Drug discovery from natural products

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 523 - 531
• Main Authors: GULLO, Vincent P, MCALPINE, James, LAM, Kin S, BAKER, Dwight, PETERSEN, Frank
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.07.2006; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Products - biosynthesis; Biological Products - chemistry; Biological Products - genetics; Biotechnology; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Marine environment; Natural products; Pharmaceutical Preparations - chemistry; Pharmaceutical Preparations - isolation & purification; Drug; Screening; Targeting; Drug targets; Natural products; Natural product; Drug discovery; Secondary metabolism
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-006-0107-2

Natural product compounds are the source of numerous therapeutic agents. Recent progress to discover drugs from natural product sources has resulted in compounds that are being developed to treat cancer, resistant bacteria and viruses and immunosuppressive disorders. Many of these compounds were discovered by applying recent advances in understanding the genetics of secondary metabolism in actinomycetes, exploring the marine environment and applying new screening technologies. In many instances, the discovery of a novel natural product serves as a tool to better understand targets and pathways in the disease process. This review describes recent progress in drug discovery from natural sources including several examples of compounds that inhibit novel drug targets.