Author
Simon Gibbons
Other affiliations: Fudan University, University College London, University of London
Bio: Simon Gibbons is an academic researcher from University of East Anglia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Efflux & Multiple drug resistance. The author has an hindex of 49, co-authored 213 publications receiving 9214 citations. Previous affiliations of Simon Gibbons include Fudan University & University College London.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: The activities described here show that there are many potential new classes of anti-staphylococcal agents which should undergo further cytotoxicity, microbial specificity and preclinical in vivo studies to assess their potential.
495 citations
TL;DR: The use of bacterial resistance modifiers such as EPIs could facilitate the re-introduction of therapeutically ineffective antibiotics back into clinical use such as ciprofloxacin and might even suppress the emergence of MDR strains.
Abstract: The rapid spread of bacteria expressing multidrug resistance (MDR) has necessitated the discovery of new antibacterials and resistance-modifying agents. Since the initial discovery of bacterial efflux pumps in the 1980s, many have been characterized in community- and hospital-acquired Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and, more recently, in mycobacteria. Efflux pumps are able to extrude structurally diverse compounds, including antibiotics used in a clinical setting; the latter are rendered therapeutically ineffective. Antibiotic resistance can develop rapidly through changes in the expression of efflux pumps, including changes to some antibiotics considered to be drugs of last resort. It is therefore imperative that new antibiotics, resistance-modifying agents and, more specifically, efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) are characterized. The use of bacterial resistance modifiers such as EPIs could facilitate the re-introduction of therapeutically ineffective antibiotics back into clinical use such as ciprofloxacin and might even suppress the emergence of MDR strains. Here we review the literature on bacterial EPIs derived from natural sources, primarily those from plants. The resistance-modifying activities of many new chemical classes of EPIs warrant further studies to assess their potential as leads for clinical development.
486 citations
Book•
19 Jan 2004
TL;DR: Part A: Fundamentals of Pharmacology: Phytotherapy and Pharmacognosy shows importance in modern pharmacy and medicine and important natural products and Phytomedicines used in Pharmacy and Medicine.
Abstract: Part A: Fundamentals of Pharmacology Section 1. Phytotherapy and Pharmacognosy 1. Importance in modern pharmacy and medicine 2. Pharmacognosy and its history: people, plants and natural products Section 2. Basic plant biology 3. General principles of botany: morphology and systematics 4. Families yielding important phytopharmaceuticals 5. Ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology Section 3. Natural product chemistry 6. Natural products chemistry 7. Principles of natural product chemistry and separation 8. Anticancer natural products Section 4. Plant extract derived pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals 9. Production, standardisation and quality control 10. Characteristics of phytomedicines Section 5. Medicinal Plants in selected other health care systems 11. Traditional systems of herbal medicine 12. Complementary/alternative medicine Part B: Important Natural Products and Phytomedicines used in Pharmacy and Medicine 13. The gastrointestinal and biliary system 14. The Cardiovascular system 15. The respiratory system 16. The central nervous system 17. Infectious diseases 18. The endocrine system 19. The reproductive and urinary tracts 20. The musculoskeletal system 21. The skin 22. The eye 23. Ear, nose and orthopharynx 24. Miscellaneous supportive therapies for stress, ageing, cancer and debility
389 citations
TL;DR: As part of a project to characterise plant-derived natural products that modulate bacterial multidrug resistance (MDR), bioassay-guided fractionation of a chloroform extract of the aerial parts of Rosmarinus officinalis led to the characterisation of the known abietane diterpenes carnosic acid, carnosol and 12-methoxy-trans-carnosic Acid.
375 citations
TL;DR: Evidence from preclinical studies supports some of the traditional and modern uses for echinacea, particularly the reputed immunostimulant (or immunomodulatory) properties, but evidence of efficacy is not definitive as studies have included different patient groups and tested various different preparations and dosage regimens.
Abstract: This paper reviews the chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties of Echinacea species used medicinally. The Echinacea species Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea have a long history of medicinal use for a variety of conditions, particularly infections, and today echinacea products are among the best-selling herbal preparations in several developed countries. Modern interest in echinacea is focused on its immunomodulatory effects, particularly in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. The chemistry of Echinacea species is well documented, and several groups of constituents, including alkamides and caffeic acid derivatives, are considered important for activity. There are, however, differences in the constituent profile of the three species. Commercial echinacea samples and marketed echinacea products may contain one or more of the three species, and analysis of samples of raw material and products has shown that some do not meet recognized standards for pharmaceutical quality. Evidence from preclinical studies supports some of the traditional and modern uses for echinacea, particularly the reputed immunostimulant (or immunomodulatory) properties. Several, but not all, clinical trials of echinacea preparations have reported effects superior to those of placebo in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. However, evidence of efficacy is not definitive as studies have included different patient groups and tested various different preparations and dosage regimens of echinacea. On the basis of the available limited safety data, echinacea appears to be well tolerated. However, further investigation and surveillance are required to establish the safety profiles of different echinacea preparations. Safety issues include the possibility of allergic reactions, the use of echinacea by patients with autoimmune diseases and the potential for echinacea preparations to interact with conventional medicines.
373 citations
Cited by
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TL;DR: This review covers the literature published in 2014 for marine natural products, with 1116 citations referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms.
4,649 citations
TL;DR: This Review gives answers from a chemical perspective, summarizes the state of the art, and highlights the most significant advances in the field of polyphenol research.
Abstract: Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day! This is what is highly recommended and heavily advertised nowadays to the general public to stay fit and healthy! Drinking green tea on a regular basis, eating chocolate from time to time, as well as savoring a couple of glasses of red wine per day have been claimed to increase life expectancy even further! Why? The answer is in fact still under scientific scrutiny, but a particular class of compounds naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables is considered to be crucial for the expression of such human health benefits: the polyphenols! What are these plant products really? What are their physicochemical properties? How do they express their biological activity? Are they really valuable for disease prevention? Can they be used to develop new pharmaceutical drugs? What recent progress has been made toward their preparation by organic synthesis? This Review gives answers from a chemical perspective, summarizes the state of the art, and highlights the most significant advances in the field of polyphenol research.
1,902 citations
TL;DR: An overview of the classes of molecules present in plants is provided and some examples of the types of molecules and secondary metabolites that have led to the development of these pharmacologically active extracts are given.
1,899 citations
TL;DR: While the intrinsic complexity of natural product-based drug discovery necessitates highly integrated interdisciplinary approaches, the reviewed scientific developments, recent technological advances, and research trends clearly indicate that natural products will be among the most important sources of new drugs in the future.
1,760 citations
TL;DR: The past, present and future of medicinal plants are analyzed, both as potential antimicrobial crude drugs as well as a source for natural compounds that act as new anti-infection agents.
1,665 citations