Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 10, Issue 1, 2010

2-Styrylchromones (2-SC) are chromone derivatives characterized by the attachment of a styryl group to the 2- position of the chromone structure. The 2-styrylchromone structure has been demonstrated to bear important biological activities such as antiallergic, antitumor, affinity and selectivity for A3 adenosine receptors, antiviral, antioxidant and antiinflammatory. The aim of the present paper was to review the available inform Read More

Gastrin release is affected by gastric inflammatory conditions. Antral G cells respond to inflammatory mediators by increasing gastrin secretion. Accumulating experimental evidence suggests that gastrin exerts immunomodulatory and proinflammatory effects. Gastrin could be a contributing factor to these pathologies, which may constitute a new justification for pharmacological blockade of gastrin action.

Many therapeutic reagents for hepatitis B virus infection have established efficacy in goals such as alanine aminotransferase normalization, hepatitis B virus DNA suppression, HBeAg seroconversion, histological improvement, and reduce disease progression. However, it is not established that the efficacy of these reagents for the long-term survival and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma although recent meta-analyse Read More

Different data show that circulating lymphocytes possess functional serotonin and dopamine transporters (SERT and DAT, respectively). This papers aims to review most of the available literature on this topic, while highlighting the possible role of SERT and DAT, as well as that of their substrates including antidepressants on the immune system.

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are extensively studied for their biological activities in several pharmaceutical areas, including, for example, Alzheimer's disease for which galanthamine has already reached the market. Among this chemical family, lycorine displays very promising anti-tumor properties. This review first focuses on the chemical diversity of natural and synthetic analogues of lycorine and their metabolites, and t Read More

Marine dinoflagellates of the genus Prorocentrum are famous for the production of okadaic acid (OA) and its analogues. This review covers first the source, chemistry and bioactivity of polyketides from Prorocentrum species. Then recent advances in the studies of biosynthetic origin of OA and its analogues are included. Moreover, the pharmacophore for the selective inhibition of OA to protein phosphatases types 1 (PP1) and 2A ( Read More

Since the first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was reported in 1981, AIDS, as the global disease affecting 33.2 million people in 2007, has always been an unsolved problem worldwide. Reverse transcriptase (RT) is a crucial enzyme in the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and thereby has been the prime drugs target for antiretroviral (ARV) therapy against AIDS. To da Read More

The aim of this review is to provide the reader with an overview on the potential of dendritic polymers in the antisense delivery technology. Special emphasis has been placed on the different types of dendritic structures that have been reported and the modifications performed to increase their efficacy and safety. Therefore the advances made in their chemistry and how it has been adapted to meet the specific requirements of t Read More

Molecular imaging comprises non-invasive monitoring of functional and spatiotemporal processes at molecular and cellular levels in living systems. Advanced imaging techniques can monitor such processes. Peptide receptors over-expressed in tumours can be targeted by peptides conjugated to radionuclides, near-infrared fluorochromes, metallic nanoparticles or quantum dots for target-specific cancer imaging.