Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 14, Issue 6, 2014

Cellular responses to the environment are mediated by intracellular signalling pathways monitoring several essential cellular processes, such as proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival. Cellular dysfunction is caused by dysregulation of intracelleular signalling pathways and may ultimately result in pathophysiological conditions. The non- transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 has been shown to be i Read More

Most drugs are carried from the site of absorption to their intended site of action (target site) by the bloodstream, either dissolved in the serum or bound to plasma proteins. Binding to plasma proteins influences (i.e. limits or favours), drug distribution through the body. Usually it is the unbound drug concentration that determines its pharmacological and toxicological properties. Our ability to design suitable drug candidates depe Read More

Many of nowadays diseases are due to the oxidative stress resulting from imbalance between formation and neutralization of free radicals. Intake of dietary antioxidants is therefore crucial to maintain good health. As the safety of synthetic antioxidants has raised several questions the search for natural efficient antioxidants from chemicals produced by plants has gained increased popularity in recent years. Quercetin is an ab Read More

Coronary artery stents used for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease develop the practice of interventional cardiology after they were first introduced in the mid-1980s. Since then, with dozens of companies involved in the development of new and innovative anti-restenotic drugs, polymeric coatings and stent platforms has made significant progress in this area. Today, the challenge is the conception of the “i Read More

The sea urchin is an ancient, common, seafloor-dwelling marine invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Echinodermata. There are multiple species of sea urchin with resources that are widely distributed in China, where they were used in ancient times as Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating a variety of diseases. At present, it is known that the shell, spine and gonad of the sea urchin have many medicinal values deter Read More

Caffeine is a secondary metabolite of tea and coffee plants. It is the active psychostimulant ingredient of widely consumed beverages, chocolate and some drugs as well. The major pathways for caffeine including interaction with adenosine receptors have been identified but caffeine has several minor pathways as well that remain poorly understood including the cholinergic system. Given the role of caffeine in the choliner Read More