Drug discovery inspired by bioactive small molecules from nature

Area of Science:

• Natural Products Chemistry
• Drug Discovery
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Natural products (NPs) are vital sources for novel therapeutics, offering greater chemical diversity than synthetic compounds.
• Both secondary metabolites and endogenous small molecules from metabolism show promise for drug development due to unique metabolite-protein interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the value of natural products in drug discovery.
• To discuss recent technological advancements in natural product research.
• To explore strategies for overcoming challenges in natural product-driven drug discovery.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on natural products in medicine.
• Discussion of enabling technologies such as metabolomics and chemoproteomics.
• Exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in drug discovery.

Main Results:

• Natural products provide a rich source of drug candidates with favorable properties.
• Metabolomics, chemoproteomics, and AI platforms are accelerating the identification and development of NPs.
• Addressing current challenges can further unlock the potential of NPs for therapeutic innovation.

Conclusions:

• Natural products remain a cornerstone of drug discovery, offering unique chemical scaffolds.
• Technological advancements are crucial for efficient exploration and utilization of NP resources.
• Strategic approaches are needed to overcome hurdles and maximize the therapeutic impact of natural products.