medicinal-chemistry

Scientists have uncovered a surprising new layer of complexity in Cannabis, identifying dozens of previously unknown compounds—including the first-ever evidence of rare molecules called flavoalkaloids in its leaves. These compounds, prized for their potential health benefits, were hidden among a rich mix of plant chemicals that vary dramatically even between just a few strains.

Benznidazole (1) remains the primary antiparasitic drug used clinically for Chagas disease, underscoring the need to discover novel treatments targeting Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection. In this sense, the present work reports the in silico design of a novel hybrid (3) containing the 5-nitroimidazole core from the commercial antiparasitic drug metronidazole (2) and the N-benzylacetamide moi…

IntroductionFive new quinazoline-sulfonamide hybrids 4a (MZ-13), 4b (MZ-20), 4c (MZ-25), 4d (MZ-26), and 6a (MZ-29) were designed, synthesized, and investigated for their in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activities.MethodsThe in vivo screening was conducted in a mouse model of type II diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ), using glibenclamide as the positive control. The in vitro model was pe…

Tufts University researchers are using AI and machine learning to more quickly identify potential narrow-spectrum antibiotics to prevent and treat Lyme disease, thanks to a generous gift from an alumnus that sped up their timeline by two to three years.

The heterocyclic compound is one of the finest spanned backbones for developing most innovative agents in the pharmaceutical industry. These adaptable molecules have played an important role in the discovery of therapeutic agents of a wide range, including antibiotics, anticancer drugs and antivirals. The role of heterocyclic chemistry in pharmaceutical innovation is thus one that extends beyond …

A practical Journal of Medicinal Chemistry submission guide for medicinal-chemistry researchers evaluating their work against the journal's drug-discovery bar.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 24 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02100-1 The formation of functional linkages through click reactions is rare, and existing catalytic options do not provide a cleavable connector. Now a Cu(I)-catalysed click reaction (CuAKA) has been developed that is mutually orthogonal to CuAAC, operates in aqueous media and forms linkages that can be cleaved in <100 µM …

MCADDI — Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery & Development India, is a six-day in-person program presenting the complete drug discovery and development pipeline to researchers, students, and professionals working in or transitioning into the life sciences industry. The program has been conducted since 2015 in collaboration with the American Chemical Society and IUPAC. Past editions have been held…

A traditional medicinal plant, tormentil, shows promise against antibiotic-resistant bacteria in laboratory tests. Its compounds work by limiting bacterial growth and boosting antibiotic performance. Before the development of modern antibiotics, plant-based remedies were commonly used to treat infections. One such plant is tormentil (Potentilla erecta), a small yellow wildflower found across Irel…

Phosphoethanolamine (pETN), an endogenous metabolite in the Kennedy pathway for membrane phospholipid synthesis, can be chemically synthesized and exemplifies translational pharmacology through its journey from basic biochemistry to clinical application. Initially recognized for phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis via PCYT2-mediated conversion, pETN gained clinical attention following reports o…

American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Published online: 22 April 2026; doi:10.3844/ajbbsp.2026.22.01.014 The threat of antimicrobial resistance has resulted in the need to search for alternative cures from medicinal plants. This review examines the relevance and suitability of using the carbon dioxide ex...