News
Discovery of new cannabinoid in sweet violet plants
Cannabinoids are endogenous hormones or naturally occurring molecules found in various plants, most commonly known as THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in cannabis plants. The therapeutic potential of these compounds is the subject of intensive research, yet their psychoactive and addictive properties stimulate intensive debate. A research team led by Christian Gruber from MedUni Vienna has discovered a new phytocannabinoid in sweet violet plants (Viola odorata). The peptide interacts with a specific receptor that does not trigger psychoactive effects and, due to its molecular properties, could spark the research and development of novel drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, pain or chronic inflammation. The results of the study were recently published in the "Journal of Biological Chemistry".
New approach to drug discovery: pain medication with fewer side effects developed
People with chronic pain are often dependent on drugs from the class of opioids with sometimes considerable side effects. Accordingly, in recent years the search for safer alternatives has been the focus in drug discovery. As part of an international study led by MedUni Vienna, an opioid-like molecule has now been developed which, as shown in animal models, can effectively alleviate pain but with fewer undesirable side effects. The researchers developed a computer-assisted workflow that holds enormous potential for improving the search for drug-like substances and thus drug therapies, also for other diseases. The study was recently published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.
Sunflower peptide as "template" for potential analgesic
A naturally occurring peptide in sunflower seeds was synthetically optimised and has now been identified as a potential drug for treating abdominal pain or inflammation (in the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal area and/or internal organs). That is the finding of an international study led by Christian Gruber from MedUni Vienna's Institute of Pharmacology (Center for Physiology and Pharmacology), which was conducted jointly with the University of Queensland and Flinders University in Australia and has now been published.
New insights into the complex neurochemistry of ants
Ants’ brains are amazingly sophisticated organs that enable them to coordinate complex behaviour patterns such as the organisation of colonies. Now, a group of researchers led by Christian Gruber of MedUni Vienna's Institute of Pharmacology have developed a method that allows them to study ants’ brain chemistry and gain insights into the insects’ neurobiological processes. The findings could help to explain the evolution of social behaviour in the animal kingdom, and shed light on the biochemistry of certain hormone systems that have developed similarly in both ants and humans. For the study, the researchers used a combination of high-resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and micro-computed tomography (µCT) to map the three-dimensional distribution of neuropeptides in the brains of two ant species: the leafcutter ant (Atta sexdens) and the black garden ant (Lasius niger).
Using Nature's strategies in the development of new drugs
Dimerization (Note: combination of two identical or different molecules) of the human neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin can produce new types of bioactive molecules. In a recent study, an international research team led by MedUni Vienna and the University of Vienna demonstrated that dimerized and therefore significantly larger versions of oxytocin and vasopressin are still able to activate their receptors. Such new constructs provide several opportunities to optimize the efficacy of these neuropeptides for therapeutic application. The researchers were inspired for this approach from naturally occurring dimers. The results have been published in the journal "Chemical Science".
