Patent-related survey on new monoamine oxidase inhibitors and their therapeutic potential.
BACKGROUND
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) plays an important role in the control of intracellular concentration of monoaminergic neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and dietary amines. The rapid degradation of these molecules ensures the proper functioning of synaptic neurotransmission and is critical for the regulation of several mental and cognitive functions. The by-products of MAO-mediated reactions comprehend reactive and toxic chemical species. As a consequence of this, the development of human MAO inhibitors led to important discoveries in the treatment of several neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.


METHODS
This review highlights the recent MAO inhibitors-related patents (2010-2012) and reports on new associations of already known MAO inhibitors with other drugs, innovative therapeutic targets, MAO inhibitors obtained by plants extraction, alternative administration routes and synthetic processes.


CONCLUSIONS
MAO inhibitors appear promising for further clinical development being often endowed with other pharmacological functions (iron-chelating property, cholinesterase inhibition). A new 'golden age' of MAO inhibitors recently started from (i) the discovery of new therapeutic targets (prostate cancer, diabetes, ischemia/reperfusion injury, tobacco dependence, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy); (ii) the recognized role of MAO as biomolecular markers (insomnia, chronic alcoholism, obsessive-compulsive behavior); (iii) the activity of these enzymes in other tissues (platelets, prostate cells).
Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Simone
S
Carradori
Daniela
D
Secci
Adriana
A
Bolasco
Paola
P
Chimenti
Melissa
M
D'Ascenzio
D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010330:Patents as Topic
D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase