Natural products as leads in schistosome drug discovery

Molecules. 2015 Jan 23;20(2):1872-903. doi: 10.3390/molecules20021872.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected parasitic tropical disease that claims around 200,000 human lives every year. Praziquantel (PZQ), the only drug recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment and control of human schistosomiasis, is now facing the threat of drug resistance, indicating the urgent need for new effective compounds to treat this disease. Therefore, globally, there is renewed interest in natural products (NPs) as a starting point for drug discovery and development for schistosomiasis. Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and cheminformatics have brought about unprecedented opportunities for the rapid and more cost-effective discovery of new bioactive compounds against neglected tropical diseases. This review highlights the main contributions that NP drug discovery and development have made in the treatment of schistosomiasis and it discusses how integration with virtual screening (VS) strategies may contribute to accelerating the development of new schistosomidal leads, especially through the identification of unexplored, biologically active chemical scaffolds and structural optimization of NPs with previously established activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Arachidonic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Artemisinins / pharmacology
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Quinolines / pharmacology
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use
  • Schistosoma / drug effects
  • Schistosomiasis / drug therapy
  • Schistosomicides / pharmacology*
  • Schistosomicides / therapeutic use
  • Terpenes / pharmacology
  • Terpenes / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Artemisinins
  • Biological Products
  • Quinolines
  • Schistosomicides
  • Terpenes