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Marine alkaloids in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis (OSTEONOR)

Osteoporosis (OP) is a highly prevalent disease among individuals over 50 years of age. The predicted increase in life expectancy in Europe and the aging population associated with this phenomenon necessitate the development of new treatments to combat this disease. Marine organisms are a very interesting source of novel molecules with unique structural characteristics and bioactivities. In this regard, norzoantamine, an alkaloid isolated from Zoanthus sp. (Punta del Hidalgo, Tenerife), exhibits interesting anti-osteoporotic activity, which it exerts by protecting certain skeletal proteins involved in bone tissue development, such as collagen. In this project, we aim to verify that norzoantamine can be effective in protecting against the bone deterioration characteristic of osteoporosis and to establish its mechanism of action. This would establish the necessary structural basis for proposing the rational design of new, simplified molecules with improved characteristics that could be used in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and other related pathologies, such as tendon and ligament degeneration in joint injuries.

Researcher at the University of La Laguna

  • Information
  • Category: Other entities
  • Program: CajaCanarias Foundation 2015
  • Start date: 03/01/2016
  • End date: pending definition