Recent advances of antiviral drugs based on multispecific binding strategy / 药学学报

To address the continuous emergence of drug-resistant strains of viruses and the outbreaks of novel virus infections, developing new antiviral drugs based on novel strategies has become an important and urgent research topic. In recent years, the rapidly developing multi-specific binding strategy has become a focus and been widely applied in antiviral. This review summarizes the recent progress of the multi-specific binding strategy in the antiviral field from the perspective of medicinal chemistry and discusses existing challenges as well as future opportunities for antiviral drug discovery.

Recent advances of small molecule inhibitors directly targeting HBV / 药学学报

Hepatitis B virus infection is a serious threat to human life and health. The approved anti-HBV drugs including interferons and nucleos(t)ide analogues have serious adverse effect, rebound phenomena after drug withdrawal, and drug resistance. And the cccDNA cannot be completely eliminated by both of them, which is the reason why a complete cure for hepatitis B cannot be achieved. Therefore, developing anti-HBV drugs directly targeting protein or nucleic acid of HBV remains a current public health priority. Based on the analysis of representative literature from the last decade, this article reviews recent developments in small molecule inhibitors directly targeting HBV from a medicinal chemistry perspective.

Advances in research on small molecule regulators targeting HBV cccDNA generation and transcription / 药学学报

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents a significant global public health challenge. Despite the availability of several approved drugs for hepatitis B treatment, the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) renders HBV eradication elusive, thereby leading to disease relapse after drug withdrawal. This paper reviews the regulatory mechanisms of cccDNA formation, transcription and replication, and summarizes the research progress of related small molecule regulators from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.

Chemistry-led investigations into the mode of action of NAMPT activators, resulting in the discovery of non-pyridyl class NAMPT activators

The cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a key role in a wide range of physiological processes and maintaining or enhancing NAD+ levels is an established approach to enhancing healthy aging. Recently, several classes of nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) activators have been shown to increase NAD+ levels in vitro and in vivo and to demonstrate beneficial effects in animal models. The best validated of these compounds are structurally related to known urea-type NAMPT inhibitors, however the basis for the switch from inhibitory activity to activation is not well understood. Here we report an evaluation of the structure activity relationships of NAMPT activators by designing, synthesising and testing compounds from other NAMPT ligand chemotypes and mimetics of putative phosphoribosylated adducts of known activators. The results of these studies led us to hypothesise that these activators act via a through-water interaction in the NAMPT active site, resulting in the design of the first known urea-class NAMPT activator that does not utilise a pyridine-like warhead, which shows similar or greater activity as a NAMPT activator in biochemical and cellular assays relative to known analogues.

Selênio, um elemento essencial à vida humana

Introdução: O Selênio ao mesmo tempo em que é tóxico se ingerido em grandes quantidades, é, também, micronutriente essencial em diversos processos metabólicos de animais e humanos. A deficiência de selênio vem sendo relacionada à predisposição em desenvolver doenças como o câncer, a diabetes, doenças cardiovasculares, entre outras. Na química medicinal, o selênio vem ganhando importância a partir da descoberta do ebselen, do ethaselen e do disseleneto de difenila. Objetivo: Essa revisão tem como objetivo compilar as principais informações disponíveis na literatura sobre a importância do selênio para a vida humana, proporcionando ao leitor uma visão geral do papel biológico desse elemento, das principais doenças relacionadas à deficiência de selênio, e da química medicinal dos três principais compostos de organoselênio. Metodologia: Foram recuperados artigos e teses acadêmicas que contemplassem o papel do selênio na bioquímica e na química medicinal, publicados em português e inglês, utilizando-se as bases de dados SciFinder, PubMed e Google Acadêmico. Resultados: Até o momento, foram identificadas 25 selenoproteínas que desempenham funções biológicas essenciais em animais e humanos. Sabe-se que a deficiência de selênio está diretamente relacionada à predisposição no desenvolvimento de diversas doenças. No campo da química medicinal, foi provado que é possível desenvolver moléculas bioativas, com baixa toxidez, contendo átomos de selênio em sua estrutura. Conclusão: O selênio é um elemento essencial à vida, sendo o componente-chave das selenoproteínas. O entendimento dos processos bioquímicos modulados por elas é imperativo para que os químicos medicinais possam desenvolver fármacos potentes contendo átomos de selênio em sua estrutura.

SUMMARY Introduction: Selenium is, at the same time, toxic if ingested in great amounts and an essential micronutrient to several metabolic processes in both animals and humans. Selenium deficiency is being related to an increased chance to develop diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, among others. In medicinal chemistry, selenium has gained in importance since the discovery of ebselen, ethaselen, and diphenyl disselenide. Objectives: This review aims to compile the main data avail-able on the literature on the importance of selenium to human life, providing an overview of its biological role, the main diseases related to its deficiency, as well as the medicinal chemistry of the three most prominent organoselenium compounds. Methodology: Articles and academic thesis, published in English and Portuguese, showing the role of selenium in biochemistry and medicinal chemistry were recov-ered from SciFinder, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Results: So far, 25 selenopro-teins that play a biological role in humans and animals were identified. It is known that selenium deficiency is directly related not only to a predisposition to developing some diseases but is also the main cause of illnesses such as Keshan and Kashin-Beck. In the medicinal chemistry field, the development of selenium-containing bioactive compounds with low toxicity was proved possible. Conclusion: Selenium is an essential element to life, being the core component of selenoproteins. The under-standing of the biochemical processes modulated by those proteins is mandatory to medicinal chemists willing to develop potent organoselenium drugs.

Introducción: El selenioa la par que tóxico si se ingiere en grandes cantidades, es también un micronutriente esencial en varios procesos metabólicos en animales y humanos. La deficiencia de selenio se ha relacionado con una predisposición a desarrollar enfermedades como cáncer, diabetes, enfermedades cardiovasculares, entre otras. Em química médica, el selenio ha ganado importancia desde el descubrimiento del ebselen, etaselen y difenil diselenide. Objetivo: Esta revisión tiene como objetivo recopilar los principales datos disponibles en la literatura sobre la importancia del selenio para la vida humana, y proporcionar al lector una descripción general del papel biológico de este elemento, las principales enfermedades relacionadas con la deficiencia de este elemento, así como los compuestos de organoselenio más destacados. Metodología: Se recuperaron artículos y tesis académicas que contemplaban el papel del selenio en la bioquímica y la química médica, publicados en portugués e inglés, utilizando las bases de datos SciFinder, PubMed y Google Scholar. Resultados: Hasta el momento, se han identificado 25 selenoproteínas que realizan funciones biológicas esenciales en animales y humanos. Se sabe que la deficiencia de selenio está directamente relacionada con la predisposición en el desarrollo de varias dolencias, y también es la principal causa de enfermedades como las de Keshan y Kashin-Beck. En el campo de la química médica se ha comprobado que es posible desarrollar moléculas bioactivas, de baja toxicidad, que contengan átomos de selenio en su estructura. Conclusión: El selenio es un elemento esencial en la vida, siendo un componente central de las selenoproteínas. Comprender los procesos bioquímicos modulados por ellos es imperativo para que los químicos médicos puedan desarrollar fármacos potentes que contengan átomos de selenio en su estructura.

Medicinal chemistry strategies towards the development of effective SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors

Novel therapies are urgently needed to improve global treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein, we briefly provide a concise report on the medicinal chemistry strategies towards the development of effective SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors with representative examples in different strategies from the medicinal chemistry perspective.

Exploration of the experiment teaching of natural medicinal chemistry for undergraduates / 生物工程学报

Natural medicinal chemistry is one of the important courses for students in pharmacy majors. Its experimental teaching focuses on fostering comprehensive experimental skills and innovative abilities of undergraduates. Liaoning University has explored ways to promote the experimental teaching of natural drug chemistry based on the graduate employment and practical teaching experience in the past decade. These explorations include three aspects, such as synchronizing experimental teaching with theoretical teaching, fostering students' awareness of experimental safety, and improving experimental teaching methods in natural drug chemistry experiments. The practices showed that the reform has achieved a good effect. A teaching system that can achieve the three expected aspects has been established, which improved the teaching effect and quality of natural medicinal chemistry experimental courses for undergraduates. Furthermore, these explorations may facilitate fostering pharmacy specialists who can meet the opportunities of developing Chinese medicine and natural drug research and meet the requirements of employment.

Universal strategies and methodologies in broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery / 药学学报

Virus infection is a serious threat to human health and social development. The increase in pandemics caused by emerging and re-emerging viruses highlights the urgent need for broad-spectrum antivirals. In this perspective, we highlight recent case studies and summarize the universal strategies and methodologies in broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery from common targets, common steps in viral life cycle, universal strategies, and broad-spectrum molecules, hoping to provide valuable guidance for the current and future development of antiviral drugs.

Bioinorganic chemistry strategies in antiviral drug discovery / 药学学报

Over the course of human civilization, viral infections have been a part of human life and still represent one of the heaviest burdens for human and society, with a huge devastating socioeconomic impact. Inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry have made important contributions to medical science and human health in the past half century. In this paper, we selected the representative cases in recent years, and reviewed the research progress of antiviral drug discovery from the perspective of bioinorganic chemistry.

Using drug chemical structures in the education of pharmacology and clinical therapeutics key concepts

Abstract Medicinal chemistry made it possible for pharmacists to propose pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics explanations of many existing drugs. Moreover, medicinal chemistry education provides pharmacy students with a reasonable understanding of drug physicochemical properties, mechanism of action (MOA), side effects, metabolism and structure-activity relationship (SAR). This paper highlights the importance of these medicinal chemistry key elements in understanding other pharmacy core courses, mainly pharmacology and clinical therapeutics. Such elements can be utilized as a tool for pharmacists while training or counseling their patients on the use of their treatments. Different new examples from the literature have been incorporated in this paper to show how chemical structures of existing drugs can provide essential information about main concepts in the education of pharmacology and clinical therapeutics, and the key structural elements for the discovery and development of other same class drugs.

SCREENER, an educational game for teaching the Drug Discovery and Development process

Although the use of games as an educational strategy is an important current trend, there is practically no option available for training people on the Drug Discovery and Development (DDD) process. To fill this gap, we designed "SCREENER", a science game that is intended to be educational, but also challenging and interesting enough to ensure player engagement. Our main target audience is students of postgraduate programs in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy, and medicine. This game could also be of interest to the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory and patent agencies for training new employees. We discuss the creation of SCREENER, a hybrid of board and card games, and present its components with some examples of cards and resources, as well as the dynamics of the game. SCREENER mimics the process of drug discovery and development from validating a target to registering the new drug with the regulatory agency, and can be played individually (self-learning) or with the help of a monitor who assists up to six players/teams. Briefly, 29 task cards categorized in four major areas (efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmaceutical development) must be purchased sequentially. Classic characteristics of games such as decision making and challenge have been incorporated. More in-depth information on the tasks and technical terms is available through QR codes. The vagaries of the DDD process are mimicked by the bonus/setback cards. The evaluation of our first test with students is presented and supports the usefulness of this new tool.

In vitro antimicrobial and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of enantiopure cycloalkylglycine derivatives: Insights into their in silico pharmacokinetic, druglikeness, and medicinal chemistry properties

The present investigation deals with the evaluation for the first time of the in vitro antimicrobial and α-glucosidaseinhibitory potential of a series of 15 enantiopure cycloalkylglycines using agar well diffusion and spectrophotometricmethods, respectively. The obtained results were compared to the positive controls. The antimicrobial results revealedthat all compounds exerted strongly inhibitory activity, especially against Gram-positive bacterial strains with the mostpotent activity was ascribed to α-γ-hydroxy-α-amino acids 11–14 [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 1.58–12.50 mg/ml, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 3.17–100 mg/ml, and minimum fungicidal concentration(MFC) = 6.25–50 mg/ml], followed by both isoxazolidine 5–9 (MIC = 1.58–12.50 mg/ml, MBC = 6.25–100 mg/ml,and MFC = 25–100 mg/ml) and isoxazine 10 (MIC = 3.17–12.50 mg/ml, MBC = 3.17–50 mg/ml, and MFC = 25–50mg/ml) compounds, and slightly inhibitory effect with α-amino-γ-lactones series 1–4 (MIC = 3.17–25 mg/ml, MBC =6.25–100 mg/ml, and MFC = 25–100 mg/ml). All the derivatives exhibited a potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activitywith compound 10 (IC50 = 30.1 ± 0.6 μM) was found to be the most active. The druglikeness and pharmacokineticprofiles have been also predicted. The in silico results indicate that all derivatives showed a resemblance with severalparameters of the antimicrobial standards, especially in terms of molecular property, bioavailability, lipophilicity,medicinal chemistry, and enzymatic inhibitory effects as well as they agree with the different drug discovery rules suchas Lipinski (Pfizer), Ghose (Amgen), Veber (GlaxoSmithKline), Egan (Pharmacia), and Muegge (Bayer) displaying ahigher druglikeness behavior.

Comparative evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of ferulic acid and synthesized propionyl ferulate

Ferulic acid (FA) is a polyphenolic compound with demonstrated antioxidant capacity. In this study, propionylferulate (PF) was synthesized and characterized using melting point, ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier-transforminfrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The propionyl ferulate was comparatively evaluated for antioxidantpotential which included the ability to quench reactive species of 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrazyl-hydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl,nitric oxide, and superoxide anion. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity and membrane stabilizing properties ofthe ferulate were determined. Comparatively, the spectroscopically characterized PF showed superior scavengingcapacity for the DPPH, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide free radicals when compared to FA. On the contrary, PF showed apoor scavenging capacity for superoxide anion radicals. Furthermore, PF showed little or no potential for membranestability. In conclusion, the data suggest that structurally modifying FA to PF improved the antioxidant capacity forseveral free radicals.

Medicinal chemistry strategies in seeking coronavirus inhibitors / 药学学报

The epidemic caused by coronavirus poses a serious threat to human health, but there is no specific drug or vaccine for the treatment of this kind of virus infection. Herein, this article selects typical case studies in recent years and reviews the medicinal chemistry strategies of anti-SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and other coronavirus drugs from the perspective of medicinal chemistry, and tries to provide some clues to current drug research againstSARS-CoV-2.

Advances in Chikungunya virus inhibitors / 药学学报

Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is an arthropod-borne infection disease caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which represents a serious health problem worldwide. There is no antiviral drugs treatment for CHIKV infections, neither is there an effective vaccine for prevention of the disease. Herein, we reviewed the recent reported and classical inhibitors of CHIKV, and summarized the medicinal chemistry strategies for discovering CHIKV inhibitors.

Advances in research on HBV inhibitors based on new targets (1): capsid protein inhibitors / 药学学报

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid protein plays an important role in the life cycle, thus becoming an ideal target for drug design. Capsid protein inhibitors can exert a synergistic antiviral effect with nucleoside drugs by inhibiting the replication of HBV. This paper reviews the research progress of capsid protein inhibitors with different structural types from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.

Composition analysis of Xueshuan Xinmaining Tablet in brain tissue of blood stasis rats / 中草药

Objective: To study the constituents and metabolites in rat brain after ig administration of Xueshuan Xinmaining Tablet (XXT) based on the serum medicinal chemistry. Methods: The acute blood stasis rat model was replicated by ice bath-adrenalin method, and XXT [1.4 (g∙kg-1∙d-1)] was administered orally for 8 d. The brain samples were collected and pretreated after ig administration for the last time. Then the absorbed prototype constituents and their metabolites in rats plasma were rapidly analyzed and identified by combination of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and multivariate statistical analysis. Results: Finally, a total of 11 absorbed prototype constituents and three metabolites were identified, including phenanthrene, bufonis venenum oxadiene, and other structural types of compounds. These constituents absorbed into brain may be the potential bioactive components in XXT. Conclusion: The establishment of UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis method explained comprehensively the brain migration component of XXT, and provided scientific basis for clarifying its substance basis of pharmacodynamics of this large variety of Chinese medicine.

Historical story on natural medicinal chemistry: Streptomycin / 中草药

Streptomycin isolated from microorganism is a major milestone in human history to beat tuberculosis, and guides the research of aminoglycoside antibiotics. As the second antibiotics which could be used in clinic after penicillin, the discovery of streptomycin owed much to the systematic research of Dr. Selman Abraham Waksman on microorganism in moil for more than 20 years and hard work of many scientists from different subjects. The systematic experimental method that found antibiotics was built by Dr. S A Waksman and the discovery of streptomycin greatly promoted the development of antibiotics in 1940s. This paper reviewed the study process of streptomycin development and the outstanding contributions of related scientists. At the same time, hoping to encourage the young scientists to work hard and make great contribution for the benefit of humanity. This is one of the series papers about historical story on natural medicinal chemistry.

The potential contribution of the natural products from Brazilian biodiversity to bioeconomy

ABSTRACT The development of our society has been based on the use of biodiversity, especially for medicines and nutrition. Brazil is the nation with the largest biodiversity in the world accounting for more than 15% of all living species. The devastation of biodiversity in Brazil is critical and may not only cause the loss of species and genes that encode enzymes involved in the complex metabolism of organisms, but also the loss of a rich chemical diversity, which is a potential source for bioeconomy based on natural products and new synthetic derivatives. Bioeconomy focus on the use of bio-based products, instead of fossil-based ones and could address some of the important challenges faced by society. Considering the chemical and biological diversity of Brazil, this review highlights the Brazilian natural products that were successfully used to develop new products and the value of secondary metabolites from Brazilian biodiversity with potential application for new products and technologies. Additionally, we would like to address the importance of new technologies and scientific programs to support preservation policies, bioeconomy and strategies for the sustainable use of biodiversity.

From Medicinal Chemistry to Human Health: Current Approaches to Drug Discovery for Cancer and Neglected Tropical Diseases

ABSTRACT Scientific and technological breakthroughs have compelled the current players in drug discovery to increasingly incorporate knowledge-based approaches. This evolving paradigm, which has its roots attached to the recent advances in medicinal chemistry, molecular and structural biology, has unprecedentedly demanded the development of up-to-date computational approaches, such as bio- and chemo-informatics. These tools have been pivotal to catalyzing the ever-increasing amount of data generated by the molecular sciences, and to converting the data into insightful guidelines for use in the research pipeline. As a result, ligand- and structure-based drug design have emerged as key pathways to address the pharmaceutical industry's striking demands for innovation. These approaches depend on a keen integration of experimental and molecular modeling methods to surmount the main challenges faced by drug candidates - in vivo efficacy, pharmacodynamics, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and safety. To that end, the Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional (LQMC) of the Universidade de São Paulo has developed forefront research on highly prevalent and life-threatening neglected tropical diseases and cancer. By taking part in global initiatives for pharmaceutical innovation, the laboratory has contributed to the advance of these critical therapeutic areas through the use of cutting-edge strategies in medicinal chemistry.