title: Novel aldose reductase inhibitors: a patent survey (2006--present).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Initially studied for its central role in the pathogenesis of chronic diabetic complications, aldose reductase (ALR2) gains more attention over the years as its implication in inflammatory diseases is being established, along with the therapeutic potential of its inhibitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reviewing the patents that were published since 2006, it is getting clear that the search for new chemical entities has subsided, giving rise to natural products and plant extracts with ALR2 inhibitory activity. Other aspects that were prominent were the search for proper forms of known inhibitors, in a way to improve their impaired physicochemical profile, as well as potential combination therapies with other compounds of pharmaceutical interest. On the spotlight were patents enhancing the therapeutic usage of aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) to various pathological conditions including cancer and inflammation-mediated diseases such as sepsis, asthma, and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although new chemical entities are scarcely registered and patented after many years of inconclusive clinical trials, the involvement of ALR2 to inflammatory pathologies might renew the interest in the field of ARIs.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatzopoulou
authors.forename: Polyxeni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alexiou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotsampasakou
authors.forename: Vassilis J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Demopoulos
mesh_terms: D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010330:Patents as Topic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C484670:AKR1B1 protein, human; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase