Search Results (793)

Procyanidins, a class of substances widely distributed in nature, have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their bioactive properties, especially with regard to human health. This review is based on an extensive examination of peer-reviewed literature, patents, and clinical trial reports published between 2005 and 2025. From an initial pool of more than 300 documents, 283 studies were selected according to criteria of scientific rigor, methodological clarity, and relevance to the research objectives. A literature search was performed using PubMed, PubChem, Google Scholar, Scopus and ResearchGate employing keywords such as Procyanidins, chemical structure, extraction, and health effects. This article provides a comprehensive overview of current methods for obtaining these compounds, which include both natural sources and synthetic approaches. It provides a concise summary of the molecular structure of procyanidins and emphasizes the importance of understanding their conformational features for predicting biological activity. The challenges of establishing correlations between the structural features of procyanidins and their properties are described. In addition, this article explores the many potential applications of these compounds, spanning both biochemistry and the field of design and synthesis of novel materials. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of Procyanidins, focusing on their geometrical conformation analysis through advanced NMR spectroscopy techniques including homonuclear correlation (COSY, TOCSY), heteronuclear one-bond (HSQC, HMQC), multiple-bond (HMBC) experiments, and through-space correlation (NOESY) in conjunction with various extraction methodologies. Full article

The increasing environmental impact of synthetic antifouling paints has stimulated the search for natural, eco-friendly alternatives. In this study, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the macroalgae Ulva ohnoi and Asparagopsis taxiformis were evaluated for their antifouling potential on aluminum substrates representative of boat hulls. Extracts were applied to aluminum plates coated with gelcoat under three different surface conditions (non-worn, worn, highly worn). The treated panels were submerged at 5 m and biofilm and fouling development was monitored every 96 h using digital imaging and quantitative segmentation. All treated surfaces exhibited significantly lower fouling colonization than the untreated control (p < 0.001). Among treatments, the aqueous extract of A. taxiformis produced the lowest degree of colonization across all surface conditions, while U. ohnoi extracts showed moderate antifouling activity. Increased surface wear enhanced overall colonization but did not suppress extract efficacy. These results demonstrate that both algal species possess active compounds capable of inhibiting early biofilm formation on marine substrates. Although less potent than conventional biocidal coatings, their biodegradability and absence of ecotoxicity represent a substantial environmental advantage. Future studies should focus on the chemical characterization of active metabolites, the formulation of hybrid bio-based coatings, and long-term field testing under dynamic marine conditions. Full article

Bakuchiol (BAK), a natural meroterpenoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, has recently gained attention as a potential adjunct in breast cancer therapy. This review contextualizes breast cancer as a major global health challenge and highlights BAK as a bioactive compound capable of modulating pathways relevant to tumor development and progression. A structured literature search identified studies examining its molecular activity, pharmacological profile, and effects on breast cancer cells and stem cells. Results show that BAK influences oxidative stress regulation, mitochondrial function, apoptosis and estrogen receptor signaling while also affecting PI3K/AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, and EMT-related pathways. In breast cancer models, BAK acts as a selective phytoestrogen, induces S-phase arrest, activates the ATM/ATR–Chk1/Chk2 axis, and triggers mitochondrial apoptosis, particularly in ERα-positive cells. It also suppresses breast cancer stem-cell renewal, promotes BNIP3- and DAPK2-mediated apoptosis, reduces metabolic and transcriptional drivers of metastasis, and shows enhanced anticancer activity in derivative forms. These findings suggest that BAK may provide therapeutic benefit across several mechanisms central to breast cancer biology. In this review, the inclusion criteria encompassed publications describing the action of bakuchiol, its chemical and pharmacological properties, as well as its role in the treatment of various conditions, including cancers. Exclusion criteria included works not related to BAK or its therapeutic use in breast cancer, as well as publications that did not meet basic scientific standards, such as lacking methodological rigor or presenting a low level of scientific evidence. However, current evidence is predominantly in vitro, and limitations such as poor bioavailability and lack of clinical validation underscore the need for further in vivo and translational studies before therapeutic application can be established. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a serious global disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It represents a major health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. This condition can lead to severe complications significantly affecting patients’ quality of life. Due to the limitations and side effects of current therapies, the search for safer and more effective antidiabetic agents, particularly from natural sources, has gained considerable attention. This study investigates the antidiabetic potential of seaweed-derived compounds through structure-based virtual screening targeting α-glucosidase. Methods: A library of compounds derived from the Seaweed Metabolite Database was subjected to a hierarchical molecular docking protocol against α-glucosidase. Extra Precision (XP) docking was employed to identify the top-ranked ligands based on their binding affinities. Drug-likeness was assessed according to Lipinski’s Rule of Five, followed by pharmacokinetic and toxicity predictions to evaluate ADMET properties. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyze the electronic properties and chemical reactivity of the selected compounds. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to examine the stability and dynamic behavior of the ligand–enzyme complexes. Results: Following XP docking and ADMET prediction, four promising compounds were selected: Colensolide A, Rhodomelol, Callophycin A, and 7-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the structural stability and strong binding interactions of these compounds within the α-glucosidase active site. Conclusions: This investigation demonstrated the important role of seaweed-derived compounds in inhibiting α-glucosidase activity. Further experimental validation is warranted to confirm their biological activity and therapeutic potential. Full article

Background: Comprehensive and accurate compound composition characterization in natural sources has high relevance in food and nutrition, health and medicine, environmental and agriculture research areas, though profiling of plant metabolites is a challenging task due to the structural complexity of natural products. This study delves into the identification and characterization of compounds within the Plantago genus, leveraging state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Methods: Utilizing an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system in conjunction with Orbitrap™ IQ-X™ Tribrid™ mass spectrometer (MS), we employed a Phenyl-Hexyl HPLC column alongside optimized extraction protocols to analyze both husk and leaf samples. To maximize compound identification, we implemented data-dependent acquisition (DDA) methods including MS² (ddMS2), MS³ (ddMS3), AcquireX™ deep scan, and real-time library search (RTLS). Results: Our results demonstrate a significant increase in the number of putatively yet confidently assigned compounds, with 472 matches in P. lanceolata leaves and 233 in P. ovata husk identified through combined acquisition methods. The inclusion of an additional fragmentation level (MS³) noticeably enhanced the confidence in compound annotation, facilitating the differentiation of isomeric compounds. Furthermore, the application of low-energy fragmentation (10 normalized collision energy (NCE) for higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD)) improved the detection and grouping of MS¹ fragments by 55% in positive mode and by 16% in negative mode, contributing to a more comprehensive analysis with minimal loss in compound identification. Conclusions: These advancements underscore the potential of our methodologies in expanding the chemical profile of plant materials, offering valuable insights into natural product analysis and dereplication of untargeted data. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) are increasingly studied as natural anesthetics for fish, offering potential alternatives to synthetic agents. This systematic review aimed to summarize the effects of EOs on Oreochromis niloticus, focusing on their efficacy in inducing sedation and anesthesia, recovery times, and associated physiological responses. A comprehensive search was conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, and Wiley Online Library databases for studies published up to 10 December 2024. Studies evaluating EOs or their main components in O. niloticus with quantitative data on anesthesia or sedation were included. From 355 records initially identified, studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed qualitatively. EOs rich in compounds such as linalool, carvacrol, and pulegone effectively induced anesthesia in less than 3 min, with recovery times under 10 min, aligning with operational standards for fish anesthesia. However, some EOs caused physiological changes that may be related to stress responses. Variability in experimental protocols and incomplete reporting of chemical composition limited the comparability between studies. EOs demonstrate promising anesthetic potential for O. niloticus, representing safe and environmentally sustainable alternatives. Further standardized and controlled studies are required to confirm their safety and optimize application in aquaculture. Full article

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and resistance to conventional therapies underscores the need for the discovery of novel antitumor agents. The ongoing search for novel natural sources offers promising avenues for discovering unique anticancer compounds with new mechanisms of action. One of these natural sources is represented by fungi, a prolific group of endophytic and non-endophytic eukaryotes able to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, many of which exhibit potent antitumor properties. These natural compounds display diverse chemical structures including polyketides, terpenoids, alkaloids, amino acid-derived compounds, phenols, etc. Their mechanisms of action are equally varied, ranging from induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest to inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis. In this review we describe some potential antitumor compounds of fungal origin, together with the characteristics and biosynthesis of three representative types of antitumor compounds produced by filamentous fungi: squalene-derived sterol-type antitumor agents, prenylated diketopiperazine antitumor metabolites and meroterpenoid antitumor compounds. The ongoing scientific debate regarding the presence of paclitaxel biosynthetic genes in fungi is also discussed. As drug resistance remains a challenge in cancer therapy, fungal compounds offer a valuable reservoir for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents with novel modes of action. Full article

Rice production experiences significant losses due to fungal diseases, particularly rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Despite the intensive and continuous use of synthetic fungicides, diseases severity has not reduced and control has become increasingly challenging; therefore, the search for environmentally friendly and sustainable products has intensified. Here, we conducted a chemical characterization of Xylopia frutescens and using in silico analysis evaluated the interaction of their two major compounds with lectin protein site of R. solani. In vitro tests using increasing concentrations of essential oil against R. solani were performed. Subsequently, in four varieties of rice, five concentrations of X. frutescens essential oils were applied and evaluated the phytotoxicity effect as well the potential of Xylopia frutescens essential oil for controlling, both preventively and curatively, rice sheath blight. We further investigate the selectivity of this essential oil towards the non-target organism, Trichoderma asperellum. Our analysis revealed that trans-pinocarveol and myrtenal are the main compounds of X. frutescens essential oil and interact with the lectin of R. solani, supporting the antifungal properties of X. frutescens essential oil. In in vitro conditions, the highest tested concentrations of X. frutescens essential oil inhibited the pathogen’s sclerotia and mycelial growth. Under greenhouse conditions, the treatments caused low phytotoxicity and effectively reduced disease severity when applied, both preventively and curatively. Furthermore, the biocontrol agent T. asperellum exhibited tolerance to X. frutescens essential oil. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the potential of X. frutescens essential oil for the development of botanical fungicides capable of controlling R. solani without harming beneficial non-target organisms such as T. asperellum. Full article

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, demanding the continuous search for novel and more selective chemotherapeutic agents. Quinones, particularly naphthoquinones, constitute a privileged class of redox-active compounds with well-documented antitumor activity. Likewise, thiazoles represent a heterocyclic scaffold widely explored in medicinal chemistry due to their broad pharmacophoric adaptability and diverse biological activities. In this context, this review comprehensively explores the chemical synthesis and anticancer potential of hybrid molecules combining the naphthoquinone and thiazole scaffolds. The hybridization of these pharmacophores has emerged as a powerful strategy to design multitarget antitumor agents. The review summarizes key synthetic methodologies, including Hantzsch, hetero Diels–Alder cycloaddition and multicomponent reactions, leading to structurally diverse hybrids. Particular emphasis is placed on derivatives exhibiting strong cytotoxic effects against a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines (e.g., OVCAR3, MCF-7, A549, HCT-116, HeLa, and Jurkat), low toxicity toward normal cells and well-defined mechanisms of action involving topoisomerase IIα, EGFR, STAT3, and CDK1 inhibition, as well as ROS generation and cell cycle arrest. Among these, certain hybrids displayed nanomolar potency and high selectivity indices, reinforcing their potential as promising lead compounds for anticancer drug development. Full article

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a tremendous socioeconomic impact around the world, and although there are currently some drugs that have been granted authorization by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of COVID-19, there are still some restrictions on their use. As a result, it is still necessary to urgently carry out related drug development research. Deep generative models and cheminformatics were used in this study to design and screen novel candidates for potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 small molecule compounds. In this study, the small molecule structure of Molnupiravir which has been authorized by the U.S. FDA for emergency use was used to be a model in a similarity search based on the BIOVIA Available Chemicals Directory (BIOVIA ACD) database using the BIOVIA Discovery Studio (DS) software (version 2022). There were 61,480 similar structures of Molnupiravir, which were used as training dataset for the deep generative model, and then the reinforcement learning model was used to generate 6000 small molecule structures. To further confirm whether those molecule structures potentially possess the ability of anti-SARS-CoV-2, cheminformatics techniques were used to assess 38 small molecule compounds with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. The suitability of 38 small molecule structures was calculated using ADMET analysis. Finally, one compound structure, Molecule_36, passed ADMET and was unpatented. This study demonstrates that Molecule_36 may have better potential than Molnupiravir does in affinity with SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and ADMET. We provide a combination of generative deep neural networks and cheminformatics for developing new anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds. However, additional chemical refinement and experimental validation will be required to determine its stability, mechanism of action, and antiviral efficacy. Full article

In our continuing search for new anticancer and/or antimicrobial compounds from natural products, we screened for these activities in bark and leaf extracts of sandalwood plants collected from the Fiji Islands and found Santalum yasi to be the most active. Resulting chemical workup enabled the isolation and structural characterization of a new acetylenic acid, methyl (E)-octadec-6-en-8-ynoate (1), and an atropisomeric stilbene glycoside (4) (Yasibeneoside) together with six known compounds: 11,13-octadecadien-9-ynoic acid (2), methyl octadeca-9,11-diynoate (3), gaylussacin (5) chrysin-7-beta-monoglucoside (6), neoschaftoside (7), and chrysin-6-C-glucoside-8-C-arabinoside (8). Compound 1 (18:2 (6t, 8a) is an example of a Δ⁶, Δ⁸ acetylenic system containing the trans double bond at C-6 and the triple bond at C-8, which is reported here for the first time. All molecular structure elucidations and dereplications were performed using spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR and HRMS-MS/MS spectrometry. Methyl (E)-octadec-6-en-8-ynoate showed moderate activity activity with an IC₅₀ of 91.2 ug/mL against the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7. Full article

Isoflavones are natural compounds abundantly found in soybeans, recognized for their anticancer potential, primarily through their activity as phytoestrogens, which inhibit estrogen receptors. Because cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, identifying compounds that may complement chemotherapy is of great interest. In this review, we summarize advances reported over the past decade regarding the antitumor properties of isoflavones, with emphasis on both in vitro and in vivo effects, as well as chemical, botanical, and pharmacological aspects. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database covering studies published from January 2014 to April 2025 using the following keywords: ‘isoflavones’ and ‘anticancer’, ‘antitumoral’, and ‘antiproliferative’ and ‘cytotoxicity’. Genistein and daidzein emerge as the most extensively studied isoflavones, with well-documented anticancer activity. Reported anticancer effects include induction of apoptosis, ROS generation, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cell migration and invasion, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, modulation of estrogen-related pathways, and antiangiogenic activity. In addition to these mechanistic findings, several isoflavones demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in xenograft models, reinforcing their translational potential. Additionally, synergistic interactions with chemotherapeutic drugs and natural compounds and new drug delivery systems have been described. Breast and prostate cancer cell lines were the most investigated due to isoflavones’ estrogen-like effects. However, the cell death mechanisms of newly discovered compounds still require further investigation. Full article

Background: The Ames test, a biological assay employing various strains of Salmonella typhimurium, serves as a cornerstone in genetic toxicology for evaluating the mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic properties of chemical compounds. However, experimental testing is resource-intensive and time-consuming for screening the vast chemical space of existing and novel drug candidates in pharmaceutical development. Methods: To address this limitation, we have developed the Ames Mutagenicity Predictor web application, which predicts mutagenic activity in the Ames test for given structural formulas across a comprehensive panel of different bacterial strains. The application utilizes advanced structure–activity relationship (SAR) models generated by PASS (Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances) v2024 software. The training set comprised 3250 compounds with experimentally determined mutagenicity across 69 different strains, compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established databases, and 4285 non-mutagenic compounds from the WWAD as negative examples. Results: Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) of the 69 strain-specific models yielded an average Invariant Accuracy of Prediction (IAP) of about 0.944, and for the unspecified mutagenicity, a value of 0.962 was obtained. Conclusions: These validated models have been integrated into a freely accessible web application Ames Mutagenicity Predictor that enables users to input compound structures through multiple formats: a built-in chemical editor, SMILES notation, or compound name search. The application generates comprehensive reports detailing the predicted probability of positive Ames test results for each individual strain, providing researchers with detailed mutagenicity profiles. Full article

The Belamcanda chinensis (L.) Redouté is a perennial herb belong to the genus Belamcanda, primarily found in China, but with additional distribution in North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and India. The rhizomes of B. chinensis have a long history of use as a traditional herbal medicine in China, one that is recognized for its effects in clearing heat, in detoxifying and eliminating phlegm, and in soothing the throat. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search across several databases, both Chinese and international, using the primary keyword Belamcanda chinensis paired with a relevant research area (e.g., chemical composition, pharmacology). The databases included Sci-Finder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wiley, Springer Baidu Scholar and Research Gate, as well as domestic materia medica. We illustrated the chemical structures using ChemBioDraw Ultra 22.0 software. There are more than 10 proprietary Chinese medicines already on the market that consist of or originate from B. chinensis. More than 200 natural products have been isolated and identified from B. chinensis, including iridal-type triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, quinones, sesquiterpenes, and polysaccharides. Modern pharmacological studies indicate that both crude extracts and monomeric compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-diabetic activities, with potential regulatory pathways. Additionally, B. chinensis demonstrates toxicity to fish, mollusks and arthropods. Clinical studies have shown that formulas containing B. chinensis as the main ingredient have a good therapeutic effect on respiratory diseases. In summary, B. chinensis presents promising prospects for application in medicine, functional food, cosmetics and agriculture. Therefore, we have reviewed the chemical composition, pharmacological activities (both in vivo and in vitro), structure–activity relationships, toxicity and clinical application of B. chinensis over the past 40 years, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent comprehensive utilization of the plants. Full article

Human studies involving exposure to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and the associated clinical outcomes are typically not considered in standard chemical toxicity assessments. This review aimed to identify and synthesize all available human data on TFA exposure, regardless of study design or context. Given TFA’s long-standing use and its formation as a degradation product of various compounds, a wide range of exposure scenarios was considered, including post-anesthesia monitoring, environmental assessments, and chemical incidents. The database searches in MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE (Scopus) were conducted on 28 and 29 April 2025. A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria: 4 case reports, 3 case series, 5 observational studies, and 5 pharmacokinetic studies. All studies documented clear human exposure to TFA and reported at least one TFA-related outcome. Some acute exposures exceeded the currently proposed threshold values. However, no study demonstrated clinically relevant effects attributable to TFA. As a strong acid, TFA can cause typical corrosive injuries upon direct contact, but no additional systemic or organ-specific toxic effects were observed. Full article