Natural Products and Cancer Drug Discovery - by Felix Cliburn (Hardcover)

About the Book

Natural Products (NPs) are natural compounds or substances produced by a living organism; i.e., they are found in nature. They have played a significant role in the discovery of anticancer drugs. Microbes and plants from aquatic and terrestrial habitats are the primary sources of these effective chemicals. They have unique features as compared to traditional synthetic molecules that present both advantages and difficulties for the drug discovery process. They also provide a chance to discover novel compounds that can be transformed into drugs due to their variety of chemical structures. NPs have long been a major source of novel drugs for treating infectious diseases, particularly antibiotics. There are several commonly used anticancer drugs that are derived from natural sources, including mitomycin C and actinomycin D from bacteria, bleomycin from the sea, and etoposide, irinotecan, and paclitaxel and vincristine from plants. This book includes a detailed explanation of the use of natural products for cancer drug discovery. Those with interest in this field would find this book helpful.

Book Synopsis

Natural Products (NPs) are natural compounds or substances produced by a living organism; i.e., they are found in nature. They have played a significant role in the discovery of anticancer drugs. Microbes and plants from aquatic and terrestrial habitats are the primary sources of these effective chemicals. They have unique features as compared to traditional synthetic molecules that present both advantages and difficulties for the drug discovery process. They also provide a chance to discover novel compounds that can be transformed into drugs due to their variety of chemical structures. NPs have long been a major source of novel drugs for treating infectious diseases, particularly antibiotics. There are several commonly used anticancer drugs that are derived from natural sources, including mitomycin C and actinomycin D from bacteria, bleomycin from the sea, and etoposide, irinotecan, and paclitaxel and vincristine from plants. This book includes a detailed explanation of the use of natural products for cancer drug discovery. Those with interest in this field would find this book helpful.