Natural products from medicinal plants

Khamidullina, E. A., Gromova, A. S., Lutsky, V. I. and Owen, N. L. 2006. Natural products from medicinal plants non-alkaloidal natural constituents of the Thalictrum species. Natural Product Reports, 23(1) 117-129. 

The amount of scientific information contained in a licensing application may be vast (often exceeding 1000 pages). The pharmaceutical company presents evidence to show that every aspect of production of the medicinal product has been controlled and validated and is of an acceptable quality. The application starts with a description of the discovery chemistry for the new drug. This may be a chemical synthesis or an extraction of an active natural product from a plant or microorganism. Spectroscopic (e.g. NMR, MS, IR) and chromatographic (e.g. HPLC, GC) data are presented to show that the correct compound has been synthesised, and that by-products are identified and their levels controlled. The new chemical entity is then subjected to stability testing under accelerated conditions of heat, humidity, etc. to calculate shelf-life and rates of decomposition. Each decomposition product is identified and any potential toxicity is controlled. 

Pereda-Miranda R (1995) Bioactive Natural Products from Traditionally Used Mexican Plants. In Amason JT, Mata R, Romeo JT (eds) Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants. Plenum... 

Tsevegsuren N, Edrada R, Lin W, Ebel R, Torre C, Ortlepp S, Wray V, Proksch P. 2007. Biologically active natural products from mongolian medicinal plants Scorzonera divaricata and Scorzonera pseudodivaricata. J Nat Prod 70 962-967. 

Effects of Natural Products isolated from Medicinal Plants and Foodstuffs on Lipolysis and Lipogenesis in Fat Cells... 

Effects of Natural Products Isolated from Medicinal Plants on Arachidonate Metabolism and Degranulation in Platelets and Leukocytes. 

Although Africa has the largest registered area of around 27 million hectares, its total harvested quantity is relatively low compared to the registered extent (Table V). Bamboo shoots (36%), fruits and berries (21%), nuts (19%) and medicinal and aromatic plants (9%) are the most widely collected natural products from the wild. In terms of Africa, only a small range of prodncts are collected of which more coimnonest prodncts are sheabutter, rosehip, gnm arabic, argan oil and honeybnsh. 

S Nishibe. Structural elucidation and biological activities of phenylpropanoids, cou-marins and lignans from medicinal plants. In AU Rahman, ed. Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, vol. 5. Structure Elucidation (Part B). Amsterdam Elsevier, 1989, pp. 505-548. 

When one considers the therapeutic impact of morphine, quinine, digitalis, ergot, atropine, cocaine, reserpine, and vincaleukoblastine, to name but a few, it is evident how great is the debt of medicine to plant-derived drugs even today. If one adds the synthetic derivatives and variants of plant-derived products, the role of natural products from plant sources has been most impressive. 

SOME BIOACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS FROM CHINESE MEDICINAL PLANTS... 

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