Macau University of Science and Technology

Yuen Kwan Law

Kam Wai Wong

Liang Liu

Jingrong Wang

Thomas Efferth

Man Chung Wong

Sami Hamdoun

Cong Ling Qiu

Zeng Wu

Onat Kadioglu

An Guo Wu

An Gao Wu

Su-Wei Xu

A method for treating a subject suffering from refractory rheumatoid arthritis includes the step of administering an effective amount of a quinonemethide triterpenoid or a pharmaceutically tolerable salt, solvate or anhydrate thereof to the subject. Also is a method for inducing autophagy in a synovial fibroblast, and a method of inducing calcium mobilization in a synovial fibroblast. Further a pharmaceutical composition includes an effective dose of a quinonemethide triterpenoid and an anti-arthritis compound. The quinonemethide triterpenoid is suitable to treat refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in particular ABC-protein-dependent RA and apoptosis-deficient RA. The quinonemethide triterpenoid also possesses significant inhibitory effects on the growth of synovial fibroblasts, in particular modulating the calcium homeostasis in multidrug-resistant rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts.

Method of treating refractory rheumatoid arthritis associated with p53 mutation

A method for treating a subject suffering from a neurodegenerative disease includes administering at least one triterpenoid which can be obtained from. A method for treating a subject suffering from a neurodegenerative disease includes administering an effective amount of aextract which comprises the triterpenoid. The neurodegenerative disease is preferably but not exclusively Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease. Methods for extracting the triterpenoid fromand a method for inducing autophagy in cells by contacting them with the triterpenoid are also provided. The triterpenoid allows an exceptional induction of autophagy, in particular a significant reduction of the protein level of mutant huntingtin, a significant reduction of the protein level of A53T &#x3b1;-synuclein, a significant inhibition of the oligomerization of &#x3b1;-synuclein and a significant inhibition of the inclusion formation of huntingtin via the AMPK-mTOR dependent autophagy inducing pathway.

Triterpenoid obtainable from hedera helix for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

A method for inhibiting the expression and/or functional activity of an ABC transporter protein in a subject suffering from a disorder associated with an overexpression of the ABC transporter protein includes administrating a cobalt-polypyridyl complex to the subject. A method for inhibiting the expression and/or functional activity of an ABC transporter in cells includes contacting the cells with an effective amount of the cobalt-polypyridyl complex.

Method for inhibiting the expression of ABC transporter protein

A quinonemethide triterpenoid is administered to subjects with multidrug-resistant cancer, in particular a cancer with enhanced expression and/or functional activity of ABC transporter proteins such as P-glycoprotein and/or an apoptosis-deficient, in particular p53-, Bax- or Bak-deficient, cancer, i.e. specific subgroups of subjects with cancer. The quinonemethide triterpenoid is suitable to treat cancer allowing for an accumulation of cytotoxic or therapeutic compounds in the cells while having exceptionally increased cytotoxic activity towards the multidrug-resistant cancer cells and while allowing for an increased activity of chemotherapeutic compounds. Methods for specifically targeting cancer cells with multidrug-resistance and methods for potentiating the activity of a chemotherapeutic compound in those cancer cells are also disclosed. A kit including a quinonemethide triterpenoid and a chemotherapeutic compound is also provided.

Treatment of subjects with multidrug-resistant cancer

Prenylated isoflavones are suitable to specifically inhibit P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant cancer cells leading to an accumulation of cytotoxic compounds or therapeutic compounds in the cells while having exceptionally increased cytotoxic activity specifically towards multidrug-resistant cancer cells and while allowing for an increased activity of chemotherapeutic compounds towards which the cells are resistant. Also in accordance with the present invention is a method for specifically targeting cancer cells with multidrug-resistance as well as a method of potentiating the activity of a chemotherapeutic compound in multidrug-resistant cancer cells. In a further aspect, a kit including a prenylated isoflavone and a chemotherapeutic compound is provided.

Prenylated isoflavones for treatment of subjects with multidrug-resistant cancer

The present invention discloses a method of treating cancer and/or multidrug-resistant cancer, comprising administering an effective amount of hernandezine or thalidezine. A pharmaceutical composition comprising hernandezine or thalidezine admixed with a pharmaceutical carrier for treating cancers and/or multidrug-resistant cancer is also disclosed.

Identification of natural small-molecules AMPK activators for treatment of cancers or multidrug-resistant cancers

The present invention discloses a method of treating cancer comprising administering an effective amount of an alkaloid, in which the alkaloid is liensinine, isoliensinine, dauricine, cepharanthine, hernandezine or thalidezine and isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The use of the alkaloid in treating neurodegenerative disorder is also disclosed.

Group of alkaloids, the novel autophagic enhancers for treatment of cancers and neurodegenerative conditions thereof

The present invention discloses a method of treating neurodegenerative disorder comprising administering an effective amount of an alkaloid which is a bisbenzylisoquinline alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb. The pharmaceutical composition thereof for treating Huntington's disease is also disclosed.

Neferine and the use thereof in treating huntington disease

Use and application of Onjisaponin B derived and isolated from Radix Polygalae as novel autophagy enhancer are provided. A method of preventing, treating and/or delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases comprising administering an effective amount of Onjisaponin B is also provided.

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Macau, China

Yuen Kwan Law