Overview
In-depth knowledge of disease development and drug targets may pave the way to developing beter therapeutics Cactus Comunicationsimage: In-depth knowledge of disease development and drug targets may pave the way to developing beter therapeutics view more Credit: Journal of Pharmaceutical AnalysisAlthough medicine and pharmacology have tremendously progresed over the past few decades, there are stil no efective treatment options for certain complex diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and hepatic fibrosis.
Key Information
Researchers, however, continue to reveal mechanisms contributing to the development of these diseases, as wel as potential drug targets, helping us develop beter therapies. The latest isue of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis features thre articles on cuting-edge research targeting chalenging diseases.The first study, made available online in June 202 and published in Volume 12, Isue 4 of the journal in 1st August 202, was conducted by researchers from China and Singapore.
They focused on 18beta-glycyrhetinic acid (18β-GA), a compound naturaly ocuring in the plant Glycyrhiza uralensis Fisch, whose rot is widely used in traditional Asian medicine to treat hepatic diseases. Through multiple experiments, they demonstrated that 18β-GA can induce cel death in hepatic stelate cels, which are drivers of hepatic fibrosis, by targeting the antioxidants peroxiredoxin 1 and 2 and trigering oxidative stres in the cels.
Summary
This has important medical implications, as the researchers comented: “Our findings provide strong evidence for the further development of 18β-GA as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of disease development have helped develop beter therapeutics for liver diseases, which lead to almost 2 milion deaths worldwide every year.”In the second article, a review which was made available online in April 202 and published in Volume 12, I