Haruyo Mori

Bio: Haruyo Mori is an academic researcher from Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 45 publications receiving 1004 citations.

Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Herbs in Labiatae

Abstract: The anti-HIV-1 activity of aromatic herbs in Labiatae was evaluated in vitro. Forty five extract from among 51 samples obtained from 46 herb species showed significant inhibitory effects against HIV-1 induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells. In particular, the aqueous extracts of Melissa officinalis, a family of Mentha×piperita "grapefruit mint", Mentha×piperita var. crispa, Ocimum basilicum cv "cinnamon", Perilla frutescens var. crispa f.viridis, Prunella vulgaris subsp. asiatica and Satureja montana showed potent anti-HIV-1 activity (with an ED of 16μg/ml). The active components in the extract samples were found to be water-solubel polar substances, not nonpolar compounds such as essential oils. In addition, these aqueous extracts inhibited giant cell formation in co-culture of Molt-4 cels with and without HIV-1 infection and showed inhibitory activity against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Screening of Indonesian plant extracts for anti‐human immunodeficiency virus—type 1 (HIV‐1) activity

Abstract: Of 30 Indonesian plant extracts tested for their human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) inhibitory activities, six were shown to be effective by assays using HIV-1-infected MT-4 cells: a methanol extract of mahoni (bark of Swietenia mahagoni) and water extracts of benalu teh (stems and branches of Loranthus parasiticus), kiules (fruit of Helicteres isora), supratul (fruits of Sindora sumatrana), sambiloto (leaves of Andrographis paniculata) and temu ireng (rhizoma of Curcuma aeruginosa). Their ED50 values ranged from 4.2 to 175 μg/mL. The samples also suppressed the formation of syncytia in co-cultures of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-1 cells. The most potent inhibitor was a methanol extract of mahoni, which also showed a significant inhibition of HIV-1 protease.

Inhibitory Effect of Tachyplesin I on the Proliferation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in vitro

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide, tachyplesin I, isolated from hemocytes of the Japanese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) was examined for its inhibitory effects on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in vitro. At a concentration of 7.5 micrograms/ml, tachyplesin I suppressed the development of cytopathic effects (CPE) by more than 70% in MT-4 cells infected with HIV (lymphadenopathy-associated virus). This inhibitory effect was observed only when the drug was added during the adsorption period of the virus to the cells. In cocultures of MOLT-4 and persistently HIV-infected cells (MOLT-4/HIV), tachyplesin I at the same concentration completely inhibited multinucleated giant cell formation. Infectivity of HIV was reduced by 10(-2.5) in medium free from fetal calf serum containing tachyplesin I at a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml. Tachyplesin I did not show any inhibitory effect on reverse transcriptase activity of HIV at concentrations of 9-80 micrograms/ml at which tachyplesin I inhibited HIV infection. These results suggest that the anti-HIV action of tachyplesin I was due to the inhibition of virus adsorption.

Boromycin, an Anti-HIV Antibiotic

Abstract: The polyether-macrolide antibiotic, boromycin, was isolated as a potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibiotic from a fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. A-3376. Boromycin was found to strongly inhibit the replication of the clinically isolated HIV-1 strain as well as the cultured strain in in vitro laboratory experiments. The mechanism for the anti-HIV activity of boromycin is suggested to involve blocking the later stage of HIV infection, and probably the maturity step for replication of the HIV molecule.

Natural Products as Sources of New Drugs from 1981 to 2014

Abstract: This contribution is a completely updated and expanded version of the four prior analogous reviews that were published in this journal in 1997, 2003, 2007, and 2012. In the case of all approved therapeutic agents, the time frame has been extended to cover the 34 years from January 1, 1981, to December 31, 2014, for all diseases worldwide, and from 1950 (earliest so far identified) to December 2014 for all approved antitumor drugs worldwide. As mentioned in the 2012 review, we have continued to utilize our secondary subdivision of a “natural product mimic”, or “NM”, to join the original primary divisions and the designation “natural product botanical”, or “NB”, to cover those botanical “defined mixtures” now recognized as drug entities by the U.S. FDA (and similar organizations). From the data presented in this review, the utilization of natural products and/or their novel structures, in order to discover and develop the final drug entity, is still alive and well. For example, in the area of cancer, over t...

THE HEME OXYGENASE SYSTEM:A Regulator of Second Messenger Gases

Abstract: The heme oxygenase (HO) system consists of two forms identified to date: the oxidative stress-inducible protein HO-1 (HSP32) and the constitutive isozyme HO-2. These proteins, which are different gene products, have little in common in primary structure, regulation, or tissue distribution. Both, however, catalyze oxidation of heme to biologically active molecules: iron, a gene regulator; biliverdin, an antioxidant; and carbon monoxide, a heme ligand. Finding the impressive heme-degrading activity of brain led to the suggestion that "HO in brain has functions aside from heme degradation" and to subsequent exploration of carbon monoxide as a promising and potentially significant messenger molecule. There is much parallelism between the biological actions and functions of the CO- and NO-generating systems; and their regulation is intimately linked. This review highlights the current information on molecular and biochemical properties of HO-1 and HO-2 and addresses the possible mechanisms for mutual regulatory interactions between the CO- and NO-generating systems.

Peptide Antimicrobial Agents

Abstract: Antimicrobial host defense peptides are produced by all complex organisms as well as some microbes and have diverse and complex antimicrobial activities. Collectively these peptides demonstrate a broad range of antiviral and antibacterial activities and modes of action, and it is important to distinguish between direct microbicidal and indirect activities against such pathogens. The structural requirements of peptides for antiviral and antibacterial activities are evaluated in light of the diverse set of primary and secondary structures described for host defense peptides. Peptides with antifungal and antiparasitic activities are discussed in less detail, although the broad-spectrum activities of such peptides indicate that they are important host defense molecules. Knowledge regarding the relationship between peptide structure and function as well as their mechanism of action is being applied in the design of antimicrobial peptide variants as potential novel therapeutic agents.