Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 25, Issue 27, 2018

Background: The approval of Taxol® in 1993 marked the great entrance of terpenoids in the anti-cancer area and this drug is still highly important in the treatment of refractory ovarian, breast and other cancers. Over decades, other prominent natural terpenoids have become indispensable for the modern pharmacotherapy of breast cancer. However, given the rapid evolution of drug resistance, effective treatments for advance Read More

The 5-HT1A receptor is a pharmacologically well characterized serotonin receptor subtype and it has long been investigated because of its involvement in several physiopathological mechanisms and treatment of neurological diseases like ansia and depression. Serotonin (5-HT) also shows many non-neural functions such as essential hypertension, embryogenesis, follicle maturation and behavior. Moreover, it exerts a Read More

Flavonoids are phytochemicals present in almost all terrestrial plants and, as a consequence, in plant-based foods, and thus consumed by humans through diet. Recent evidences suggest that several flavonoids have positive effects against dementia and Alzheimer's disease, reversing age-related declines in neurocognitive performances. In this review, we provide a general classification of natural and synthetic flavonoids, a Read More

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are important phase II metabolic enzymes responsible for approximately 40-70% of endo and xenobiotic reactions. It catalyzes the transfer of glucuronic acid to lipophilic substrates, converting them into hydrophilic compounds that are excreted. There are 22 active human UGTs that belong to 4 families. This review focuses on human UGTs, highlighting the most current issues in order to Read More

Background: Kidney disease is a serious problem that adversely affects human health, but critical knowledge is lacking on how to effectively treat established chronic kidney disease. Mounting evidence from animal and clinical studies has suggested that Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) activation has beneficial effects on various renal diseases. Methods: A structured search of published research literature regarding VDR structure and f Read More

Background: In the 1990s, the beta interferons and glatiramer acetate were introduced for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. These medications have a demonstrated record of efficacy and safety, although they require frequent administration via injection and are only partially effective. The optimization of treatment in patients who do not respond adequately to this first-line therapy is essential for attaining the Read More