Browsing by Author "Reis, Mariana"
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- Stalling the course of neurodegenerative diseases: could cyanobacteria constitute a new approach toward therapy?Publication . Ramos, Vitória; Reis, Mariana; Ferreira, Leonor; Silva, Ana Margarida; Ferraz, Ricardo; Vieira, Mónica; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Martins, RosárioNeurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive and irreversible neuronal loss, accompanied by a range of pathological pathways, including aberrant protein aggregation, altered energy metabolism, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Some of the most common NDs include Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s Disease (HD). There are currently no available cures; there are only therapeutic approaches that ameliorate the progression of symptoms, which makes the search for new drugs and therapeutic targets a constant battle. Cyanobacteria are ancient prokaryotic oxygenic phototrophs whose long evolutionary history has resulted in the production of a plethora of biomedically relevant compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties, that can be valuable in this field. This review summarizes the major NDs and their pathophysiology, with a focus on the anti-neurodegenerative properties of cyanobacterial compounds and their main effects.
- The neuroprotective role of cyanobacteria with focus on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential: Current status and perspectivesPublication . Rodrigues, Flávia; Reis, Mariana; Ferreira, Leonor; Grosso, Clara; Ferraz, Ricardo; Vieira, Mónica; Vasconcelos, Vítor; Martins, RosárioNeurodegenerative diseases are linked to the process of neurodegeneration. This can be caused by several mechanisms, including inflammation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Despite their high incidence, there is still no effective treatment or cure for these diseases. Cyanobacteria have been seen as a possible source for new compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential, such as polysaccharides (sacran), phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin) and lipopeptides (honaucins and malyngamides), which can be interesting to combat neurodegeneration. As a promising case of success, Arthrospira (formerly Spirulina) has revealed a high potential for preventing neurodegeneration. Additionally, advantageous culture conditions and sustainable production of cyanobacteria, which are allied to the development of genetic, metabolic, and biochemical engineering, are promising. The aim of this review is to compile and highlight research on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of cyanobacteria with focus on the application as neuroprotective agents. Also, a major goal is to address essential features that brand cyanobacteria as an ecoefficient and economically viable option, linking health to sustainability.
- Tracing the path between mushrooms and Alzheimer’s Disease—a literature reviewPublication . Silva, Ana Margarida; Preto, Marco; Grosso, Clara; Vieira, Mónica; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Reis, Mariana; Barros, Lillian; Martins, RosarioAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is well-known among neurodegenerative diseases for the decline of cognitive functions, making overall daily tasks difficult or impossible. The disease prevails as the most common form of dementia and remains without a well-defined etiology. Being considered a disease of multifactorial origin, current targeted treatments have only managed to reduce or control symptoms, and to date, only two drugs are close to being able to halt its progression. For decades, natural compounds produced by living organisms have been at the forefront of research for new therapies. Mushrooms, which are well-known for their nutritional and medicinal properties, have also been studied for their potential use in the treatment of AD. Natural products derived from mushrooms have shown to be beneficial in several AD-related mechanisms, including the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and β-secretase (BACE 1); the prevention of amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation and neurotoxicity; and the prevention of Tau expression and aggregation, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Several studies in the literature relate mushrooms to neurodegenerative diseases. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no publication that summarizes only AD data. In this context, this review aims to link the therapeutic potential of mushrooms to AD by compiling the anti-AD potential of different mushroom extracts or isolated compounds, targeting known AD-related mechanisms.
- Umbrella review on the possible use of Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19Publication . Reis, Mariana; Ferreira, Maria; Pedro, Sílvia; Ferraz Oliveira, Rita; Moreira, FernandoThe urgency to find treatment and prophylactic measures for COVID-19, motivated the use of drugs usually indicated in other pathologies, such as Ivermectin (commonly used as antiparasitic). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19, and to identify its mechanism of action and dosing regimen regarding this particular indication. To perform this umbrella review, a bibliographic search was carried out in the Pubmed, LILACS, SciELO and Wiley Online Library databases using the terms "Ivermectin AND COVID-19" and "Ivermectin AND SARS-CoV-2". Only articles published between January 2020 and March 2022 written in English or Portuguese and configured in review or meta-analysis formats, were considered. The selection of the articles returned in the initial search (n=1609), resulted from the analysis of the titles and abstracts, and was performed after elimination of duplicates. Studies addressing the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacotherapy of ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19 were considered eligible. Twenty-six articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. In patients with COVID-19, Ivermectin presented as main clinical result a decrease in mortality. Although there are several proposed mechanisms, the antiviral mechanism against SARS-COV-2 may be multimodal. Some of the studies demonstrated that the IC50 value of Ivermectin required to inhibit the replication process of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is much higher than the maximum plasma concentration reached after administration of approved doses. However, administration via inhalation or with nanotechnology may be promising, according to some reviews, as it would increase the concentration of ivermectin at the site of action. Preliminary studies using ivermectin in COVID-19 patients reported nausea, vomiting and increased circulating liver enzymes among the main side effects. The small samples used in the various studies and the nonspecification of the administered dose are the main limitations of humanstudies. Most reviews suggest that further studies are needed to prove that tolerable doses of ivermectin may be effective in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. It should also be noted that the potential benefit associated with treatment with ivermectin does not outweigh or decrease the relevance of vaccination.