Biological Activity of Natural Products Related to Stereochemistry

Biological Activity of Natural Products Related to Stereochemistry [Pg.83]

In the drug discovery process only the naturally available stereoisomer of a natural product is generally tested and promoted to chnical studies. The structures of many natural products are rather complex in comparison to synthetic drugs. A synthetic approach to obtain both enantiomers or defined diastereoisomers is often not feasible and beyond fhe scope of medicinal chemistry, despite the tremendous progress in the field of stereoselective synfhesis during fhe last 20 years. [Pg.83]

those rather rare cases are described where stereoisomers of natural products have been analyzed and compared in biological studies. [Pg.84]

In drug discovery nowadays, it is common practice to profile all enantiomers and diastereoisomers of drug candidates, especially for synthetic drugs, if a mixture of isomers is being considered for drug development or if the compounds are prone to isomerization. [Pg.84]

The influence of stereochemical differences of natural products on biological systems has already been studied by Pasteur who recognized that dextro ammonium tartrate was digested more rapidly by the fungus Penicillium glaucum than the levo isomer [56]. Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, only exhibits redox activity as the (-I-)-isomer, whereas the (-)-isomer is inactive and cannot be used to treat scurvy [57]. [Pg.84]

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