Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
07:50
Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria
Published on: October 25, 2024
Demethoxycurcumin and its semisynthetic analogues as antitubercular agents
Dinesh Kumar Agrawal1, Dharmendra Saikia, Richa Tiwari
1Analytical Chemistry Division, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP-CSIR), Lucknow, India.
Planta Medica
|November 11, 2008
Summary
Demethoxycurcumin from Curcuma longa showed antitubercular activity. Its derivative, agent 6, demonstrated significantly enhanced potency against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H (37)Rv, with a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Microbiology
Background:
- Tuberculosis remains a significant global health challenge.
- Curcuminoids, derived from Curcuma longa, are known for their diverse biological activities.
- Exploring natural compounds for novel antitubercular agents is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antitubercular activity of demethoxycurcumin isolated from Curcuma longa.
- To synthesize and evaluate novel derivatives of demethoxycurcumin for enhanced antimycobacterial efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of demethoxycurcumin from Curcuma longa rhizomes.
- In vitro testing of demethoxycurcumin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H (37)Rv strain.
- Chemical derivatization of demethoxycurcumin.
- Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the synthesized derivatives.
Main Results:
- Demethoxycurcumin exhibited antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H (37)Rv at 200 microg/mL.
- A synthesized derivative, designated agent 6, showed significantly improved activity.
- Agent 6 achieved a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 7.8 microg/mL against the same strain.
Conclusions:
- Demethoxycurcumin is a promising natural compound with antitubercular properties.
- Chemical modification of demethoxycurcumin can lead to more potent antitubercular agents.
- Agent 6 represents a potential lead compound for further development against tuberculosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
01:15Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
01:10Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
01:27Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...