Sesquiterpene Lactones - Advances in their Chemistry and Biological Aspects

This book addresses chemical and biological aspects related to sesquiterpene lactones (STLs). Experts in different fields have been invited to contribute on this class of compound's chemistry, isolation and identification, biological activities (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitrypanosomal, antileishmanial,antiplasmodial, antiproliferative and antiinflammatory), synthesis, biosynthesis, derivatization and QSAR analysis. Taxonomic and chemotaxonomic aspects related to the Asteraceae family are also contributed.
The book begins by describing the chemical characteristics of STLs, their classification in different skeleton types, synthesis, distribution in nature and their most important biological properties. An overview of the group's main representatives, based on their importance for human health, as well as an update of the most recently isolated STLs, follow. The authors also provide an overview of the most common methods described in the literature for the extraction, purification, identification and structure elucidation of STLs, while also highlighting more recently developed methods.
Furthermore, experts in the field provide an in-depth discussion of the most commonly employed in vitro and in vivo antiprotozoal assays against the different stages of parasites, as well as STLs' properties as anticancer agents in numerous cancer cell lines and animal models. Lastly, the book presents examples of the in vitro and in vivo activity of STLs and their mechanism of antiprotozoal action, together with an analysis of ultrastructural alterations, observed using TEM techniques.
The book is aimed at scientists working on natural products: both those investigating this particular group of compounds and those who wish to further explore its potential as new drugs for medical conditions such as protozoal diseases and cancer.

Prof. Dr. Valeria P. Sülsen: Valeria P. Sülsen has a Pharmacy B.Sc. (1998) and Ph.D. (2009) from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She got a Posdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Institute of Chemistry and Metabolism of Drugs (IQUIMEFA), University of Buenos Aires - National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, she received the 'Felix de Azara' Award for the best work on flora and fauna of Argentina (Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the Award for the Best Thesis (Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina), in 2009. Nowadays she is a Researcher of The National Scientific and Technical Research Council working at Institute of Chemistry and Metabolism of Drugs (IQUIMEFA) - University of Buenos Aires and member of the research network Natural Products against Neglected Diseases (NPND). She is Assistant Professor of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her main expertise areas are pharmacognosy and antiprotozoal natural products.
Prof. Dr. Virginia S. Martino: She has a Pharmacy B.Sc. (1970) and Ph.D. (1983) from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Specialist in Policy and Management of Science and Technology (2011). She joined the National Scientific and Technical Research Council in 1982 working at the Institute of Chemistry and Metabolism of Drugs (IQUIMEFA) - Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry-University of Buenos Aires. She is member of the National Academy of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (Argentina).  Awards received: 'Felix de Azara' (Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) (1984, 1989, 2011); Dr. Bernardo Houssay (2003)(CEDIQUIFA); Dr. Alfredo Bandoni (1993) (National Academy of Pharmacy and Biochemistry). She was Head Professor of Pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires between 2005 and 2014.