A modular synthetic approach was developed in which variation of the triplets of building blocks used enabled systematic variation of the macrocyclic scaffolds prepared. The approach was demonstrated in the synthesis of 17 diverse natural product-like macrocyclic scaffolds of varied (12-20-membered) ring size. The biological relevance of the chemical space explored was demonstrated through the ...

We analyzed the antimycobacterial activity of the hexane extract of rhizomes from Aristolochia elegans. Some compounds of this extract were purified and tested against a group of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. We also evaluated their antiprotozoal activities. The hexane extract was active against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at a MIC = 100 μg mL(-1); the pure compounds eupomatenoid...

A series of 3-arylidene-5-(substituted phenyl)-2(3H)-furanones (3-10) and their nitrogen analogues, 3-arylidene-5-(substituted phenyl)-1-benzyl-2(3H)-pyrrolone (11-14), and 3-arylidene-5-(substituted phenyl)-2(3H)-pyrrolones (15-21) were synthesized. All the compounds were screened for their antimycobacterial activity in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC 27294) in BACTEC medi...

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the major causes of bacterial infections and mortality in the world. In 1944, streptomycin was introduced as a first antibiotic remedy to cure TB effectively. After that, in the 1940s and 50s, with the introduction of pyrazinamide (PZA), rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH), ethambutol and streptomycin as well as cocktail-drug treatment of tuberculosis, a cure for...

Treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is a challenge because of multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Plant species contain antimicrobial compounds that may lead to new anti-TB drugs. Previous screening of some tree species from the Anacardiaceae family revealed the presence of antimicrobial activity, justifying further investigations. Leaf extracts of...

TO THE EDITOR—The report on the intrinsic antimycobacterial activity of ibupro-fen and low-dose aspirin in a novel murine tuberculosis model is fascinating

Bixa orellana is used in popular medicine against several diseases. Extracts of its fruit, root and leaf presented antimicrobial activity, while seed extract showed negative results. This study aimed at verifying the antimycobacterial activity of B. orellana lyophilized hydroalcoholic extracts over Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration against five bacte...

Human NKT cells are a unique subset of T cells that express an invariant V alpha 24 TCR that recognizes the nonclassical Ag-presenting molecule CD1d. Activation of NKT cells is greatly augmented by the marine sponge-derived glycolipid alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha GalCer). Because human monocyte-derived cells express CD1d and can harbor the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, w...