Thiohydantins
At present, little is known about the class of phytochemicals known as thiohydantins. This is a sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compound, of which seventeen types were identified by 2018 (1). This moiety has been claimed to be neuroprotective, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, and antithyroidal and has hypolipidemic properties (1–3). In 2021, Zhang et al. identified five additional thiohydantoin derivatives from the rhizomes of Lepidium meyenii that displayed some neuroprotective activity in cell studies (4). Following this study in 2022, three additional derivatives were also identified and evaluated for their cytotoxicity effects on human cancer cells (5). Further, one in vitro study noted three active thiadiazole alklaoids from purple maca provided antiviral activity as demonstrated by the inhibition of HIV-1 infection (6).
Author: Kim Ross DCN
Reviewer: Mona Fahoum, ND
Last Updated: December 17, 2024
References
1. Huang YJ, Peng XR, Qiu MH. Progress on the Chemical Constituents Derived from Glucosinolates in Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Vol. 8, Natural Products and Bioprospecting. 2018.
2. Peng XR, Zhang RR, Liu JH, Li ZR, Zhou L, Qiu MH. Lepithiohydimerins A—D: Four Pairs of Neuroprotective Thiohydantoin Dimers Bearing a Disulfide Bond from Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.). Chin J Chem. 2021;39(10).
3. Yu MY, Qin XJ, Peng XR, Wang X, Tian XX, Li ZR, et al. Macathiohydantoins B–K, novel thiohydantoin derivatives from Lepidium meyenii. Tetrahedron. 2017;73(30).
4. Zhang R, Liu J, Yan H, Peng X, Zhang L, Qiu M. Macathiohydantoin L, a novel thiohydantoin bearing a thioxohexahydroimidazo [1,5-a] pyridine moiety from maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.). Molecules. 2021;26(16).
5. Geng HC, Wang XS, Liao YJ, Qiu SY, Fang HX, Chen XL, et al. Macathiohydantoins P–R, three new thiohydantoin derivatives from Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Phytochem Lett. 2022;51.
6. Apaza-Ticona L, Beltrán M, Moraga E, Cossio D, Bermejo P, Guerra JA, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) inhibits HIV-1 infection through the activity of thiadiazole alkaloids in viral integration. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Dec;335:118613.