The Search for Putative Hits in Combating Leishmaniasis: The Contributions of Natural Products Over the Last Decade
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Natural Products and Bioprospecting
Abstract
Despite advancements in the areas of omics and chemoinformatics, potent novel biotherapeutic molecules with new modes
of actions are needed for leishmaniasis. The socioeconomic burden of leishmaniasis remains alarming in endemic regions.
Currently, reports from existing endemic areas such as Nepal, Iran, Brazil, India, Sudan and Afghanistan, as well as newly
affected countries such as Peru, Bolivia and Somalia indicate concerns of chemoresistance to the classical antimonial treatment.
As a result, effective antileishmanial agents which are safe and affordable are urgently needed. Natural products from
both flora and fauna have contributed immensely to chemotherapeutics and serve as vital sources of new chemical agents.
This review focuses on a systematic cross-sectional view of all characterized anti-leishmanial compounds from natural
sources over the last decade. Furthermore, IC50/
EC50, cytotoxicity and suggested mechanisms of action of some of these
natural products are provided. The natural product classification includes alkaloids, terpenes, terpenoids, and phenolics.
The plethora of reported mechanisms involve calcium channel inhibition, immunomodulation and apoptosis. Making available
enriched data pertaining to bioactivity and mechanisms of natural products complement current efforts geared towards
unraveling potent leishmanicides of therapeutic relevance.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Chemotherapeutics, Chemoinformatics, Natural products, Cytotoxicity, Leishmaniasis, Phenotypic screening