Secondary metabolites play primary roles in human affairs

Article Abstract:

Secondary metabolites affect body functions resulting to either onset and progression of disease or its prevention and alleviation. Examples of harmful metabolites include the poisons palytoxin and the red tide toxin. Among those which are beneficial are the antibiotic penicillin, ethanol and lactic acid for the preparation and preservation of foods and beverages, the pain relievers morphine and aspirin, the alkaloid reserpine, quinine anti-malarial agent, and the antitumor taxol. Meanwhile, fragrances and dyes are also beneficial byproducts of secondary metabolites.

Physiological aspects, Plants (Organisms), Toxins, Plants, Useful

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Microbial secondary metabolites play important roles in medicine: prospects for discovery of new drugs

Article Abstract:

Many useful secondary metabolites from microorganisms have been discovered. These secondary metabolites include antibiotics, gibberellins, bialophos, phosphinothricin, blasticidin S, kasugamycin, zearalenone, monensin, cyclosporin A, among others. However, a few of these metabolites, such as mycotoxins, have harmful physiological effects. Efforts to develop new pharmaceutical agents that occur in nature are being focused on two key areas: ethnobotany and marine products.

Analysis, Drugs, Product development, Plant metabolites

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From optical activity in quartz to chiral drugs: molecular handedness in biology and medicine

Article Abstract:

The origin and synthesis of chiral compounds and chirality in molecular biology and medicine is analyzed. The word chirality was first reported in 'The New York Times.' Chiral compounds have a twin of right-handed and left handed pairs called enantiomers. Chiral compounds are being widely studied by chemists specializing in stereoisomerism. Chiral compounds are used in various drugs and medicines which function on the principle of molecular recognition within the body.

Research, Chirality, Stereoisomers

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