Pills of Multi-Target H₂S Donating Molecules for Complex Diseases

Area of Science:

• Medicinal Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Complex diseases involve multifactorial pathways, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes.
• Traditional drugs often target single pathways, limiting efficacy in complex disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the design and application of multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) incorporating hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donating moieties.
• To highlight the potential of H2S-donating MTDLs in treating complex, multifactorial diseases.
• To showcase successful examples of H2S-donating molecules in combating inflammatory, cancerous, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications on MTDLs and H2S.
• Analysis of molecular design strategies for incorporating H2S donor groups into existing drugs.
• Evaluation of therapeutic outcomes reported for H2S-donating MTDLs in preclinical and clinical studies.

Main Results:

• Successful design of MTDLs by integrating H2S donor functionalities into native drug scaffolds.
• Demonstrated ability of these MTDLs to modulate multiple biological targets and pathways simultaneously.
• Evidence of improved therapeutic efficacy in various complex disorders, including inflammation, cancer, and neurodegeneration.

Conclusions:

• Multi-target-directed ligands incorporating H2S donors represent a powerful therapeutic strategy for complex diseases.
• This approach offers a synergistic effect by targeting multiple pathways, leading to enhanced treatment outcomes.
• H2S-donating MTDLs are valuable tools for addressing the multifactorial nature of challenging health conditions.