Azole resistance mechanisms in Candida albicans infections majorly focus around the alteration of target enzymes, overexpression of efflux pump proteins, and changes in lipid metabolism. Our earlier lipidomic studies have linked changes in cellular lipid compositions to drug susceptibilities and phenotypic defects. This study investigates the relationship between whole cell and membrane lipid profiles in isogenic drug-susceptible and resistant isolates of C. albicans. We have examined the fatty acid and sterol snapshot lipidomics in whole cells, plasma membrane, and lipid rafts. Correlations were discovered between these lipid compositions and the observed drug resistance in C. albicans. Although the correlations drawn from cellular and plasma membrane data corroborate, understanding plasma membrane and suborganellar (rafts in this case) lipid changes may provide better insights into their roles in efflux pump activities and localization, and drug susceptibilities.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2024.v11.658

Glucokinase (GK) activators, which target the GK enzyme, are an emerging class of therapeutics with promising effects against diabetes. The objective of this work was to create a new group of sulfamoyl benzamide derivatives with the ability to activate GK and evaluate their effectiveness in treating diabetes. From benzoic acid, several compounds containing sulfamoyl benzamide scaffold were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to activate GK in an in vitro enzymatic experiment. In silico docking analyses were employed to explore how the most suitable arrangements in the allosteric area of the GK enzyme interact during binding. The effectiveness of the identified substances in reducing high blood sugar levels was assessed using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in healthy rats. This evaluation was based on the results of laboratory tests on enzymes and in silico simulations. One of the most active compounds from the antihyperglycemic assay was then tested for its antidiabetic effects in an induced diabetic rat OGTT assay. The in vitro GK activation was best among compounds 1, 6, and 8 (activation fold: 2.03-2.09). In the OGTT assay (normal rats), compounds 1 and 6 showed promising antihyperglycemic activity. In vivo antidiabetic assay confirmed the consistency with in silico and in vitro outcomes. The newly synthesized derivatives of sulfamoyl benzamide have the potential to be used as a basis for the development of further GK activators that are both safe and efficacious and can be administered orally. These activators may be used as therapeutic agents to treat type 2 diabetes.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2024.v11.657

Oral cancer is the sixth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide and third in India out of the different cancer types identified. Mouth and oral cancers collectively refer to cancers of the buccal cavity, lips, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Genetic anomalies, the upregulation of several proteins, the deregulation of tumor-suppressive and oncogenes, and risk factors like alcohol and tobacco consumption are a few examples of the known irregularities that contribute to the development of oral cancer through the accumulation of various carcinogenic substances. Oral cancer is caused and developed by multiple molecular and cellular pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway, Wnt signaling, NF-κB pathway, Hippo pathway, etc. In addition, various genes including TP53, PTEN, CDKN2A, HRAS, PIK3CA, NOTCH1, IRF6, TP63, etc. are also involved in this malignancy. Therefore, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of these pathways to properly understand the development of oral cancer. This short review focuses on compiling together various signaling and molecular pathways accountable for oral carcinoma development.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2024.v11.652

The synthesis of new indole-oxadiazole coupled isoxazole hybrids (6a–o) synthesized by the Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction of in situ generated nitrile oxides with 3-(3,5-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl)-5-(1-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)-1H-indol-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole in good yields have been reported here. The chemical structures of all newly synthesized hybrids were confirmed by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and Mass spectra. All synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity against two breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 respectively. All the derivatives were more active against MCF7 than MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and few compounds showed better activity than the standard erlotinib. The ability of more potent compounds to inhibit EGFR tyrosine kinase, one of the key enzymes involved in breast carcinomas was evaluated by in vitro enzymatic assay and it was found that the compound (6g) and (6m) had more inhibitory activity IC₅₀ values 0.311±0.05 and 0.203±0.03 mM than erlotinib (IC₅₀=0.421±0.03 mM).

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2024.v11.651

Resistin is cysteine-rich polypeptide produced by adipocytes and macrophages. This study aims to assess the role of resistin and its gene polymorphisms (rs-34861192 G>A, NG-023447 C>G) as potential link between obesity and insulin resistance in the development of T2DM. Blood samples were collected from 120 participants (60 control are divided into 30 normal weight and 30 obese without T2DM) and (60 patients of Type 2 dm DM) are divided into 30 normal weight and 30 obese). Resistin and insulin levels were increased significantly in the patients’ group (p<0.05). Gene analysis indicated that rs-34861192 was associated significantly (P<0.01) with T2DM in dominant, recessive, and co-dominant models. The rs-34861192 AA genotype showed a significant difference in normal-weight and obese T2DM compared to control (P<0.001) only. The significant difference of GG genotype in normal-weight patients than control exclusively. In the diabetic patients, mutant genotype (AA) of rs34861192 was associated with circulating resistin level. The expression of retn gene was high. Genotype AA of rs- 34861192 was correlated positively with folding change. Mutant AA of rs-34861192 G>A plays an important role in development of T2DM through its effect on resistin levels in the circulation that considered as a major factor for developing T2DM.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2023.v10.629

This study evaluates the inhibition effect of new 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles against Xanthine Oxidase supplemented by molecular modelling. Nine compounds of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles by Sharpless’s approach have been synthesized in this report. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR and Mass spectroscopies Among these synthesized molecules (5-bromothiophen-2-yl)(1-(3-fluorobenzyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl)methanone (9f) and (5-Bromothiophen-2-yl(1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl)methanone (9h) showed better activity against Xanthine oxidase (XO) compared to allopurinol. In the light of the XO inhibition results, triazoles having of ketone moiety (9f-i) were found to be more active than triazoles of ketone-free (9a-e). These results were supported by docking models. The docking calculations of the target XO with nine available compounds showed good binding energies with favourable binding interactions. These findings were particularly evident that 9f (BE -7.29 kcal/mol) and 9h (BE -7.59 kcal/mol) are represented encouraging higher inhibition properties towards xanthine oxidase (XO), compared to allopurinol as a reference compound. Significant binding energies and interactions obtained by performing the docking studies are demonstrated, in particular, that the compounds 9f and 9h may be more potential bio compounds than the positive compounds, allopurinol, and febuxostat.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2023.v10.628

In the present report, we synthesized twelve novel phthalimide analogs and evaluated for antiplasmodial efficacy on Plasmodium falciparum culture. Two molecules exhibited significant inhibition percentages at 1 µM concentration without any apparent cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) for both the hit compounds 6d and 8a was observed in micromolar range, 1.20 µM and 1.66 µM, respectively. Extensive in silico studies conducted indicate plasmepsin IX as a possible target for inhibitory activity of the reported molecules.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2023.v10.627

Neurodegenerative diseases, marked by the gradual deterioration of neuronal structure and function, impose a significant burden on global healthcare systems. Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between reactive oxidant production and cellular antioxidant defense, is believed to play a significant role in the development of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. Recently, there has been a growing interest in exploring small compounds as potential therapeutic agents to counteract oxidative stress. In addition to highlighting the potential of small molecules to prevent oxidative stress-mediated neuronal damage, this article provides an overview of the function of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative illnesses. Targeting numerous oxidative stress-related pathways, a number of small molecules, including both natural and synthetic antioxidants, have shown promise for neuroprotective benefits. These substances neutralise reactive oxidants, boost endogenous antioxidant defences, reduce inflammation, alter mitochondrial function, and encourage neurotrophic growth.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2023.v10.626

Emerging evidence suggests that sustained diabetes-associated factors such as inflammation, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglycemia are major contributors to aberrant cell proliferation and subsequent neoplastic transformation. Epidemiological studies have also highlighted that diabetes promoting a sedentary lifestyle, with or without the direct involvement of insulin, is frequently linked to cancer. However, our knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms that correlate hyperglycemia to oncogenic transformations remains limited. In this regard, a recent study has proved that hyperglycemia inactivates AMPK, destabilizing the TET2 and its tumour-suppressive role and ultimately predisposing diabetes mellitus patients to cancer. We must explore a reverse pharmacology-based ethnopharmacological approach to managing hyperglycemia associated with oncogenesis. Botanical-derived natural products have greater structural and functional diversity with fewer or no side effects on humans. The present review discusses the molecular relationship between hyperglycemia and cancer progression and the impact of natural products as therapeutic agents on the hyperglycemia-cancer-associated signaling pathway.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2023.v10.552