Natural Products and Drug Discovery

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products are the oldest medicaments which have evolved in human history; they have always represented promising lead compounds for new drugs. Indeed, more than 50% of drugs approved in the last four decades are of natural origins.

Natural products and their derivatives have historically given a high contribution to pharmacotherapy, especially for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory and infectious diseases. They are now used for their antibiotic and antimitotic, antidiabetic and anti-metabolite, anti-aging and neuroprotective properties, as well as in antitumor drugs.

Additionally, fruits and vegetables, along with their nutritional constituents, are rich in bioactive compounds, often cited as ‘phytochemicals’, with health-promoting properties. Bioactives occurring in food plants, in particular polyphenols, exert activities that are considered of great interest in the prevention and treatment of diseases largely present in an ageing society.

Thus, natural products as drug leads continue to be highly attractive; however, the strategy for disease-based drug discovery must be achieved in parallel with the investigation of the molecular mechanisms and the intracellular targets of each natural compound.

This General Topic is focused on, but not limited to:

• Isolation of new active natural compounds and their structural identification;
• Characterization, purification and stabilization of bioactive natural compounds as well as their derivatives;
• Bioavailability, enzyme inhibition, neuro-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-bacterial activities of natural products;
• Biochemical and the signaling pathways involved in the activity of natural compounds;
• Different therapeutic applications of well-known natural compounds to explore new directions for future research.

The General Topic “Natural Products and Drug Discovery” will include original articles and reviews on in vitro or animal studies together with human studies aimed at defining their efficacy as therapeutic agents.

Prof. Marta Menegazzi
Prof. Dr. Sonia Piacente
Topic Editors