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Opportunities in Novel Psychotropic Drug Design from Natural Compounds.
Siu Wa Tang1,2, Wayne H Tang1
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Irvine, California; North Campus Psychiatry Trailer, Irvine, California.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
|July 30, 2019
Summary
Natural drug discovery is supported by global initiatives, yet natural psychotropics remain underutilized. Exploring compounds like psychedelics offers new avenues for developing innovative psychiatric medications beyond current scaffolds.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Current psychiatric drug development relies heavily on modifying existing molecular scaffolds derived from natural products like atropine.
- This approach limits the therapeutic mechanisms of action to well-established neuropathways, potentially overlooking novel treatment strategies.
- There is a general lack of awareness among psychiatrists and patients regarding the potential of natural psychotropic substances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the untapped potential of natural psychotropic substances in drug discovery.
- To advocate for the exploration of diverse natural compounds, including hallucinogens and psychedelics, for novel psychiatric drug development.
- To underscore the limitations of current drug development paradigms and propose natural products as a source for innovation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on natural product-derived psychotropic medications.
- Analysis of historical drug development trends in psychiatry.
- Identification of knowledge gaps regarding natural psychotropics and their therapeutic potential.
Main Results:
- Established psychotropic medications (antidepressants, antipsychotics) originated from natural products.
- Subsequent drug development has been constrained by modifying existing chemical structures, limiting mechanistic diversity.
- Natural psychotropic substances, especially those with unique chemical structures and psychedelic properties, represent a largely unexplored resource.
Conclusions:
- Natural products offer a rich source for discovering novel psychotropic agents with potentially new mechanisms of action.
- Further research into natural psychotropics, including hallucinogenic and psychedelic compounds, is crucial for advancing psychiatric medicine.
- Increased awareness and informed discussion are needed to integrate natural psychotropics into future drug discovery pipelines.
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