Synlett 2015; 26(19): 2633-2643
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1560638
account
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Natural Products Containing Hydrogen Sulfide Releasing Moieties

Michael D. Pluth*
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA   Email: pluth@uoregon.edu
,
T. Spencer Bailey
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA   Email: pluth@uoregon.edu
,
Matthew D. Hammers
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA   Email: pluth@uoregon.edu
,
Matthew D. Hartle
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA   Email: pluth@uoregon.edu
,
Hillary A. Henthorn
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA   Email: pluth@uoregon.edu
,
Andrea K. Steiger
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA   Email: pluth@uoregon.edu
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 06 July 2015

Accepted after revision: 04 September 2015

Publication Date:
22 October 2015 (online)


Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is now recognized as an important biological molecule that plays diverse roles in various (patho)physiological conditions. Endogenous H2S, or its misregulation, has been associated with a variety of aspects of human health, including diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, inflammation, neurodegeneration, sepsis, and asthma. Motivated by the potential use of H2S-donating molecules as both investigative and therapeutic tools, researchers are developing new types of slow-releasing H2S donor molecules that mimic the slow, continuous H2S release characteristic of enzymatic production. In addition to synthetic H2S donors, many natural products contain functional groups well known to release sulfide. Here we provide an overview of natural products that contain such functional groups, with an emphasis on organic polysulfides, to highlight the diversity of these structures and also to outline possible areas of future research on pharmacologically relevant H2S donors derived from natural products.

1 Introduction

2 Polysulfide-Containing Natural Products

2.1 Linear Polysulfides

2.2 Cyclic Polysulfides

2.3 Epidithiodioxopiperazines

2.4 Enediyne-Containing Trisulfides

3 Leinamycin

4 Other Disulfides and Thiols Implicated in Hydrogen Sulfide Generation

5 Conclusions and Prospects