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is generated via the oxidation of l-arginine by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) both in vertebrates and invertebrates. Three NOS isoforms, nNOS, iNOS and eNOS, are known in vertebrates, whereas a single NOS isoform is usually expressed in invertebrates, sharing [...] Read more.
Nitric oxide (NO) is generated via the oxidation of l-arginine by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) both in vertebrates and invertebrates. Three NOS isoforms, nNOS, iNOS and eNOS, are known in vertebrates, whereas a single NOS isoform is usually expressed in invertebrates, sharing structural and functional characteristics with nNOS or iNOS depending on the species. The present paper is focused on the constitutive Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nNOS recently sequenced by our group in the neogastropod Stramonita haemastoma (ShNOS). In this paper we provide new data on cellular distribution of ShNOS in the CNS (pedal ganglion) and peripheral organs (osphradium, tentacle, eye and foot) obtained by WB, IF, CM and NADPHd. Results demonstrated that NOS-like proteins are widely expressed in sensory receptor elements, neurons and epithelial cells. The detailed study of NOS distribution in peripheral and central neurons suggested that NOS is both intracellular and presynaptically located. Present findings confirm that NO may have a key role in the central neuronal circuits of gastropods and in sensory perception. The physiological relevance of NOS enzymes in the same organs was suggested by thermal stress experiments demonstrating that the constitutive expression of ShNOS is modulated in a time- and organ-dependent manner in response to environmental stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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1082 KiB  
Article
A Cultivated Form of a Red Seaweed (Chondrus crispus), Suppresses β-Amyloid-Induced Paralysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
by Jatinder Singh Sangha, Owen Wally, Arjun H. Banskota, Roumiana Stefanova, Jeff T. Hafting, Alan T. Critchley and Balakrishnan Prithiviraj
Mar. Drugs 2015, 13(10), 6407-6424; https://doi.org/10.3390/md13106407 - 20 Oct 2015
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6524
Abstract
We report here the protective effects of a methanol extract from a cultivated strain of the red seaweed, Chondrus crispus, against β-amyloid-induced toxicity, in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans, expressing human Aβ1-42 gene. The methanol extract of C. crispus (CCE), delayed β-amyloid-induced [...] Read more.
We report here the protective effects of a methanol extract from a cultivated strain of the red seaweed, Chondrus crispus, against β-amyloid-induced toxicity, in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans, expressing human Aβ1-42 gene. The methanol extract of C. crispus (CCE), delayed β-amyloid-induced paralysis, whereas the water extract (CCW) was not effective. The CCE treatment did not affect the transcript abundance of amy1; however, Western blot analysis revealed a significant decrease of Aβ species, as compared to untreated worms. The transcript abundance of stress response genes; sod3, hsp16.2 and skn1 increased in CCE-treated worms. Bioassay guided fractionation of the CCE yielded a fraction enriched in monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG) that significantly delayed the onset of β-amyloid-induced paralysis. Taken together, these results suggested that the cultivated strain of C. crispus, whilst providing dietary nutritional value, may also have significant protective effects against β-amyloid-induced toxicity in C. elegans, partly through reduced β-amyloid species, up-regulation of stress induced genes and reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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907 KiB  
Article
Redox Status and Neuro Inflammation Indexes in Cerebellum and Motor Cortex of Wistar Rats Supplemented with Natural Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin: Fish Oil, Krill Oil, and Algal Biomass
by Tatiana G. Polotow, Sandra C. Poppe, Cristina V. Vardaris, Douglas Ganini, Maísa Guariroba, Rita Mattei, Elaine Hatanaka, Maria F. Martins, Eduardo F. Bondan and Marcelo P. Barros
Mar. Drugs 2015, 13(10), 6117-6137; https://doi.org/10.3390/md13106117 - 28 Sep 2015
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8521
Abstract
Health authorities worldwide have consistently recommended the regular consumption of marine fishes and seafood to preserve memory, sustain cognitive functions, and prevent neurodegenerative processes in humans. Shrimp, crabs, lobster, and salmon are of particular interest in the human diet due to their substantial [...] Read more.
Health authorities worldwide have consistently recommended the regular consumption of marine fishes and seafood to preserve memory, sustain cognitive functions, and prevent neurodegenerative processes in humans. Shrimp, crabs, lobster, and salmon are of particular interest in the human diet due to their substantial provision of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3/PUFAs) and the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTA). However, the optimal ratio between these nutraceuticals in natural sources is apparently the key factor for maximum protection against most neuro-motor disorders. Therefore, we aimed here to investigate the effects of a long-term supplementation with (n-3)/PUFAs-rich fish oil, ASTA-rich algal biomass, the combination of them, or krill oil (a natural combination of both nutrients) on baseline redox balance and neuro-inflammation indexes in cerebellum and motor cortex of Wistar rats. Significant changes in redox metabolism were only observed upon ASTA supplementation, which reinforce its antioxidant properties with a putative mitochondrial-centered action in rat brain. Krill oil imposed mild astrocyte activation in motor cortex of Wistar rats, although no redox or inflammatory index was concomitantly altered. In summary, there is no experimental evidence that krill oil, fish oil, oralgal biomass (minor variation), drastically change the baseline oxidative conditions or the neuro-inflammatory scenario in neuromotor-associated rat brain regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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Review

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1655 KiB  
Review
Axonal Transport and Neurodegeneration: How Marine Drugs Can Be Used for the Development of Therapeutics
by Joseph A. White, Rupkatha Banerjee and Shermali Gunawardena
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(5), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14050102 - 19 May 2016
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 9544
Abstract
Unlike virtually any other cells in the human body, neurons are tasked with the unique problem of transporting important factors from sites of synthesis at the cell bodies, across enormous distances, along narrow-caliber projections, to distally located nerve terminals in order to maintain [...] Read more.
Unlike virtually any other cells in the human body, neurons are tasked with the unique problem of transporting important factors from sites of synthesis at the cell bodies, across enormous distances, along narrow-caliber projections, to distally located nerve terminals in order to maintain cell viability. As a result, axonal transport is a highly regulated process whereby necessary cargoes of all types are packaged and shipped from one end of the neuron to the other. Interruptions in this finely tuned transport have been linked to many neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suggesting that this pathway is likely perturbed early in disease progression. Therefore, developing therapeutics targeted at modifying transport defects could potentially avert disease progression. In this review, we examine a variety of potential compounds identified from marine aquatic species that affect the axonal transport pathway. These compounds have been shown to function in microtubule (MT) assembly and maintenance, motor protein control, and in the regulation of protein degradation pathways, such as the autophagy-lysosome processes, which are defective in many degenerative diseases. Therefore, marine compounds have great potential in developing effective treatment strategies aimed at early defects which, over time, will restore transport and prevent cell death. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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Graphical abstract

903 KiB  
Review
New Drugs from Marine Organisms in Alzheimer’s Disease
by Patrizia Russo, Aliaksei Kisialiou, Palma Lamonaca, Rossana Moroni, Giulia Prinzi and Massimo Fini
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14010005 - 25 Dec 2015
Cited by 61 | Viewed by 9973
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. Current approved drugs may only ameliorate symptoms in a restricted number of patients and for a restricted period of time. Currently, there is a translational research challenge into identifying the new effective drugs and their [...] Read more.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. Current approved drugs may only ameliorate symptoms in a restricted number of patients and for a restricted period of time. Currently, there is a translational research challenge into identifying the new effective drugs and their respective new therapeutic targets in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, selected examples of marine-derived compounds in neurodegeneration, specifically in AD field are reported. The emphasis has been done on compounds and their possible relevant biological activities. The proposed drug development paradigm and current hypotheses should be accurately investigated in the future of AD therapy directions although taking into account successful examples of such approach represented by Cytarabine, Trabectedin, Eribulin and Ziconotide. We review a complexity of the translational research for such a development of new therapies for AD. Bryostatin is a prominent candidate for the therapy of AD and other types of dementia in humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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Graphical abstract

1471 KiB  
Review
Fish Synucleins: An Update
by Mattia Toni and Carla Cioni
Mar. Drugs 2015, 13(11), 6665-6686; https://doi.org/10.3390/md13116665 - 30 Oct 2015
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6558
Abstract
Synucleins (syns) are a family of proteins involved in several human neurodegenerative diseases and tumors. Since the first syn discovery in the brain of the electric ray Torpedo californica, members of the same family have been identified in all vertebrates and comparative studies [...] Read more.
Synucleins (syns) are a family of proteins involved in several human neurodegenerative diseases and tumors. Since the first syn discovery in the brain of the electric ray Torpedo californica, members of the same family have been identified in all vertebrates and comparative studies have indicated that syn proteins are evolutionary conserved. No counterparts of syns were found in invertebrates suggesting that they are vertebrate-specific proteins. Molecular studies showed that the number of syn members varies among vertebrates. Three genes encode for α-, β- and γ-syn in mammals and birds. However, a variable number of syn genes and encoded proteins is expressed or predicted in fish depending on the species. Among biologically verified sequences, four syn genes were identified in fugu, encoding for α, β and two γ (γ1 and γ2) isoforms, whereas only three genes are expressed in zebrafish, which lacks α-syn gene. The list of “non verified” sequences is much longer and is often found in sequence databases. In this review we provide an overview of published papers and known syn sequences in agnathans and fish that are likely to impact future studies in this field. Indeed, fish models may play a key role in elucidating some of the molecular mechanisms involved in physiological and pathological functions of syn proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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Graphical abstract

2370 KiB  
Review
Astaxanthin as a Potential Neuroprotective Agent for Neurological Diseases
by Haijian Wu, Huanjiang Niu, Anwen Shao, Cheng Wu, Brandon J. Dixon, Jianmin Zhang, Shuxu Yang and Yirong Wang
Mar. Drugs 2015, 13(9), 5750-5766; https://doi.org/10.3390/md13095750 - 11 Sep 2015
Cited by 157 | Viewed by 14000
Abstract
Neurological diseases, which consist of acute injuries and chronic neurodegeneration, are the leading causes of human death and disability. However, the pathophysiology of these diseases have not been fully elucidated, and effective treatments are still lacking. Astaxanthin, a member of the xanthophyll group, [...] Read more.
Neurological diseases, which consist of acute injuries and chronic neurodegeneration, are the leading causes of human death and disability. However, the pathophysiology of these diseases have not been fully elucidated, and effective treatments are still lacking. Astaxanthin, a member of the xanthophyll group, is a red-orange carotenoid with unique cell membrane actions and diverse biological activities. More importantly, there is evidence demonstrating that astaxanthin confers neuroprotective effects in experimental models of acute injuries, chronic neurodegenerative disorders, and neurological diseases. The beneficial effects of astaxanthin are linked to its oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic characteristics. In this review, we will focus on the neuroprotective properties of astaxanthin and explore the underlying mechanisms in the setting of neurological diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
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