Alkaloids of Dicranostigma franchetianum (Papaveraceae) and Berberine Derivatives as a New Class of Antimycobacterial Agents

Lipids Extracted from Mycobacterial Membrane and Enveloped PLGA Nanoparticles for Encapsulating Antibacterial Drugs Elicit Synergistic Antimicrobial Response against Mycobacteria

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease caused byMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which shows a long treatment cycle often leads to drug resistance, making treatment more difficult. Immunogens present in the pathogen's cell membrane can stimulate endogenous immune responses. Therefore, an effective lipid-based vaccine or drug delivery vehicle formulated from the pathogen's cell membrane can improve treatment outcomes. Herein, we extracted and characterized lipids fromMycobacterium smegmatis, and the extracts contained lipids belonging to numerous lipid classes and compounds typically found associated with mycobacteria. The extracted lipids were used to formulate biomimetic lipid reconstituted nanoparticles (LrNs) and LrNs-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA-LrNs). Physiochemical characterization and results of morphology suggested that PLGA-LrNs exhibited enhanced stability compared with LrNs. And both of these two types of nanoparticles inhibited the growth of M. smegmatis. After loading different drugs, PLGA-LrNs containing berberine or coptisine strongly and synergistically prevented the growth of M. smegmatis. Altogether, the bacterial membrane lipids we extracted with antibacterial activity can be used as nanocarrier coating for synergistic antibacterial treatment of M. smegmatis─an alternative model of Mtb, which is expected as a novel therapeutic system for TB treatment.

Biologically active isoquinoline alkaloids covering 2019-2022

Isoquinoline alkaloids are an important class of natural products that are abundant in the plant kingdom and exhibit a wide range of structural diversity and biological activities. With the deepening of research in recent years, more and more isoquinoline alkaloids have been isolated and identified and proved to contain a variety of biological activities and pharmacological effects. In this review, we introduce the research progress of isoquinoline alkaloids from 2019 to 2022, mainly in the part of biological activities, including antitumor, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, analgesic, and other activities. This study provides a clear direction for the rational development and utilization of isoquinoline alkaloids, suggesting that these alkaloids have great potential in the field of drug research.

Antitubercular drugs: possible role of natural products acting as antituberculosis medication in overcoming drug resistance and drug-induced hepatotoxicity

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a pathogenic bacterium which causes tuberculosis (TB). TB control programmes are facing threats from drug resistance. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Mtb strains need longer and more expensive treatment with many medications resulting in more adverse effects and decreased chances of treatment outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasised the development of not just new individual anti-TB drugs, but also novel medication regimens as an alternative treatment option for the drug-resistant Mtb strains. Many plants, as well as marine creatures (sponge; Haliclona sp.) and fungi, have been continuously used to treat TB in various traditional treatment systems around the world, providing an almost limitless supply of active components. Natural products, in addition to their anti-mycobacterial action, can be used as adjuvant therapy to increase the efficacy of conventional anti-mycobacterial medications, reduce their side effects, and reverse MDR Mtb strain due to Mycobacterium's genetic flexibility and environmental adaptation. Several natural compounds such as quercetin, ursolic acid, berberine, thymoquinone, curcumin, phloretin, and propolis have shown potential anti-mycobacterial efficacy and are still being explored in preclinical and clinical investigations for confirmation of their efficacy and safety as anti-TB medication. However, more high-level randomized clinical trials are desperately required. The current review provides an overview of drug-resistant TB along with the latest anti-TB medications, drug-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Further, the role and mechanisms of action of first and second-line anti-TB drugs and new drugs have been highlighted. Finally, the role of natural compounds as anti-TB medication and hepatoprotectants have been described and their mechanisms discussed.

From genomics to metabolomics: Deciphering sanguinarine biosynthesis in Dicranostigma leptopodum

Dicranostigma leptopodum (Maxim) Fedde (DLF) is a renowned medicinal plant in China, known to be rich in alkaloids. However, the unavailability of a reference genome has impeded investigation into its plant metabolism and genetic breeding potential. Here we present a high-quality chromosomal-level genome assembly for DLF, derived using a combination of Nanopore long-read sequencing, Illumina short-read sequencing and Hi-C technologies. Our assembly genome spans a size of 621.81 Mb with an impressive contig N50 of 93.04 Mb. We show that the species-specific whole-genome duplication (WGD) of DLF and Papaver somniferum corresponded to two rounds of WGDs of Papaver setigerum. Furthermore, we integrated comprehensive homology searching, gene family analyses and construction of a gene-to-metabolite network. These efforts led to the discovery of co-expressed transcription factors, including NAC and bZIP, alongside sanguinarine (SAN) pathway genes CYP719 (CFS and SPS). Notably, we identified P6H as a promising gene for enhancing SAN production. By providing the first reference genome for Dicranostigma, our study confirms the genomic underpinning of SAN biosynthesis and establishes a foundation for advancing functional genomic research on Papaveraceae species. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of high-quality genome assemblies in elucidating genetic variations underlying the evolutionary origin of secondary metabolites.

The Utilization of Plant-Material-Loaded Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems in the Management of Pulmonary Diseases

Medicinal plants have been utilized to treat a variety of conditions on account of the bioactive properties that they contain. Most bioactive constituents from plants are of limited effectiveness, due to poor solubility, limited permeability, first-pass metabolism, efflux transporters, chemical instability, and food-drug interactions However, when combined with vesicular drug delivery systems (VDDS), herbal medicines can be delivered at a predetermined rate and can exhibit site-specific action. Vesicular drug delivery systems are novel pharmaceutical formulations that make use of vesicles as a means of encapsulating and transporting drugs to various locations within the body; they are a cutting-edge method of medication delivery that combats the drawbacks of conventional drug delivery methods. Drug delivery systems offer promising strategies to overcome the bioavailability limitations of bioactive phytochemicals. By improving their solubility, protecting them from degradation, enabling targeted delivery, and facilitating controlled release, drug delivery systems can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of phytochemicals and unlock their full potential in various health conditions. This review explores and collates the application of plant-based VDDS with the potential to exhibit protective effects against lung function loss in the interest of innovative and effective treatment and management of respiratory illnesses.