Biodiversity and natural product drug discovery (original) (raw)

Cytotoxic activity screening of some indigenous Thai plants

Fitoterapia, 2008

The 50% ethanolic extracts from 14 plant species used in Thai traditional folklore were screened for cytotoxic activity against a malignant human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line and a normal African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell line. The extracts of Polyalthia evecta and Erythroxylum cuneatum showed potent anticancer activity in the HepG2 cell line with IC 50 of 70 ± 3 µg/ml and 64 ± 4 µg/ml, respectively. P. evecta demonstrated more selectivity to the HepG2 than the Vero cell (selectivity index N 14.3) indicating its potential for biopharmaceutical use.

Promising Updates in Biodiversity as Anti-cancer drugs: A short review

Owing to the modern life style cancer is a major disease of the modern society. Though lot therapies are there to control cancer, drug based control is considered as a major control measure. The biochemicals isolated from the natural organisms are of immense value as these products have fewer side effects. The action of the biochemical is majorly by intercalation or the groove binding to DNA and regulating the uncontrolled proliferation of tumor by chromosomal breakage or cytolysis. The phyto-chemicals are promising candidates a have diverse type of secondary metabolites, some of which are proved to be efficient drugs in cancer therapy. Another source of cancer drugs are the marine biodiversity, ranging from bacteria to Mollusca. These organisms also develop secondary metabolites for self defense and predation, which is gaining wide attention presently. The current review seeks the advancements of cancer therapy in this context.

Novel strategies for the discovery of plant-derived anticancer agents

Pure and Applied Chemistry, 1999

Several plant secondary metabolites or their semisynthetic derivatives are used clinically as cancer chemotherapeutic agents. In this review, a multidisciplinary collaborative research program focused on the discovery of novel anticancer agents from tropical rainforest plants is described. This team approach has integrated aspects of botany, biology, and chemistry. Examples are presented of active compounds isolated and biologically evaluated in recent work in this project.

Back to Nature : Discovery and Development of New Drug from Plants

Euis Sipatur Rohmah, 2023

The development and manufacture of new drugs is a process that requires a long time and is expensive. Indonesia is a country rich in natural resources, there are around 30,000 types of plants and 7,000 of them are believed to have properties that have been used for generations, such as cat's whiskers, brotowali, noni, tamarind, Javanese chilies, and many more. The use of traditional medicines derived from plants is recognized as one way to learn about potential medicines of the future.

Chemical prospecting of medicinal plants for drug discovery

2010

There is no island that can exist without the support of other living and non living things therefore I am most grateful to all for making this study a success: • My God, for His mercies that endures forever. Lord you have highly favored me from my birth till date and l can't but live for you all the days of my life.

Natural products as reservoirs of novel therapeutic agents

EXCLI journal, 2018

Since ancient times, natural products from plants, animals, microbial and marine sources have been exploited for treatment of several diseases. The knowledge of our ancestors is the base of modern drug discovery process. However, due to the presence of extensive biodiversity in natural sources, the percentage of secondary metabolites screened for bioactivity is low. This review aims to provide a brief overview of historically significant natural therapeutic agents along with some current potential drug candidates. It will also provide an insight into pros and cons of natural product discovery and how development of recent approaches has answered the challenges associated with it.

Investigation of some bioactive Thai medicinal plants

Phytochemistry Reviews, 2002

It has been estimated that plants are the most important source of medicine for more than 80% of the world's population. Medicinal plants are a vital source of medication in developing countries. Despite the wealth of human experience and folklore concerning the medicinal uses of plants, proper scientific investigation has only been applied to a small fraction of the world's plants. This is a cause of grave concern as plant species continue to disappear. A rapid response to this situation is urgently needed to prevent the disappearance of the plant species and the ethnopharmacological knowledge that accompanies them. In this review, recent work on the investigation of selected bioactive Thai medicinal plants is presented. Their biological activities against infectious diseases including antimalarial and anti-HIV, are highlighted, as well as their anticancer, antiulcer and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical transformations of some selected compounds are discussed.