Natural products as lead compounds in drug discovery

Abstract

This review surveys the diversity of natural products (NPs) derived from terrestrial plants, micro-organisms, marine organisms and fungi used in the treatment of various diseases. A wide spectrum of compounds derived from these sources has been found to have many applications in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, and general biology. The enormous structural diversity of NPs and their medicinal significance has led researchers to predict that screening natural resources will generate new ‘lead’ compounds. It is well established that structural analogs with greater pharmacological activity and fewer side effects can be generated by molecular modification of the functional groups of such lead compounds. The compounds derived from various NP sources have been a basis for the development of clinically important agents active against various diseases, including taxol, vinblastine, vincristine, and topotecan, which are important anticancer agents in widespread clinical use. A number of other promising agents such as flavopiridol, combretastatin, betulinic acid, and silvesterol are in clinical or preclinical development. A large number of anti-infective agents in clinical use are also derived from NPs.