Related Experiment Videos
Lanostane-type triterpenes from the mushroom Astraeus pteridis with antituberculosis activity
Rita Stanikunaite1, Mohamed M Radwan, James M Trappe
1Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
Journal of Natural Products
|December 11, 2008
Summary
Researchers isolated new lanostane triterpenes from the mushroom Astraeus pteridis. Two compounds showed moderate activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, offering potential leads for new drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Mycology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- The mushroom Astraeus pteridis, resembling a truffle, is a potential source of novel bioactive compounds.
- Lanostane triterpenes are a class of natural products with diverse biological activities.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a significant global health threat, necessitating the search for new anti-tubercular agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from Astraeus pteridis.
- To evaluate the isolated compounds for anti-tubercular activity.
Main Methods:
- Bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanol extract of Astraeus pteridis.
- Structure elucidation using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, HRESIMS, and X-ray crystallography.
- Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Main Results:
- Three new and two known lanostane triterpenes, along with phenylalanine betaine, were isolated.
- Compounds 5 and 1 exhibited moderate activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- MIC values for compounds 5 and 1 were 34.0 and 58.0 microg/mL, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Astraeus pteridis is a source of novel lanostane triterpenes.
- Compounds 5 and 1 demonstrate potential as starting points for developing new anti-tubercular drugs.
Related Concept Videos
Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers, or cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists, are medications used to manage chronic asthma. These agents target specific inflammatory mediators produced during arachidonic acid metabolism, an essential process in generating inflammation in the body.
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Drugs 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...
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
Antiprotozoal Agents
Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...
Drugs 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...