Muthu K. Kathiravan

The biology and chemistry of antifungal agents: A review

In recent years their has been an increased use of antifungal agents and has resulted in the development of resistance to drugs. Currently, use of standard antifungal therapies can be limited because of toxicity, low efficacy rates. Different types of mechanisms contribute to the development of resistance to antifungals. This has given raise to search for a new heterocycle with distinct action or multitargeted combination therapy. This review addresses the areas such as the underlying mechanisms, eight different targets such as ergosterol synthesis, chitin synthesis, ergosterol disruptors, glucan synthesis, squalene epoxidase, nucleic acid synthesis, protein synthesis, microtubules synthesis. The clinically employed drugs along with the current research work going on worldwide on different heterocycles are discussed. In recent advances various heterocycles including imidazole, benzimidazole etc., twenty three scaffolds and their lead identification are discussed.

Ion pairing with linoleic acid simultaneously enhances encapsulation efficiency and antibacterial activity of vancomycin in solid lipid nanoparticles

Ion pairing of a fatty acid with an antibiotic may be an effective strategy for formulation optimization of a nanoantibiotic system. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the potential of linoleic acid (LA) as an ion pairing agent to simultaneously enhance encapsulation efficiency and antibacterial activity of triethylamine neutralized vancomycin (VCM) in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). The prepared VCM-LA2 conjugate was characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, logP and binding energy calculations. The shifts in the FT-IR frequencies of COOH, NH2 and CO functionalities, an increase in logP value (1.37) and a lower interaction energy between LA and VCM (-125.54 kcal/mol) confirmed the formation of the conjugate. SLNs were prepared by a hot homogenization and ultrasonication method, and characterized for size, polydispersity index (PI), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (%EE), surface morphology and physical stability. In vitro antibacterial activity studies against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were conducted. Size, PI and ZP for VCM-LA2_SLNs were 102.7±1.01, 0.225±0.02 and -38.8±2.1 (mV) respectively. SLNs were also stable at 4 °C for 3 months. %EE for VCM-HCl_SLNs and VCM-LA2_SLNs were 16.81±3.64 and 70.73±5.96 respectively, indicating a significant improvement in encapsulation of the drug through ion pairing with LA. Transmission electron microscopy images showed spherical nanoparticles with sizes in the range of 95-100 nm. After 36 h, VCM-HCl showed no activity against MRSA. However, the minimum inhibitory concentration for VCM-HCl_SLNs and VCM-LA2_SLNs were 250 and 31.25 μg/ml respectively against S. aureus, while against MRSA it was 500 and 15.62 μg/ml respectively. This confirms the enhanced antibacterial activity of VCM-LA2_SLNs over VCM-HCl_SLNs. These findings therefore suggest that VCM-LA2_SLNs is a promising nanoantibiotic system for effective treatment against both sensitive and resistant S. aureus infections.

Topoisomerase as target for antibacterial and anticancer drug discovery

DNA topoisomerases comprise a major aspect of basic cellular biology and are molecular targets for a variety of drugs like antibiotics, antibacterials and anticancer drugs. They act by inhibiting the topoisomerase molecule from relegating DNA strands after cleavage and convert the topoisomerases molecule into a DNA damaging agent. Though drugs of various categories acting through different mechanisms are available for the treatment, there are still problems associated with the currently available drugs. Therefore, Structural biologists, Structural chemists and Medicinal chemists all around the world have been identifying, designing, synthesizing and evaluating a variety of novel bioactive molecules targeting topoisomerase. This review summarizes types of topoisomerase and drug treating each class along with their structural requirement and activity. The emphasis has been laid in particular on the new potential heterocyles and the possible treatments as well as the current ongoing research status in the field of topoisomerase as dual targeting.

Dendrimers – from organic synthesis to pharmaceutical applications: an update

Abstract Dendrimers are a relatively new class of monodisperse polymers, which have tree-like spherical structures with well-defined sizes and shapes. Their unique structure has a significant impact on their physical and chemical properties. Research on dendrimers is of significant interest to scientists from all areas and their utility in various scientific fields, including pharmaceuticals, is expanding. The present review is comprehensive and covers different aspects of dendrimers viz. (1) synthesis, (2) properties and (3) pharmaceutical applications. The emphasis is on their applications as well as the current ongoing research status for drug targeting.

Inhibition of Glutamine Synthetase: A Potential Drug Target in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Globally, tuberculosis is second only to AIDS in mortality and the disease is responsible for over 1.3 million deaths each year. The impractically long treatment schedules (generally 6–9 months) and unpleasant side effects of the current drugs often lead to poor patient compliance, which in turn has resulted in the emergence of multi-, extensively- and totally-drug resistant strains. The development of new classes of anti-tuberculosis drugs and new drug targets is of global importance, since attacking the bacterium using multiple strategies provides the best means to prevent resistance. This review presents an overview of the various strategies and compounds utilized to inhibit glutamine synthetase, a promising target for the development of drugs for TB therapy.

Effect of novel synthetic evodiamine analogue on sexual behavior in male rats

AbstractCurrently phosphodiestrase5 (PDE5) inhibitors are the first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction. Drugs such as sildenafil and tadalafil are available as PDE5 inhibitors which are potent and reversible but lack selectivity with side effects such as headache, facial flushing, dyspepsia, and visual disturbances. We herein report for the first time novel condensed thienopyrimidines as evodiamine analogue and their effect on sexual behavior in male rats hitherto unreported. Novel synthetic evodiamine significantly showed improvement in male rat copulatory behavior. The test compound MKAC9 could be of promising importance in the treatment of sexual disorders like desire disorder or erectile dysfunction. FigureEvodiamine analogue on sexual behavior in male rats

Discovery and Development of Topoisomerase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents

As one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, cancer is posing threat despite efforts being taken to develop effective anticancer drugs. There is an increase in number of chemotherapy treatments due to growing number of manifestations causing increasing toxicities of cytotoxic agents. Almost all the anticancer agents available till date have one or the other side effects. Topoisomerases are the attractive targets to develop effective anticancer agents. There has been development of many topoisomerase inhibitors till date and has shown good anticancer activity but their side effects outnumber their anticancer potential. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic agents with fewer side effects. This review deals with design and development aspect of topoisomerase inhibitors as exciting novel anticancer agents. The emphasis has been laid in particular on the new potential heterocyles as TOP inhibitors in the field of medicinal chemistry. The review discusses about the topoisomerase poisons, TOP1 suppressors, TOP inhibitors and Dual TOP 1/2 inhibitors.

Mycothiol: a promising antitubercular target.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the worlds second commonest cause of death next to HIV/AIDS. The increasing emergence of multi drug resistance and the recalcitrant nature of persistent infections pose an additional challenge for the treatment of TB. Due to the development of resistance to conventional antibiotics there is a need for new therapeutic strategies to combat M. tuberculosis. One such target is Mycothiol (MSH), a major low molecular-mass thiol in mycobacteria, an important cellular anti-oxidant. MSH is present only in actinomycetes and hence is a good target. This review explores mycothiol as a potential target against tuberculosis and various research ongoing worldwide.

Perchloric Acid-Catalyzed Synthesis of 9-Aryl Xanthenes-9H-3,6-diol and 1,3,6,8-Tetraol in Water

Abstract Efficient syntheses of xanthenes have been described using a catalytic amount of perchloric acid in water. The high temperature and lengthy reaction time normally required for formation of xanthenes derivatives are not necessary when using a catalytic amount of perchloric acid. The method is relatively inexpensive, easily available, nonvolatile, nonexplosive, and thermally robust to catalyze the reaction at 80 °C by simple heating with good to excellent yields. The advantages of the reaction involve simple reaction protocol, simple workup, and improved synthesis in the presence of perchloric acid as catalyst. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

3D CoMFA, CoMSIA, topomer CoMFA and HQSAR studies on aromatic acid esters for carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity

Molecular modelling studies [comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA), topomer CoMFA and hologram quantitative structure–activity relationship (HQSAR)] have been performed on the series of 28 molecules belonging to the series of aromatic acid ester derivatives for their carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity. The model exhibited good correlation coefficient (r2) and cross‐validated correlation coefficient (q2) for CoMFA, CoMSIA and HQSAR methods. On the basis of the findings from all these studies, a structure–activity relationship was established. Copyright