Thioridazine: resurrection as an antimicrobial agent?

The emergence of multiresistant bacterial strains and the continuing burden of infectious disease globally point to the urgent need for novel affordable antimicrobial drugs. Thioridazine is a phenothiazine antipsychotic drug with well-recognized antimicrobial activity, but this property has not been harnessed for clinical use as a result of its central nervous system and cardiac side-effects. The cardiotoxicity of thioridazine has recently been shown to be structurally specific at a molecular level, whereas its antimicrobial properties are shared by a number of phenothiazine analogues. This raises the possibility that its enantiomers or its inactive metabolite, the ring sulphoxide, may act as a lead compound in the future development of antimicrobial drugs to face the new challenges in infectious disease

Phytotherapy in Inflammatory Lung Diseases: An Emerging Therapeutic Interventional Approach

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are the most common inflammatory respiratory diseases related to an increase in mortality and morbidity. Generally, bronchodilators, ß- agonists, anticholinergics and theophylline used for treatment in these conditions and administered by inhalation for delivery, have localized and systematic effects. The adverse effects are due to pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic changes and especially drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. However, phytotherapy is classical and widespread throughout the world for the treatment of ailments. This chapter highlights cellular and molecular mediators involved in COPD and asthma, the shortcomings of current therapies and the emerging need of phytomedicines. Phytomedicine supports respiratory physiology, bronchial action and possesses antioxidants to maintain homeostasis