Discovery from Historic Herbal Texts

DRUG DISCOVERY FROM HISTORIC HERBAL TEXTS 

Computer Applications in Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Edited by Sean Ekins. ISBN 0-471-73779-8 Copyright 2006 John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

The best example of using this knowledge in drug discovery is the identification of Prostratin. While working in Samoa to identify plants with potential chemotherapeutic properties, Dr. Paul Cox documented the use of Homalanthus nutans for the treatment of hepatitis [16]. Surprisingly, when extracts of this plant were incidentally examined for anti-HIV properties, the extract appeared effective for treatment of HIV [17]. Eventually, this compound was shown to be effective at activating the latently infected T-cell pool [18]. Importantly, this population of cells is a principal reason for HIV persistence [19]. 

Yet the reasons behind this healer s excitement are lamentable. There is a lack of interest in traditional medicine from the younger generation, and as a result there is a generational loss of traditional medicine knowledge [20]. For example, the two individuals that identified Prostratin as an antiviral have since passed away, and it is likely that an individual performing the 

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DRUG DISCOVERY FROM HISTORIC HERBAL TEXTS... 

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