Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0501
+44-77-2385-9429
ISSN: 2167-0501
+44-77-2385-9429
Subhash C. Mandal
Accepted Abstracts: Biochem & Pharmacol
History has always provided vital information leads in shaping the future and the field of drug discovery makes no exception. History of traditional medicines shows that historical experiences of these medicines have more implications for drug discovery than just providing new chemical entities. Historically, ethnobotanical leads have resulted in three different types of drug discovery: (1) unmodified natural plant products where ethnomedical use suggested clinical efficacy (like digitaline) (2) unmodified natural products of which the therapeutic efficacy was only remotely suggested by indigenous plant use (like vincristine) and (3) modified natural or synthetic substances based on a natural product used in folk medicine (like aspirin). History has also made us to learn the concept of polyherbal formulation and synergism, which now is one of the major thrust areas. This has resulted in an effective modern approach of finding new chemical entities by effective combination of existing agents than looking for totally new entities. The fact that traditional medicine has being in use for ages with positive effects makes the drug discovery process from the selected plant a sure success affair. The sciences of ethnobotany and ethnomedicine are developing rapidly due to the recent improvements in screening techniques, including in vitro bioassays. With the development of more selective in vitro assays, the quantities of plant material that need to be collected and stored has dropped from 5-10 kg to 50-500 g. This obviously has important ecological implications. In addition, conservation trends have been extended to the collection of different plant parts, with greater emphasis placed on sustainable harvest, like bark is not collected if this would endanger the survival of the tree, and limited amounts of root systems are harvested. The evaluation and authentication of traditional remedies can contribute towards the formulation of an integrated health care system combining both local and Western practices. This involves the documentation and testing of the efficacy and toxicity of medicinal plant extracts, and the identification of the active principles. This would enable local knowledge of medicinal plants to be compiled and conserved, and recommendations for usage to be based on an empirical understanding of the activity and toxicity. For many years, assay results from numerous publications describing novel natural products and biologically active principles have formed the basis for pharmacognostical research. With application of emerging techniques and integration of informatics, entirely novel possibilities for rational selection, prediction, and interpretation are within grasp. Therefore, history of traditional medicine with proper scientific exploitation can effectively renovate the drying drug discovery pipeline, so we should go back to history to recharge the future.
Subhash C. Mandal, associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, India, has completed his Ph.D. in 1999 from Jadavpur University, and his postdoctoral studies in University of Canberra, Australia under the flagship of prestigious Endeavour Award, Government of Australia. His experiences in natural products and his efforts in the upliftment of the pharmacy profession were globally honoured through ?Distinguished Educator and Research award 2009? by American Association of Indian Pharmaceutical Scientist (AAiPS), USA. He has published more than 140 papers in reputed indexed journals and holds 3 Indian patents to his credit. He has visited 22 countries for different scientific interactions. He has guided 14 M. Pharm and 20 Ph.D. scholars and edited one book on herbal drug. With his credit, Dr. Mandal received SAARC fellowship from Bangladesh and Talented Scientist award from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.