Articles tagged with Alkaloids
The American Heart Association states that consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to 5 cups of caffeinated coffee, is safe and may be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease for some individuals. However, high doses of caffeine from energy drinks and other sources may cause cardiovascular harm.
Researchers suggest that the evolution of toxin accumulation in poison dart frogs occurred gradually, with at least four phenotypes representing stages in this process. These phenotypes include species that sequester alkaloids or modify them, while others metabolize toxins without accumulating them.
Researchers at Chiba University successfully synthesize bisleuconothine A and bousigonine B using a new organocatalytic reaction, unlocking the efficient production of these complex alkaloids with unique medical potential. The development paves the way for new therapeutics and accelerates research into complex indole alkaloids.
This review synthesizes current knowledge on khat-associated autoimmune hepatitis, establishing a causal link and guiding clinical management. Khat use disrupts immune tolerance, leading to a chronic inflammatory state and the development of AIH-like phenotype in susceptible individuals.
A new study sequenced the genomes of glasswing butterflies, revealing six previously unrecognized species and shedding light on their rapid diversification. The research also showed that these butterflies use chemical communication to recognize each other, despite their similar appearances.
The study of decaploid Houttuynia cordata reveals expanded gene families involved in alkaloid biosynthesis, including STR, DDC, 6OMT, and 4OMT. The research provides a comprehensive view of the plant's evolution and medicinal potential.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology elucidated the biosynthetic pathway of ipecacuanha alkaloids in two distantly related plant species. The study reveals that both species developed the same pathway independently, with a surprising twist: the first step does not involve an enzyme, but occurs spontaneously.
Researchers found that an endophytic fungus boosts poplars' natural defenses and those induced by insect damage, altering the plant's chemical defense profile and supporting it with a self-produced defense substance. The fungus also influences interactions between insect populations living on trees.
Researchers at UC Davis have successfully synthesized ibogaine and its related compounds using a new, efficient method. The study's findings suggest that these analogues may be useful in treating substance use disorders and other conditions, and highlight the potential for safer and more effective medicines.
Researchers found that methanolic extract and palmatine from Annona squamosa leaves exhibit analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperalgesic properties. Palmatine may be responsible for the plant's anti-arthritic effects. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess their therapeutic potential.
A study found that ADAMTS13 regulates VWF expression and reduces hepatic platelet accumulation in PA-ILI patients and mice. Systemic administration of recombinant ADAMTS13 decreased platelet accumulation and mitigated liver necrosis.
Researchers investigated the molecular mechanism of Fuzi's cardioprotective effects on heart failure. Fuzi water decoction and alkaloids were found to regulate apoptosis, proliferation, and anti-fibrosis in heart failure models, with ABC transporters potentially being a key pathway for their action.
Researchers from Xiamen University created a novel two-step enzymatic approach to synthesize diverse Ephedra-type alkaloids with improved yields and introduced new N-group modifications. They successfully tested various enzymes and imine reductases to optimize conversion rates and generate novel synthetic Ephedra-type alkaloids.
Four plants eaten by western lowland gorillas in Gabon, also used by local traditional healers, show antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Researchers identify four plant species with promising targets for treating multidrug-resistant infections.
MIT chemists have developed a new way to synthesize complex oligocyclotryptamines found in plants, which could hold potential as antibiotics, analgesics, or cancer drugs. The approach allows for precise assembly of the rings and control of the 3D orientation of each component.
Researchers at Okayama University developed a switchable process to synthesize 3-aminoindolines and 2'-aminoaryl acetic acids from a common substrate using Grignard reagents and azide compounds. The new protocol utilizes tautomerism to control chemoselectivity and achieves efficient synthesis with good yields.
A team of researchers from Chiba University has developed a novel one-step process for indole C5-selective bromination of MTIAs, achieving selective modification at the notoriously challenging indole C5 position. The method operates under mild reaction conditions and accommodates various functional groups.
Researchers have identified 12 new quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids with anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to reduce renal fibrosis in cell cultures. These findings could provide a lead for developing treatments for chronic kidney disease, according to the study published by the American Chemical Society.
Researchers have discovered how bella moths, found in eastern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, use toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids to guard their eggs and deter predators. The moths' ability to safely consume these toxins is linked to specific genes that may confer immunity.
This study predicts the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity characteristics of 44 phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid compounds using ADMET Predictor software. The results show that these compounds have low bioavailability and high lipophilicity, but some exhibit colonic toxicity.
Researchers identified key enzymes for protoberberine production, revealing a collaborative network of modifying enzymes that give rise to diverse compounds. The study sheds light on the biosynthetic mechanism and potential applications in targeted synthesis.
Researchers successfully produced alstonine, a naturally occurring substance with potential for treating mental disorders, using genetically engineered yeast cells. The yeast platform has the potential to discover and develop plant-based medicines, including those for schizophrenia.
Researchers used single-cell multi-omics to study specialized cell types involved in producing medically relevant plant compounds. The analyses revealed that three distinct cell types are organized in a specific biosynthetic pathway for vinblastine, a key alkaloid compound with anti-cancer properties.
A study by the University of Exeter and Bayer AG found that pollinators produce a conserved family of cytochrome P450 enzymes to tackle alkaloid toxins in plants. These enzymes allow bees to safely consume nectar and pollen from toxic plants, shedding light on insect tolerance mechanisms.
Great bustards prefer to eat plants with chemical compounds that kill pathogens in vitro. Corn poppies and purple viper's bugloss contain antiprotozoal and nematicidal compounds, as well as antifungal agents.
Researchers elucidated the coca-derived tropane pathway, identifying a specific enzyme responsible for the carbomethoxy group, a key contributor to cocaine's euphoric properties. The study also reveals that tropane biosynthesis has independently evolved at least twice in flowering plants.
Scientists successfully inhibited cancer cell growth using a modified pyrrolizidine alkaloid that avoids liver damage. The approach uses 'on-site synthesis' near cancer cells to limit toxicity.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology elucidate the complete biosynthetic pathway of strychnine, a highly toxic alkaloid used as rat poison. The study reveals that the conversion of prestrychnine to strychnine occurs spontaneously, without an enzyme.
A study by the Technical University of Munich discovered that pungent substances from chili, ginger, and pepper are transferred to breast milk after consumption. These substances can be detectable in breast milk for several hours, with maximum concentrations being 70- to 350-fold below the taste perception threshold of an adult.
Researchers developed a standardized drying protocol for goldenseal to preserve its medicinal properties. The study found that high temperatures decreased the levels of canadine, while berberine and hydrastine remained unaffected. This optimized drying process could lead to more predictable health outcomes and applications.
Researchers have developed new compounds that kill bacteria responsible for diseases in rice, kiwi and citrus. The plant-inspired alkaloids work by increasing levels of reactive oxygen species in the bacteria, causing cell death.
Researchers genetically rewired yeast cells to manufacture tropane alkaloids, a family of chemical compounds used in traditional medicine for centuries. The breakthrough could provide new sources for plant-based medicines, addressing global shortages and supply chain disruptions.
Researchers in Brazil have successfully developed a modified strain of Uncaria guianensis, a medicinal plant native to the Amazon Rainforest. By modifying its alkaloid production using 'precursor-directed biosynthesis,' the team was able to create more potent chemicals with enhanced therapeutic effects.
Researchers at Chiba University successfully recreated the metabolic evolution of plants producing alkaloids by inserting a gene into a model plant. This method identifies newly generated substances, including cadaverine, 5-aminopentanal, and δ-valerolactam, which can be used to produce new compounds for drug industries.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have developed a new synthetic process for indole alkaloids, using zinc reagent. This approach enables concise and divergent synthesis of diverse alkaloidal scaffolds, paving the way for next-generation pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
A new study suggests that 7-hydroxymitragynine, a kratom metabolite, is responsible for the treatment's therapeutic effects. The researchers found that most of the analgesic effect comes from this compound rather than mitragynine.
Scientists at Kobe University created a metabolic pathway and engineered enzymes in microbes to optimize pharmaceutical raw material production. They used a 'Design, Build, Test, Learn' workflow to systematically optimize production processes, resulting in improved alkaloid yields.
Researchers developed a novel solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulation using Vitamin E TPGS and glyceryl mono-oleate to enhance the delivery of vinorelbine bitartrate, improving its anticancer efficacy. The SLNs showed a biphasic release pattern and were 39.5 times more effective than the original drug.
KAIST chemists have synthesized seven different iboga and post-iboga natural products from catharanthine, mirroring nature's biosynthetic post-modification of the iboga skeleton. The novel strategy involves selective oxidation and rearrangement reactions, offering a stepping stone for developing therapeutic medications against cancer a...
Researchers at University of York and British Museum discovered traces of opiates in a sealed vessel dating back to Late Bronze Age. The presence of opiate alkaloids suggests that the vessel may have been used for medicinal or ceremonial purposes.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed an electrochemical synthesis method for thebaine, overcoming decades-long challenges in mimicking its natural formation. The new approach uses astute modification of starting materials to achieve high selectivity and efficiency in the reaction.
A new study has identified the genetic networks behind a critical catalyst called a sarpagan bridge enzyme in Indian Snakeroot, a plant used for millennia in South and South East-Asia as a tranquilizer. The discovery could lead to faster routes to treatments for abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and some mental disorders.
Research shows that plants evolve to stop producing toxic chemicals in response to immune herbivores. The study found genetic evidence of a gene's evolution and loss in multiple plant lineages, supporting the 'defense de-escalation' hypothesis.
Scientists from RUDN University have synthesized a range of cytotoxic substances with potential anticancer activity. The compounds were obtained through domino reactions, and their cytotoxic effects were confirmed in primary bioscreening.
A novel microwave-assisted iodine-catalyzed rapid synthesis of 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinolines has been developed. The method produces significant types of indoloquinoline alkaloids with high yields and lower energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
A recent study by researchers at UMass Amherst found that anabasine, a natural alkaloid, has deleterious effects on infected bees and exacerbates the negative effects of combined stressors on pollinator health. The compound was previously thought to have potential as a self-medicating agent against intestinal parasites in bumble bees.
Researchers at Pitt have identified a new family of enzymes that can efficiently synthesize the complex polycyclic structures found in potent antimicrobial and antitumor alkaloids. This breakthrough enables the chemoenzymatic synthesis of these molecules, paving the way for potential drug discoveries.
Researchers at Yale University have created a new process for synthesizing an organic compound that inhibits HIV. The approach uses aromatic nitrogen heterocycles to streamline the synthesis, reducing time and increasing efficiency.
Researchers found that a 1,102-pound steer can safely consume up to 2.8 pounds of fresh tall larkspur daily without severe poisoning. The study also identified the importance of non-MSAL-type alkaloids in determining toxicity potential.
Researchers have made significant advancements in directly functionalizing C-H bonds in natural products by selectively installing new carbon-carbon bonds into complex alkaloids and nitrogen-containing drug molecules. This breakthrough could greatly reduce the time and number of steps needed to create derivatives of natural products.
Researchers at Emory University and Nagoya University developed a novel concise entry to dictyodendrins, a family of natural products with potential cancer chemotherapy and treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The study demonstrates sequential C-H functionalization can streamline the construction of complex structures.
Researchers have successfully elucidated the complete upstream segment of the terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis pathway in tobacco plants, paving the way for cost-effective production of diverse therapeutic compounds. The technology developed can be utilized to produce other valuable plant-derived compounds.
Scientists from LMU Munich have developed a concise and efficient method for synthesizing the alkaloid loline and related compounds. The new approach enables the production of these compounds in sufficient quantities to investigate their various aspects, including their interactions with insects and bacteria.
Researchers at TGen found that naturally occurring plant compounds could slow down Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting a protein linked to memory loss. Harmine and other beta-carboline alkaloids show promise as therapeutic drugs, targeting tau phosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangles.
Researchers at MIT have genetically engineered periwinkle plants to produce unnatural variants of their usual alkaloid products, which could lead to more effective cancer treatments. The team successfully attached halogens to vinblastine precursors using bacterial genes, expanding the plant's pharmaceutical repertoire.
A team of chemists at Vanderbilt University has successfully synthesized Serratezomine A, a potentially anti-cancer herbal alkaloid, in six years through an efficient process. This achievement could lead to the development of new treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Researchers at Caltech developed a novel way to produce large quantities of drugs, including antiplaque toothpaste additives and antibiotics, using genetically modified yeast. The yeast produces reticuline, a precursor for benzylisoquinoline alkaloid molecules with various pharmacological activities.
Researchers discovered a special digestive enzyme in silkworms that allows them to digest sucrose despite the presence of toxic alkaloids in mulberry leaves. The enzyme, beta-fructofuranosidase, is concentrated in the worm's gut and silk gland.
Researchers Aaron C. Smith and Robert M. Williams successfully reproduced the Rabe-Kindler protocol for synthesizing quinine, a key step in its 'formal' total synthesis. They found that using aluminum powder as a reducing agent was crucial to achieving high yields of quinine.
Researchers have discovered four fully different classes of phosphatase inhibitors using the BIOS principle, which mimics natural products to identify potential new medicines. The study found promising results in targeting antiangiogenesis inhibitors, cell cycle regulation, and tuberculosis infections.