Recent progress in neuroactive marine natural products
Ryuichi Sakai1, Geoffrey T Swanson
1Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate 041-8611, Japan. ryu.sakai@fish.hokudai.ac.jp.
Natural Product Reports
|January 17, 2014
Summary
Marine natural products offer potential for new drugs. This review details their neuroactivity, structure, and synthesis, aiding future research in neuropharmacology.
Area of Science:
- Marine natural products chemistry
- Neuropharmacology
- Drug discovery
Background:
- Marine organisms are a rich source of structurally diverse natural products.
- Many marine natural products exhibit significant biological activities, including neuroactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the isolation and chemical structures of neuroactive marine natural products.
- To explore their biological activities and structure-activity relationships (SAR).
- To discuss the synthesis of chemical probes and pharmacological characterization.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search and review of scientific publications.
- Analysis of reported isolation, structural elucidation, and biological testing methods.
- Synthesis strategies for chemical probes derived from marine natural products.
Main Results:
- Detailed overview of various neuroactive marine natural products.
- Elucidation of SAR for enhanced therapeutic potential.
- Examples of synthesized chemical probes for biological studies.
Conclusions:
- Neuroactive marine natural products represent a promising area for drug discovery.
- Further research into SAR and pharmacological profiling can lead to novel therapeutics.
- The synthesis of chemical probes is crucial for understanding mechanisms of action.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
2.5K
Drugs affecting neurotransmitter synthesis can impact the adrenergic neuron and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For example, α-methyltyrosine and carbidopa target specific enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis. α-methyltyrosine inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into dopamine. By blocking this enzyme, α-methyltyrosine reduces dopamine production and other catecholamines. Carbidopa, on the other hand, inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase,...
2.5K
01:26Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
3.5K
Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
3.5K
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
926
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
926
01:21Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
1.8K
Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
1.8K
01:01Neuroplasticity
2.6K
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
2.6K