title: Implications of dibenzyl trisulphide for disease treatment based on its mode of action.
abstract: Studies conducted on the secondary metabolite (natural product), dibenzyl trisulphide (DTS), which was isolated from the sub-tropical shrub Petiveria alliacea (guinea hen weed, anamu) [Phytolaccaceae] have shown tremendous pharmaceutical promise as a drug prototype. This is now reflected in the development of the broad spectrum anti-cancer molecule, fluorapacin (bis(4-fluorobenzyl) trisulphide) which has an excellent safety profile. The mode of action elucidated for DTS is the mitogen activated protein extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2 (MAPKinases ERK 1 and ERK 2). The MAPKinase signal transduction biochemical pathways are important in the regulation of a wide range of cellular processes which are important in disease establishment. These processes include: cancer cell proliferation, nerve repair, memory enhancement, autoimmune diseases, which are linked to thymic cell involution and bone marrow functions, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. In addition to the MAPkinase signal transduction mode of action, DTS also prevents the denaturation of serum albumin which is a feature of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, thus supporting the molecule's possible role in the treatment of inflammatory ageing diseases.
authors.affiliation: The Natural Products Unit, Scientific Research Council, PO Box 350, Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica, West Indies. lawrencew@src-jamaica.org
authors.forename: L A D
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rösner
mesh_terms: D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D015195:Drug Design; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects*; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy; D029602:Phytolaccaceae; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013440:Sulfides; C495415:dibenzyl trisulfide; C528265:fluorapacin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases