Natural products with antischistosomal activity

Future Med Chem. 2015;7(6):801-20. doi: 10.4155/fmc.15.23.

Abstract

In recent years, natural product groups have been gaining prominence as possible sources of new drugs for schistosomiasis. This review attempts to update the antischistosomal natural compounds, or natural product-derived compounds, from the mid-1980s. Some of the main metabolites obtained from plants (e.g., terpenes, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and peptides) with in vitro and/or in vivo antischistosomal properties are discussed. Less thoroughly, due to scarcity of data in the literature, molecules from animals (e.g., peptides) are also described. Special mention of the anthelmintic activity against different parasitic stages of schistosomes is made; the mechanism of action of most of the metabolites is discussed, and a number of bioassay procedures are listed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Biological Products / chemistry*
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Schistosoma / drug effects*
  • Schistosomiasis / drug therapy*
  • Schistosomiasis / parasitology
  • Schistosomicides / chemistry*
  • Schistosomicides / pharmacology*
  • Terpenes / chemistry
  • Terpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Biological Products
  • Peptides
  • Phenols
  • Schistosomicides
  • Terpenes