Diterpenes as lead molecules against neglected tropical diseases

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 175 - 201
• Main Authors: Barros de Alencar, Marcus Vinícius Oliveira, Castro e Sousa, João Marcelo, Rolim, Hercília Maria Lins, Medeiros, Maria das Graças Freire, Cerqueira, Gilberto Santos, Castro Almeida, Fernanda Regina, Citó, Antônia Maria das Graças Lopes, Ferreira, Paulo Michel Pinheiro, Lopes, José Arimatéia Dantas, Carvalho Melo‐Cavalcante, Ana Amélia, Islam, Md. Torequl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2017
• Subjects: diterpenes; Diterpenes - chemistry; Humans; Neglected Diseases - therapy; neglected tropical diseases; therapeutic potential; Tropical Medicine - trends; therapeutic potential; diterpenes; neglected tropical diseases
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5749

Nowadays, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are reported to be present everywhere. Poor and developing areas in the world have received great attention to NTDs. Drug resistance, safety profile, and various challenges stimulate the search for alternative medications. Plant‐based drugs are viewed with great interest, as they are believed to be devoid of side effects. Diterpenes, a family of essential oils, have showed attractive biological effects. A systematic review of the literature was carried out to summarize available evidences of diterpenes against NTDs. For this, databases were searched using specific search terms. Among the 2338 collected reports, a total of 181 articles were included in this review. Of them, 148 dealt with investigations using single organisms, and 33 used multiple organisms. No mechanisms of action were reported in the case of 164 reports. A total of 93.92% were related to nonclinical studies, and 4.42% and 1.66% dealt with preclinical and clinical studies, respectively. The review displays that many diterpenes are effective upon Chagas disease, chikungunya, echinococcosis, dengue, leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, and tuberculosis. Indeed, diterpenes are amazing drug candidates against NTDs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.