Editor: Simone Carradori

Series Title: Medicinal Chemistry Lessons From Nature

Alkaloids and Other Nitrogen-Containing Derivatives

Volume 3

eBook: US $79 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $136
Printed Copy: US $96
Library License: US $316
ISBN: 978-981-5123-68-5 (Print)
ISBN: 978-981-5123-67-8 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2023
DOI: 10.2174/97898151236781230301

Introduction

Medicinal chemists around the world have been inspired by nature and have successfully extracted chemicals from plants. Research on enzymatic modifications of naturally occurring compounds has played a critical role in the search for biologically active molecules to treat diseases.

This book set explores compounds of interest to researchers and clinicians. It presents a comprehensive analysis about the medicinal chemistry (drug design, structure-activity relationships, permeability data, cytotoxicity, appropriate statistical procedures, molecular modelling studies) of different compounds. Each chapter brings contributions from known scientists explaining experimental results which can be translated into clinical practice.

Volume 3 presents (1) a brief overview of botanical and pharmacological properties of alkaloids, (2) a summary of the synthesis of natural morphinans and related alkaloids, (3) caffeine-based compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, (4) piperine derivatives, (5) noscapine-based anti-cancer agents, (6) biogenic amines and amino acid derivatives as carbonic anhydrase modulators and (7) antimalarial compounds on quinoline scaffolds.

The objective of this book is to fulfill gaps in current knowledge with updated information from recent years. It serves as a guide for academic and professional researchers and clinicians.

Preface

Natural products are often used in drug development due to their ability to provide unique and chemically diverse structures unmatched by any synthetic chemical collection. Medicinal Chemists have always been inspired by nature because natural products are often perceived as safer and for their capability to interact with biological targets. Indeed, in recent years, there has been emerging research on traditional herbal medicines based on their efficacy in the treatment of diseases to which they have been traditionally applied.

Conversely, natural compounds suffer from several issues such as scarce availability and seasonality, high differences in the production/extraction/isolation, low purity in commercial products from worldwide suppliers, and side effects. Moreover, due to their chemical complexity and the optional presence of different chiral centers, the total synthesis of a natural compound can also be challenging and expensive.

This book series would propose the latest discoveries in the field of compounds inspired by nature and obtained by chemical/enzymatic modification of a natural compound in the search for biologically active molecules for the treatment of human/animal ailments and permit the disposal of a wider arsenal for clinicians. The natural compounds are grouped into three clusters. The chapters are built in the following format: • General background on the (phyto)chemistry of the scaffold; • General background on the pharmacological profile of the scaffold; • Description of the proposed derivatives and their potentialities with respect to the parent compounds (with a particular emphasis on the synthetic approaches and structure-activity relationships); • In silico analysis of the crucial interactions with the biological target, when available; • Clinical studies and patent surveys (if available) on the new and proposed structures.

The readership of this book is represented primarily by Academies, Researchers, Specialists in the pharmaceutical field, Industry sector, Contract Research Organizations and hospitals dealing with clinical research.

Simone Carradori
Department of Pharmacy
G. d Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara
Italy