Plant and marine-derived natural products: sustainable pathways for future drug discovery and therapeutic development.

Journal: Frontiers in pharmacology
Published Date:

Abstract

Plant- and marine-derived natural products are rich sources of bioactive compounds essential for drug discovery. These compounds contain complex mixtures of metabolites, which collectively contribute to their pharmacological properties. However, challenges arise in the isolation of individual bioactive compounds, owing to their intricate chemistry and low abundance in natural extracts. Despite these limitations, numerous plant and marine-derived compounds have achieved regulatory approval, particularly for treating cancer and infectious diseases. This review explores the therapeutic potential of plant and marine sources along with innovative extraction and isolation methods that support sustainable drug development. Future perspectives will highlight the role of responsible innovation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in advancing drug discovery, underscoring the importance of continued research to meet global health needs.

Authors

  • Muhammad Ahmad
    Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital-Ganzhou Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
  • Maleha Tahir
    Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital-Ganzhou Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
  • Zibin Hong
    Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital-Ganzhou Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
  • Muhammad Anjum Zia
    Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
  • Hamza Rafeeq
    Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Shaheez Ahmad
    Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
  • Saif Ur Rehman
    Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital-Ganzhou Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
  • Junming Sun
    Laboratory Animal Center, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.

Keywords

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