Photochemistry, the use of light to promote organic transformations, has been known for more than a century but only recently has revolutionized the way modern chemists are thinking. Except from transition metal-based complexes, small organic molecules have been introduced as catalysts or initiators. In this review, we summarize the potential that (aromatic or aliphatic) aldehydes have as photoinitiators. The photophysical properties and photoreactivity of benzaldehyde are initially provided, followed by applications of aldehydes as initiators for polymerization reactions. Finally, the applications to date regarding aldehydes as photoinitiators in organic synthesis are presented.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that play an essential role in the onset and progression of cancer. As a consequence, a variety of HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) have been developed as potent anticancer agents, several of which have been approved by the FDA for cancer treatment. However, recent accumulated research results have suggested that HDACs are also involved in several other pathophysiological conditions, such as fibrotic, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. Very recently, the HDAC inhibitor givinostat has been approved by the FDA for an indication beyond cancer: the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In recent years, more and more HDACis have been developed as tools to understand the role that HDACs play in various disorders and as a novel therapeutic approach to fight various diseases other than cancer. In the present perspective article, we discuss the development and study of HDACis as anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory agents, covering the period from 2020–2024. We envision that the discovery of selective inhibitors targeting specific HDAC isozymes will allow the elucidation of the role of HDACs in various pathological processes and will lead to the development of promising treatments for such diseases.

Plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs) are plant-based fluid products that are marketed as substitutes for regular milk. The nutrient composition of PBMA products can vary widely, depending on the plant source, processing methods, potential additives, etc., and in recent years, considerable research effort has been devoted to the exploration of the nutritional content of PBMAs, which are increasingly consumed worldwide. In the present study, an established UHPLC–Orbitrap MS method was employed for the extensive characterization of phenolic compounds in PBMAs available in the Greek market. Twenty-eight PBMAs were studied, including a variety of almond-, soy-, coconut-, oat-, walnut-, and rice-based products. In almond-based milk products, low total concentrations and a broad distribution across compound classes were observed, with trans-chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid being the most abundant constituents, whereas coconut-based milk samples were generally not rich in phenolic compounds. In soy-based milk samples, the presence of isoflavones including daidzein, genistein, and glycitein was uniquely detected, while oat-based products were the samples richer in phenolic content, in particular for hydroxycinnamic acids, such as trans-chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid. In addition, a suspect screening approach, using Exactive Plus Orbitrap, enabled the exploration and semi-quantification of three avenanthramides (A, B, C) in the studied oat-based milk samples and six isoflavonoids, namely daidzein and genistein derivatives, in soy-based milk. Such compounds are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and their occurrence in PBMAs highlights the potential health-promoting effects of these dairy alternatives.

The development of novel agents to combat COVID-19 is of high importance. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^pro) is a highly attractive target for the development of novel antivirals and a variety of inhibitors have already been developed. Accumulating evidence on the pathobiology of COVID-19 has shown that lipids and lipid metabolizing enzymes are critically involved in the severity of the infection. The purpose of the present study was to identify an inhibitor able to simultaneously inhibit both SARS-CoV-2 M^pro and phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), an enzyme which plays a significant role in inflammatory diseases. Evaluating several PLA₂ inhibitors, we demonstrate that the previously known potent inhibitor of Group IIA secretory PLA₂, GK241, may also weakly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. Molecular mechanics docking and molecular dynamics calculations shed light on the interactions between GK241 and SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. 2-Oxoamide GK241 may represent a lead molecular structure for the development of dual PLA₂ and SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitors.

The quest for novel agents to regulate the generation of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) is of high importance because this eicosanoid is a key player in inflammatory diseases. We synthesized a series of N-acylated and N-alkylated 2-aminobenzothiazoles and related heterocycles (benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles) and evaluated their ability to suppress the cytokine-stimulated generation of PGE₂ in rat mesangial cells. 2-Aminobenzothiazoles, either acylated by the 3-(naphthalen-2-yl)propanoyl moiety (GK510) or N-alkylated by a chain carrying a naphthalene (GK543) or a phenyl moiety (GK562) at a distance of three carbon atoms, stand out in inhibiting PGE₂ generation, with EC₅₀ values ranging from 118 nM to 177 nM. Both GK510 and GK543 exhibit in vivo anti-inflammatory activity greater than that of indomethacin. Thus, N-acylated or N-alkylated 2-aminobenzothiazoles are novel leads for the regulation of PGE₂ formation.