Authors: Alonso D.; Khalil Z.; Satkunanthan N.; Livett B.G.

Source: Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 3, Number 7, November 2003 , pp. 785-787(3)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

The oceans are a source of a large group of structurally unique natural products that are mainly found in invertebrates such as sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, and molluscs. It is interesting to note that the majority of marine compounds currently in clinical trials or under preclinical evaluation are produced by these species rather than as secondary metabolites by marine algae [1]. Through the combined efforts of marine natural products chemists and pharmacologists a number of promising compounds have been identified that are either already at advanced stages of clinical trials such as the new anti-cancer drug marine alkaloid ecteinascidin 743 [2], or have been selected as promising candidates for extended preclinical evaluation [3]. This is the case for conotoxins, (Table 1) where a number of conopeptides are currently being developed as analgesics for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Keywords: neuropathic pain; antidepressant; new antidepressant drugs; antinociception; mechanism of action; clinical trials

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557033487746

Affiliations: 1: NeuroPharma, S.A.; Avda. de la Industria 52, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.

Publication date: 2003-11-01

More about this publication?

• The aim of Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry is to publish short reviews on the important recent developments in medicinal chemistry and allied disciplines.
  
  The scope of Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry will cover all areas of medicinal chemistry including developments in rational drug design, synthetic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, drug targets, and natural product research and structure-activity relationship studies.
  
  Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal and pharmaceutical chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.

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