RESUMEN
Various human illnesses, including several types of cancer and infectious diseases, are related to changes in the cellular redox homeostasis. During the last decade, several approaches have been explored which employ such disturbed redox balances for the benefit of therapy. Compounds able to modulate the intracellular redox state of cells have been developed, which effectively, yet also selectively, appear to kill cancer cells and a range of pathogenic microorganisms. Among the various agents employed, certain redox catalysts have shown considerable promise since they are non-toxic on their own yet develop an effective, often selective cytotoxicity in the presence of the 'correct' intracellular redox partners. Aminoalkylation, amide coupling and multicomponent reactions are suitable synthetic methods to generate a vast number of such multifunctional catalysts, which are chemically diverse and, depending on their structure, exhibit various interesting biological activities.
Asunto(s)
Antioxidantes/síntesis química , Selenio/química , Telurio/química , Alquilación/efectos de los fármacos , Amidas/química , Aminación/efectos de los fármacos , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Sitios de Unión , Muerte Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Oxidación-Reducción/efectos de los fármacos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Parasitaria , Plasmodium falciparum/citología , Plasmodium falciparum/efectos de los fármacos , Trichophyton/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Garlic has long been considered as a natural remedy against a range of human illnesses, including various bacterial, viral and fungal infections. This kind of antibiotic activity of garlic has mostly been associated with the thiosulfinate allicin. Even so, recent studies have pointed towards a significant biological activity of trisulfides and tetrasulfides found in various Allium species, including a wide range of antibiotic properties and the ability of polysulfides to cause the death of certain cancer cells. The chemistry underlying the biological activity of these polysulfides is currently emerging. It seems to include a combination of several distinct transformations, such as oxidation reactions, superoxide radical and peroxide generation, decomposition with release of highly electrophilic S(x) species, inhibition of metalloenzymes, disturbance of metal homeostasis and membrane integrity and interference with different cellular signalling pathways. Further research in this area is required to provide a better understanding of polysulfide reactions within a biochemical context. This knowledge may ultimately form the basis for the development of 'green' antibiotics, fungicides and possibly anticancer agents with dramatically reduced side effects in humans.