Biological Activities and Therapeutic Application

Gunay NS and Linhardt RJ (1999) Heparinoids structure, biological activities and therapeutic applications. Planta Med 65, 301-306. 

Over the past few decades, much progress has been made on research on Uncaria spp. This genus plants are considered as a valuable source for the discovery and application of medicinal plant-derived namral products such as alkaloids and pentacyclic triterpenes as pharmaceutical agents. In vitro and in vivo studies evidenced the biological activity and therapeutic potential of the compounds isolated from this genus. However, further research is required for the development of potential dmg leads from the compounds of this genus in the area of inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and vascular-related disorders. 

Therapeutics. Compounds containing the furan or tetrahydrofuran ring are biologically active and are present in a number of pharmaceutical products. Eurfurjdamine [617-89-0] is an intermediate in the diuretic, furosemide. Tetrahydrofurfurylamine [4795-29-3] may also have pharmaceutical applications. 5-(E)imethyiaininomethyi)furfuryi alcohol [15433-79-17 is an intermediate in the preparation of ranitidine, which is used for treating ulcers. 2-Acet5dfuran [1192-62-7] prepared from acetic anhydride and furan is an intermediate in the synthesis of cefuroxime, a penicillin derivative. 2-Euroic acid is prepared by the oxidation of furfural. Both furoic acid [88-14-2] and furoyl chloride [527-69-5] are used as pharmaceutical intermediates. 

P. Compain, V. Desvergnes, V. Liautard, C. Pillard, and S. Toumieux, Tables of iminosugars, their biological activities and their potential as therapeutic agents, in P. Compain and O. R. Martin, (Eds.), Iminosugars From Synthesis to Therapeutic Applications, Wiley, Chichester, 2007, pp. 327 -55. 

Asano, N., Nash, R. J., Molyneux, R. J., Fleet, G. W. J. (2000). Sugar-mimic glycosidase inhibitors natural occurrence, biological activity and prospects for therapeutic application. Tetrahedron-Asymmetry, 11, 1645-1680. 

Iridium(lll) complexes, especially those with polypyridine ligands, as therapeutic and bioimaging reagents for cellular applications 12RCA12069. Isolation, biological activity and synthesis of the natural anticancer product eUipticine and related pyridocarbazoles 12RCA8883. 

Specific activity is an important parameter since in many cases, the availability of very high specific activity or carrier-firee radionuclides is required for biological applications. One example of the importance of high specific activity is the radiolabeling of tumor-specific antibodies or peptides for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications where only very small amounts of the radiolabeled antibodies are administered to ensure maximal uptake at the limited tumor cell surface antigen sites. 

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