3.3.1. Potential of the “Metagenome” 3016 3.3.2. Cryptic Clusters in Bacteria and Fungi 3016 3.3.3. Cyanophytes 3017 3.3.4. Marine Microbes (Non-Cyanophytes) 3018 3.3.5. Extremophiles 3018 3.3.6. Microbial Symbionts 3019 3.3.7. Plant Endophytes 3020 3.3.8. Combinatorial Biosynthesis 3020 4. Development of Drugs from Natural Products 3020 4.1. Synthesis Based on Natural Products 3021 4.1.1. Derivatization and Semisynthesis 3021 4.1.2. Total Synthesis 3021 4.1.3. Diverted Total Synthesis 3021 4.2. Natural Product-Inspired Combinatorial Synthesis 3022

Impact of natural products on developing new anti-cancer agents

Moringa oleifera, or the horseradish tree, is a pan-tropical species that is known by such regional names as benzolive, drumstick tree, kelor, marango, mlonge, mulangay, nebeday, saijhan, and sajna. Over the past two decades, many reports have appeared in mainstream scientific journals describing its nutritional and medicinal properties. Its utility as a non-food product has also been extensively described, but will not be discussed herein, (e.g. lumber, charcoal, fencing, water clarification, lubricating oil). As with many reports of the nutritional or medicinal value of a natural product, there are an alarming number of purveyors of “healthful” food who are now promoting M. oleifera as a panacea. While much of this recent enthusiasm indeed appears to be justified, it is critical to separate rigorous scientific evidence from anecdote. Those who charge a premium for products containing Moringa spp. must be held to a high standard. Those who promote the cultivation and use of Moringa spp. in regions where hope is in short supply must be provided with the best available evidence, so as not to raise false hopes and to encourage the most fruitful use of scarce research capital. It is the purpose of this series of brief reviews to: (a) critically evaluate the published scientific evidence on M. oleifera, (b) highlight claims from the traditional and tribal medicinal lore and from non-peer reviewed sources that would benefit from further, rigorous scientific evaluation, and (c) suggest directions for future clinical research that could be carried out by local investigators in developing regions.

/pdf/moringa-oleifera-a-review-of-the-medical-evidence-for-its-2tpm5yyogd.pdf

Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1.

https://fikrat0.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Abdullaev_2004CDP.pdf

Biomedical properties of saffron and its potential use in cancer therapy and chemoprevention trials

Plants used against cancer - an extension of the work of Jonathan Hartwell.

An attempt has been made to review some medicinal plants used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Plant derived compounds have played an important role in the development of several clinically useful anticancer agents. Several anticancer agents including taxol, vinblastine, vincristine and topotecan are in clinical use all over the world. A number of promising agents such as combrestatin, betulinic acid and silvesterol are in clinical or preclinical development.

/pdf/plants-as-a-source-of-anticancer-agents-bwy7bf4mvf.pdf

Jonathan L. Hartwell

Papers

Plants Used Against Cancer: A Survey