title: Cynaropicrin: A Comprehensive Research Review and Therapeutic Potential As an Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Agent.
abstract: The different pharmacologic properties of plants-containing cynaropicrin, especially artichokes, have been known for many centuries. More recently, cynaropicrin exhibited a potential activity against all genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cynaropicrin has also shown a wide range of other pharmacologic properties such as anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-trypanosomal, anti-malarial, antifeedant, antispasmodic, anti-photoaging, and anti-tumor action, as well as activation of bitter sensory receptors, and anti-inflammatory properties (e.g., associated with the suppression of the key pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway). These pharmacological effects are very supportive factors to its outstanding activity against HCV. Structurally, cynaropicrin might be considered as a potential drug candidate, since it has no violations for the rule of five and its water-solubility could allow formulation as therapeutic injections. Moreover, cynaropicrin is a small molecule that can be easily synthesized and as the major constituent of the edible plant artichoke, which has a history of safe dietary use. In summary, cynaropicrin is a promising bioactive natural product that, with minor hit-to-lead optimization, might be developed as a drug for HCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Elsebai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mocan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University of ViennaVienna, Austria; Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of SciencesJastrzebiec, Poland.
authors.forename: Atanas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Atanasov
keywords: anti-gastritis action; anti-hepatitis C virus; anti-hyperlipidemic; anti-inflammatory; anti-parasite; antibacterial; antitumor; cynaropicrin