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Moyo P, Invernizzi L, Mianda SM, Rudolph W, Andayi WA, Wang M, Crouch NR, Maharaj VJ. Leveraging off higher plant phylogenetic insights for antiplasmodial drug discovery. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2023; 13:35. [PMID: 37798547 PMCID: PMC10555984 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-023-00396-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The antimalarial drug-resistance conundrum which threatens to reverse the great strides taken to curb the malaria scourge warrants an urgent need to find novel chemical scaffolds to serve as templates for the development of new antimalarial drugs. Plants represent a viable alternative source for the discovery of unique potential antiplasmodial chemical scaffolds. To expedite the discovery of new antiplasmodial compounds from plants, the aim of this study was to use phylogenetic analysis to identify higher plant orders and families that can be rationally prioritised for antimalarial drug discovery. We queried the PubMed database for publications documenting antiplasmodial properties of natural compounds isolated from higher plants. Thereafter, we manually collated compounds reported along with plant species of origin and relevant pharmacological data. We systematically assigned antiplasmodial-associated plant species into recognised families and orders, and then computed the resistance index, selectivity index and physicochemical properties of the compounds from each taxonomic group. Correlating the generated phylogenetic trees and the biological data of each clade allowed for the identification of 3 'hot' plant orders and families. The top 3 ranked plant orders were the (i) Caryophyllales, (ii) Buxales, and (iii) Chloranthales. The top 3 ranked plant families were the (i) Ancistrocladaceae, (ii) Simaroubaceae, and (iii) Buxaceae. The highly active natural compounds (IC50 ≤ 1 µM) isolated from these plant orders and families are structurally unique to the 'legacy' antimalarial drugs. Our study was able to identify the most prolific taxa at order and family rank that we propose be prioritised in the search for potent, safe and drug-like antimalarial molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phanankosi Moyo
- Biodiscovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Luke Invernizzi
- Biodiscovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Sephora M Mianda
- Biodiscovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Wiehan Rudolph
- Biodiscovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Warren A Andayi
- Department of Physical and Biological Sciences, Murang'a University of Technology, Murang'a, Kenya
| | - Mingxun Wang
- Computer Science and Engineering, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Neil R Crouch
- Biodiversity Research and Monitoring Directorate, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Berea Road, P.O. Box 52099, Durban, 4007, South Africa
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Vinesh J Maharaj
- Biodiscovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
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Boukhebache NC, Amirouche N, Amirouche R. Cytotaxonomic investigations on species of genus Narcissus (Amaryllidaceae) from Algeria. COMPARATIVE CYTOGENETICS 2022; 16:55-76. [PMID: 35437461 PMCID: PMC9005460 DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v16.i1.78852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides new cytotaxonomic data on the genus Narcissus Linnaeus, 1753, in Algeria. Populations of seven taxa, N.tazetta Linnaeus, 1753, N.pachybolbus Durieu, 1847, N.papyraceus Ker Gawler, 1806, N.elegans (Haworth) Spach, 1846, N.serotinus sensu lato Linnaeus, 1753, including N.obsoletus (Haworth) Steudel, 1841, and N.cantabricus De Candolle, 1815, were karyologically investigated through chromosome counting and karyotype parameters. N.tazetta and N.elegans have the same number of chromosomes 2n = 2x = 20 with different karyotype formulas. Karyological and morphological characteristics, confirm the specific status of N.pachybolbus and N.papyraceus, both are diploids with 2n = 22 but differing in asymmetry indices. The morphotypes corresponding to N.serotinus sensu lato show two ploidy levels 2n = 4x = 20 and 2n = 6x = 30 characterized by a yellow corona. Some hexaploid cytotypes have more asymmetric karyotype with predominance of subtelocentric chromosomes. They are distinguished by orange corona and may correspond to N.obsoletus. Other cytotype 2n = 28 of N.serotinus was observed in the North Western biogeographic sectors. N.cantabricus was found to be diploid with 2n = 2x = 14, which is a new diploid report in the southernmost geographic range of this polyploid complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naila Chahinez Boukhebache
- University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Lab. LBPO, Team Biosystematics, Genetic and Evolution, USTHB, PO Box 32, El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, AlgeriaUniversity of Sciences and Technology Houari BoumedieneAlgiersAlgeria
| | - Nabila Amirouche
- University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Lab. LBPO, Team Biosystematics, Genetic and Evolution, USTHB, PO Box 32, El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, AlgeriaUniversity of Sciences and Technology Houari BoumedieneAlgiersAlgeria
| | - Rachid Amirouche
- University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Lab. LBPO, Team Biosystematics, Genetic and Evolution, USTHB, PO Box 32, El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, AlgeriaUniversity of Sciences and Technology Houari BoumedieneAlgiersAlgeria
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Zhang Y, Deng T, Sun L, Landis JB, Moore MJ, Wang H, Wang Y, Hao X, Chen J, Li S, Xu M, Puno PT, Raven PH, Sun H. Phylogenetic patterns suggest frequent multiple origins of secondary metabolites across the seed-plant 'tree of life'. Natl Sci Rev 2021; 8:nwaa105. [PMID: 34691607 PMCID: PMC8288438 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwaa105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the phylogenetic patterns of the distribution and evolution of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs), we selected 8 classes of PSMs and mapped them onto an updated phylogenetic tree including 437 families of seed plants. A significant phylogenetic signal was detected in 17 of the 18 tested seed-plant clades for at least 1 of the 8 PSM classes using the D statistic. The phylogenetic signal, nevertheless, indicated weak clustering of PSMs compared to a random distribution across all seed plants. The observed signal suggests strong diversifying selection during seed-plant evolution and/or relatively weak evolutionary constraints on the evolution of PSMs. In the survey of the current phylogenetic distributions of PSMs, we found that multiple origins of PSM biosynthesis due to external selective forces for diverse genetic pathways may have played important roles. In contrast, a single origin of PSMs seems rather uncommon. The distribution patterns for PSMs observed in this study may also be useful in the search for natural compounds for medicinal purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzeng Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tao Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Lu Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jacob B Landis
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Section of Plant Biology and the L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michael J Moore
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA
| | - Hengchang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuehua Wang
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xiaojiang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Shenghong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Maonian Xu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Pema-Tenzin Puno
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | | | - Hang Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
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4
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Khan DA, Hamdani SDA, Iftikhar S, Malik SZ, Zaidi NUSS, Gul A, Babar MM, Ozturk M, Turkyilmaz Unal B, Gonenc T. Pharmacoinformatics approaches in the discovery of drug-like antimicrobials of plant origin. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:7612-7628. [PMID: 33663347 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1894982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Medicinal plants have served as an important source for addressing the ailments of humans and animals alike. The emergence of advanced technologies in the field of drug discovery and development has helped in isolating various bioactive phytochemicals and developing them as drugs. Owing to their significant pharmacological benefits and minimum adverse effects, they not only serve as good candidates for therapeutics themselves but also help in the identification and development of related drug like molecules against various metabolic and infectious diseases. The ever-increasing diversity, severity and incidence of infectious diseases has resulted in an exaggerated mortality and morbidity levels. Geno-proteomic mutations in microbes, irrational prescribing of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance and human population explosion, all call for continuous efforts to discover and develop alternated therapeutic options against the microbes. This review article describes the pharmacoinformatics tools and methods which are currently used in the discovery of bioactive phytochemicals, thus making the process more efficient and effective. The pharmacological aspects of the drug discovery and development process have also been reviewed with reference to the in silico activities. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duaa Ahmad Khan
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Syed Damin Abbas Hamdani
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.,Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sahar Iftikhar
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sohaib Zafar Malik
- Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Najam-Us-Sahar Sadaf Zaidi
- Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Alvina Gul
- Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mustafeez Mujtaba Babar
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Munir Ozturk
- Botany Department and Centre for Environmental Studies, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Bengu Turkyilmaz Unal
- Biotechnology Department, Arts & Sciences Faculty, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey
| | - Tuba Gonenc
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, Izmir, Turkey
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5
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Holzmeyer L, Hartig AK, Franke K, Brandt W, Muellner-Riehl AN, Wessjohann LA, Schnitzler J. Evaluation of plant sources for antiinfective lead compound discovery by correlating phylogenetic, spatial, and bioactivity data. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12444-12451. [PMID: 32393619 PMCID: PMC7275773 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915277117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance and viral diseases are rising around the world and are becoming major threats to global health, food security, and development. One measure that has been suggested to mitigate this crisis is the development of new antibiotics. Here, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns of antiinfective compounds from seed plants in one of the most species-rich regions on Earth and identify clades with naturally occurring substances potentially suitable for the development of new pharmaceutical compounds. Specifically, we combine taxonomic and phylogenetic data for >7,500 seed plant species from the flora of Java with >16,500 secondary metabolites and 6,255 georeferenced occurrence records to 1) identify clades in the phylogeny that are characterized by either an overrepresentation ("hot clades") or an underrepresentation ("cold clades") of antiinfective compounds and 2) assess the spatial patterns of plants with antiinfective compounds relative to total plant diversity across the region. Across the flora of Java, we identify 26 "hot clades" with plant species providing a high probability of finding antibiotic constituents. In addition, 24 "cold clades" constitute lineages with low numbers of reported activities but which have the potential to yield novel compounds. Spatial patterns of plant species and metabolite diversity are strongly correlated across Java, indicating that regions of highest species diversity afford the highest potential to discover novel natural products. Our results indicate that the combination of phylogenetic, spatial, and phytochemical information is a useful tool to guide the selection of taxa for efforts aimed at lead compound discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Holzmeyer
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Plant Systematics & Herbarium (LZ), Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anne-Kathrin Hartig
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Katrin Franke
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Wolfgang Brandt
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alexandra N Muellner-Riehl
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Plant Systematics & Herbarium (LZ), Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ludger A Wessjohann
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Schnitzler
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Plant Systematics & Herbarium (LZ), Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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6
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Hausdorf B, Hennig C. Species delimitation and geography. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:950-960. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Hausdorf
- Zoological Museum Center of Natural History University of Hamburg Hamburg Germany
| | - Christian Hennig
- Dipartimento di Scienze Statistiche “Paolo Fortunati” Università di Bologna Bologna Italy
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7
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Mawalagedera SMUP, Callahan DL, Gaskett AC, Rønsted N, Symonds MRE. Combining Evolutionary Inference and Metabolomics to Identify Plants With Medicinal Potential. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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Tarakemeh A, Azizi M, Rowshan V, Salehi H, Spina R, Dupire F, Arouie H, Laurain-Mattar D. Screening of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids in bulbs and tissue cultures of Narcissus papyraceus and four varieties of N. tazetta. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 172:230-237. [PMID: 31060036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Narcissus spp. are an economically important crop for medicines in relation with the alkaloids production, mainly galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In this article an extensively study of the phytochemistry of both bulbs of different species and varieties of Narcissus grown in Iran and in vitro culture of these plants was investigated. In particular, the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid profile and the galanthamine and lycorine contents in wild bulbs of Narcissus papyraceus (G5) and four varieties of Narcissus tazetta (N. tazetta var. Shahla (G4), N. tazetta var. Shastpar (G1), N. tazetta var. Meskin (G2), N. tazetta var. Panjehgorbei (G3)), growing in Iran are reported. The alkaloid profiles were investigated by GC-MS and LC-MS and the quantitative analysis was performed using GC-MS. In total, thirty alkaloids were identified among them nine alkaloids were observed with the both methods of analysis. The variety Meskin of N. tazetta (G2), showed the highest diversity of alkaloids and the highest content in galanthamine. On this last species (G2) and on N. tazetta var. Shahla (G4), the effects of auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (Picloram) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at concentrations of 25 and 50 μM were studied on the induction of callus and its capacity to induce organogenesis and alkaloid diversity. All auxins, at the concentrations of 25 and 50 μM, produced calli. Bulblets and roots were formed on calli grown only in the presence of 25 or 50 μM NAA. GC-MS analyses showed the presence of galanthamine and lycorine in calli, roots and bulblets, with all auxins whatever the concentration used while demethylmaritidine and tazettine were found in differentiated tissue cultures cultivated on the medium containing NAA (25 or 50 μM) or in calli initiated with Picloram (50 μM). Precursor 4'-O-methylnorbelladine (MN) of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids feeding was found to significantly improve the accumulation of both galanthamine (82 μg/g DW) and lycorine (1800 μg/g DW) in bulblets of N. tazetta var. Meskin (G2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameneh Tarakemeh
- Department of Horticultural Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Azizi
- Department of Horticultural Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Vahid Rowshan
- Fars agricultural and Natural Resources Education and Research Center, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hassan Salehi
- Department of Horticultural Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Rosella Spina
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, L2CM, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - François Dupire
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, L2CM, F-54000 Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, Service Commun de Spectrométrie de Masse, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - Hossein Arouie
- Department of Horticultural Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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Comparing Medicinal Uses of Cochlospermaceae throughout Its Geographic Range with Insights from Molecular Phylogenetics. DIVERSITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/d10040123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Species of the Cochlospermaceae, a small mostly pantropical plant family, were evaluated at a continental scale for medicinal uses in traditional medicine. This ethnobotanical information was placed in a phylogenetic framework to make informed predictions in the search for new medicines and bioactive compounds. Medicinal plant-use data were mapped onto a molecular phylogeny based on DNA sequences of nuclear and chloroplast markers. Associations of medicinal uses among closely related species occurring in different geographic regions and among diverse cultures were evaluated. The most common medicinal uses for these species are those used to treat skin ailments, gastro-intestinal problems, malaria, and liver issues. The plant species with the most numerous uses is Cochlospermum tinctorium, which occurs primarily in West Africa. Closely related species being used by cultural groups in different geographic regions to treat the same illnesses suggests the presence of bioactive compounds with potential biomedical value, since they may represent independent discoveries of similar medicinally-active compounds. This leads to the speculation that those closely related species not currently being used to treat these ailments may also contain identical or similar medicinally-active compounds and are worthy of laboratory investigations.
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Teixidor-Toneu I, Jordan FM, Hawkins JA. Comparative phylogenetic methods and the cultural evolution of medicinal plant use. NATURE PLANTS 2018; 4:754-761. [PMID: 30202108 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-018-0226-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Human life depends on plant biodiversity and the ways in which plants are used are culturally determined. Whilst anthropologists have used phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) to gain an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the evolution of political, religious, social and material culture, plant use has been almost entirely neglected. Medicinal plants are of special interest because of their role in maintaining people's health across the world. PCMs in particular, and cultural evolutionary theory in general, provide a framework in which to study the diversity of medicinal plant applications cross-culturally, and to infer changes in plant use over time. These methods can be applied to single medicinal plants as well as the entire set of plants used by a culture for medicine, and they account for the non-independence of data when testing for floristic, cultural or other drivers of plant use. With cultural, biological and linguistic diversity under threat, gaining a deeper and broader understanding of the variation of medicinal plant use through time and space is pressing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Teixidor-Toneu
- University of Reading, School of Biological Sciences, Reading, Berkshire, UK
- Universitetet i Oslo, Naturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fiona M Jordan
- University of Bristol, Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, Bristol, UK
| | - Julie A Hawkins
- University of Reading, School of Biological Sciences, Reading, Berkshire, UK.
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Souza ENF, Williamson EM, Hawkins JA. Which Plants Used in Ethnomedicine Are Characterized? Phylogenetic Patterns in Traditional Use Related to Research Effort. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:834. [PMID: 29973942 PMCID: PMC6019821 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants are important resources in healthcare and for producing pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmacological and phytochemical characterization contributes to both the safe use of herbal medicines and the identification of leads for drug development. However, there is no recent assessment of the proportion of plants used in ethnomedicine that are characterized in this way. Further, although it is increasingly apparent that plants used in ethnomedicine belong to preferred phylogenetic lineages, it is not known how this relates to the focusing of research effort. Here we identify species and lineages rich in ethnomedicinal use and develop methods to describe how well they are known pharmacologically and/or phytochemically. We find 50% of plant species of the family Leguminosae used in ethnomedicine in Brazil, a geographical area where plants are an important part of healthcare, have been the focus of either phytochemical screening or testing for biological activity. Plant species which have more use reports are studied significantly more often (p < 0.05). Considering the taxonomic distribution of use, 70% of genera that include species with ethnomedicinal use have been studied, compared to 19% of genera with no reported use. Using a novel phylogenetic framework, we show that lineages with significantly greater numbers of ethnomedicinal species are phylogenetically over-dispersed within the family, highlighting the diversity of species used. "Hotnode clades" contain 16% of species but 46% of ethnomedicinally-used species. The ethnomedicinal species in hotnode clades have more use reports per species (p < 0.05), suggesting they are more frequently used. They are also more likely to be characterized pharmacologically and/or phytochemically. Research focus has followed traditional use by these measures, at least for these Brazilian plants, yet ethnomedicinal species yielding candidate drugs, raising public health concerns and more intensively studied lie outside of the hotnode clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estevão N. F. Souza
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julie A. Hawkins
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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12
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Ledoux JB, Antunes A. Beyond the beaten path: improving natural products bioprospecting using an eco-evolutionary framework - the case of the octocorals. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2017. [PMID: 28651436 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2017.1331335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Marine natural products (NPs) represent an impressive source of novel bioactive molecules with major biotechnological applications. Nevertheless, the usual chemical and applied perspective leading most of bioprospecting projects come along with various limitations blurring our understanding of the extensive marine chemical diversity. Here, we propose several guidelines: (i) to optimize bioprospecting and (ii) to refine our knowledge on marine chemical ecology focusing on octocorals, one of the most promising sources of marine NPs. We identified a significant phylogenetic bias in the octocoral bioprospecting, which calls for the development of a concerted discovery strategy. Given the gap existing between the number of isolated NPs and the knowledge regarding their functions, we provide an ecologically centered workflow prioritizing biological function ahead of chemical identification. Furthermore, we illustrate how -omic technologies should rapidly increase our knowledge on solving different aspects of the ecology and evolution of marine NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Ledoux
- a CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- a CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,c Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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13
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Ernst M, Saslis-Lagoudakis CH, Grace OM, Nilsson N, Simonsen HT, Horn JW, Rønsted N. Evolutionary prediction of medicinal properties in the genus Euphorbia L. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30531. [PMID: 27464466 PMCID: PMC4964329 DOI: 10.1038/srep30531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The current decrease of new drugs brought to the market has fostered renewed interest in plant-based drug discovery. Given the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, systematic methodologies in finding new plant-derived drugs are urgently needed. Medicinal uses of plants were proposed as proxy for bioactivity, and phylogenetic patterns in medicinal plant uses have suggested that phylogeny can be used as predictive tool. However, the common practice of grouping medicinal plant uses into standardised categories may restrict the relevance of phylogenetic predictions. Standardised categories are mostly associated to systems of the human body and only poorly reflect biological responses to the treatment. Here we show that medicinal plant uses interpreted from a perspective of a biological response can reveal different phylogenetic patterns of presumed underlying bioactivity compared to standardised methods of medicinal plant use classification. In the cosmopolitan and pharmaceutically highly relevant genus Euphorbia L., identifying plant uses modulating the inflammatory response highlighted a greater phylogenetic diversity and number of potentially promising species than standardised categories. Our interpretation of medicinal plant uses may therefore allow for a more targeted approach for future phylogeny-guided drug discovery at an early screening stage, which will likely result in higher discovery rates of novel chemistry with functional biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Ernst
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Sølvgade 83S, DK-1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - C Haris Saslis-Lagoudakis
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Sølvgade 83S, DK-1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Olwen M Grace
- Comparative Plant &Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
| | - Niclas Nilsson
- Skin Research, LEO Pharma A/S, Industriparken 55, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Henrik Toft Simonsen
- Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - James W Horn
- Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, LS 458, UW-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001, USA
| | - Nina Rønsted
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Sølvgade 83S, DK-1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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14
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Atanasov AG, Waltenberger B, Pferschy-Wenzig EM, Linder T, Wawrosch C, Uhrin P, Temml V, Wang L, Schwaiger S, Heiss EH, Rollinger JM, Schuster D, Breuss JM, Bochkov V, Mihovilovic MD, Kopp B, Bauer R, Dirsch VM, Stuppner H. Discovery and resupply of pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: A review. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:1582-1614. [PMID: 26281720 PMCID: PMC4748402 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1319] [Impact Index Per Article: 146.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants have historically proven their value as a source of molecules with therapeutic potential, and nowadays still represent an important pool for the identification of novel drug leads. In the past decades, pharmaceutical industry focused mainly on libraries of synthetic compounds as drug discovery source. They are comparably easy to produce and resupply, and demonstrate good compatibility with established high throughput screening (HTS) platforms. However, at the same time there has been a declining trend in the number of new drugs reaching the market, raising renewed scientific interest in drug discovery from natural sources, despite of its known challenges. In this survey, a brief outline of historical development is provided together with a comprehensive overview of used approaches and recent developments relevant to plant-derived natural product drug discovery. Associated challenges and major strengths of natural product-based drug discovery are critically discussed. A snapshot of the advanced plant-derived natural products that are currently in actively recruiting clinical trials is also presented. Importantly, the transition of a natural compound from a "screening hit" through a "drug lead" to a "marketed drug" is associated with increasingly challenging demands for compound amount, which often cannot be met by re-isolation from the respective plant sources. In this regard, existing alternatives for resupply are also discussed, including different biotechnology approaches and total organic synthesis. While the intrinsic complexity of natural product-based drug discovery necessitates highly integrated interdisciplinary approaches, the reviewed scientific developments, recent technological advances, and research trends clearly indicate that natural products will be among the most important sources of new drugs also in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atanas G. Atanasov
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Waltenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eva-Maria Pferschy-Wenzig
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Linder
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-OC, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Wawrosch
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Pavel Uhrin
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Temml
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Limei Wang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Schwaiger
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elke H. Heiss
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith M. Rollinger
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniela Schuster
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes M. Breuss
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Valery Bochkov
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Graz, Humboldtstrasse 46/III, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Marko D. Mihovilovic
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-OC, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Kopp
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Bauer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Verena M. Dirsch
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hermann Stuppner
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Yessoufou K, Daru BH, Muasya AM. Phylogenetic exploration of commonly used medicinal plants in South Africa. Mol Ecol Resour 2014; 15:405-13. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kowiyou Yessoufou
- Department of Environmental Sciences; University of South Africa; Florida Campus Florida 1710 South Africa
| | - Barnabas H. Daru
- Department of Zoology; University of Jos; P.M.B. 2084 Jos Nigeria
| | - Abraham Muthama Muasya
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
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Berkov S, Martínez-Francés V, Bastida J, Codina C, Ríos S. Evolution of alkaloid biosynthesis in the genus Narcissus. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2014; 99:95-106. [PMID: 24461780 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In an attempt to reveal the relationships between alkaloid biosynthesis and phylogeny, we investigated by GC-MS the alkaloid patterns of 22 species and 3 hybrids (from 45 locations) from seven main sections of the genus Narcissus (Amaryllidaceae). The results indicate that the first alkaloids to evolve in the genus Narcissus were of the lycorine- and homolycorine-type. The alkaloid pattern of the Nevadensis section supports its recent separation from the Pseudonarcissus section. The plants of Narcissus pallidulus (Ganymedes section) show a predominance of Sceletium-type compounds, which are quite rare in the Amaryllidaceae family. Two successful evolutionary strategies involving alkaloid biosynthesis and leading to an expansion in taxa and occupied area were determined. Firstly, a diversification of alkaloid patterns and a high alkaloid concentration in the organs of the large Narcissus species (in the Pseudonarcissus section) resulted in an improved chemical defence in diverse habitats. Secondly, both plant size and alkaloid biosynthesis were reduced (in the Bulbocodium and Apodanthi sections) relegated to dry pastures and rocky places.
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Affiliation(s)
- Strahil Berkov
- Agrobioinstitute, 8 Dragan Tzankov, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 23 Acad. G. Bonchev str, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria.
| | - Vanessa Martínez-Francés
- Estación Biológica-Jardín Botánico Torretes, Instituto Universitario de Biodiversidad CIBIO, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Productes Naturals, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Juan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Codina
- Departament de Productes Naturals, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Juan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Segundo Ríos
- Estación Biológica-Jardín Botánico Torretes, Instituto Universitario de Biodiversidad CIBIO, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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17
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Hao DC, Gu XJ, Xiao PG, Peng Y. Phytochemical and biological research of Fritillaria medicine resources. Chin J Nat Med 2014; 11:330-44. [PMID: 23845541 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(13)60050-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The genus Fritillaria is a botanical source for various pharmaceutically active components, which have been commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Increasing interest in Fritillaria medicinal resources has led to additional discoveries of steroidal alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides and many other compounds in various Fritillaria species, and to investigations on their chemotaxonomy, molecular phylogeny and pharmacology. In continuation of studies on Fritillaria pharmacophylogeny, the phytochemistry, chemotaxonomy, molecular biology and phylogeny of Fritillaria and their relevance to drug efficacy is reviewed. Literature searching is used to characterize the global scientific effort in the flexible technologies being applied. The interrelationship within Chinese Bei Mu species and between Chinese species, and species distributed outside of China, is clarified by the molecular phylogenetic inferences based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences. The incongruence between chemotaxonomy and molecular phylogeny is revealed and discussed. It is essential to study more species for both the sustainable utilization of Fritillaria medicinal resources and for finding novel compounds with potential clinical utility. Systems biology and omics technologies will play an increasingly important role in future pharmaceutical research involving the bioactive compounds of Fritillaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Cheng Hao
- Biotechnology Institute, School of Environment, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China.
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18
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Rønsted N, Zubov D, Bruun-Lund S, Davis AP. Snowdrops falling slowly into place: an improved phylogeny for Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 69:205-17. [PMID: 23747523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Snowdrops (Galanthus, 20 spp.; Amaryllidaceae) are cherished garden plants and the world's most traded wild-sourced ornamental bulb genus. Despite their popularity and economic importance, species delimitation is problematic and the infrageneric classification uncertain. We present a molecular phylogenetic study of Galanthus with the aim of resolving these issues and to better understand the evolution within the genus. Sequences of nuclear encoded nrITS, and plastid encoded matK, trnLF, ndhF, and psbK-psbI, for all currently recognised species and two naturally occurring putative hybrids, were analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic analysis of Galanthus, based on nuclear ITS sequences, provides a well-resolved topology, including seven well-supported named clades (platyphyllus, trojanus, ikariae, elwesii, nivalis, woronowii, and alpinus), and five major clades (A-E). The recovered ITS topology is in accordance with the geographical distribution of Galanthus species. The combined plastid data set provided far less resolution than that of ITS, with generally lower levels of statistical support, and one case of significant incongruence with the ITS dataset (involving G. gracilis). Phylogenetic network and hybridization analyses identified several possible hybridization events but these are more likely to be due to the result of a lack of resolution in the plastid dataset. The putative natural hybrid, G. ×valentinei nothosubsp. subplicatus, is supported by our data and analyses, whereas a hybrid origin for G. ×allenii is not. ITS and plastid data indicated that some Galanthus species are in need of taxonomic recircumscription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Rønsted
- The Natural History Museum of Denmark, Sølvgade 83, DK-1307 Copenhagen, Denmark
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19
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Towards a molecular understanding of the biosynthesis of amaryllidaceae alkaloids in support of their expanding medical use. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:11713-41. [PMID: 23727937 PMCID: PMC3709753 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140611713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The alkaloids characteristically produced by the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllidaceae, bulbous plant species that include well know genera such as Narcissus (daffodils) and Galanthus (snowdrops), are a source of new pharmaceutical compounds. Presently, only the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, is produced commercially as a drug from cultivated plants. However, several Amaryllidaceae alkaloids have shown great promise as anti-cancer drugs, but their further clinical development is restricted by their limited commercial availability. Amaryllidaceae species have a long history of cultivation and breeding as ornamental bulbs, and phytochemical research has focussed on the diversity in alkaloid content and composition. In contrast to the available pharmacological and phytochemical data, ecological, physiological and molecular aspects of the Amaryllidaceae and their alkaloids are much less explored and the identity of the alkaloid biosynthetic genes is presently unknown. An improved molecular understanding of Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthesis would greatly benefit the rational design of breeding programs to produce cultivars optimised for the production of pharmaceutical compounds and enable biotechnology based approaches.
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20
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Jenks AA, Kim SC. Medicinal plant complexes of Salvia subgenus Calosphace: an ethnobotanical study of new world sages. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2013; 146:214-224. [PMID: 23291572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The species of Salvia subgenus Calosphace are used medicinally and ritually in numerous traditions of folk healing among indigenous cultures of North and South America with more than 500 species. These species contain numerous bioactive terpenes and terpenoids, some active at human opioid and GABA receptors, which may contribute to their effectiveness as folk medicines. Medicinal plant complexes contain species which share common names, morphological and/or aromatic properties, and medicinal uses; these complexes are found in traditional systems of medicine. Our research looks for complexes within Calosphace and the secondary metabolites they contain. MATERIALS AND METHODS Several studies have combined molecular phylogenetics and ethnopharmacology to successfully target active medicinal species. In this paper, we have selected a monophyletic clade, Salvia subgenus Calosphace, and performed a literature search to identify medicinal plant complexes within it. We created a database from over 200 references, found using keywords, and herbarium sheets. To identify medicinal plant complexes within the database, all species with shared vernacular names were first grouped. If the species sharing common names had similar medicinal uses and morphological similarity, they were concluded to be a complex. In order to determine the accuracy and validity of this approach, the chia complex was used as control, and we more species than reported by all of the published references combined. After identifying complexes and species within each, we searched the phytochemical literature to identify all reported secondary metabolites for each. RESULTS We identify four previously unidentified complexes. Mirto (5 species) is used extensively in the treatment of the folk illness susto and other illnesses in Mexico, and is characterized by red flowers. Ñucchu (7 species) used as a symbolic element in religious processions and in the treatment of respiratory ailments in Peru and characterized by red flowers. Cantueso (2 species), with blue flowers, is used for respiratory ailments in Mexico, and Manga-paqui (3 species) is used for kidney and liver diseases in Ecuador. For the species of each complex we report all traditional preparations, other vernacular names, and known secondary metabolites. Among these complexes, Mirto and Ñucchu appear to have exceptional levels of cultural significance. CONCLUSIONS Our results support our hypothesis that species within Salvia subgenus Calosphace will assort into complexes of medicinal plants that share common names, appearances, and medicinal uses. We have identified four new complexes within this monophyletic lineage, mirto, ñucchu, cantueso, and manga-paqui.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron A Jenks
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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21
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22
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Obón C, Rivera D, Verde A, Fajardo J, Valdés A, Alcaraz F, Carvalho AM. Árnica: a multivariate analysis of the botany and ethnopharmacology of a medicinal plant complex in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2012; 144:44-56. [PMID: 22947388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2012] [Revised: 08/18/2012] [Accepted: 08/19/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Medicinal plant complexes of different species sharing vernacular names, morphological and aromatic characteristics and uses are common in traditional medicine of different cultures. A quantitative methodology as a tool for ethnopharmacological studies is presented for systematically analyzing morphological and therapeutic features shared by several species integrating such complexes. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this paper is to apply a novel methodology to determine whether complexes are homogeneous and species within the complexes are completely interchangeable or not. Moreover, to find out if those species giving the name to the complex are also those which provide a large number of complex descriptors. For this purpose we study the complex of medicinal plant species which share the vernacular name "Árnica" in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, through the systematic recording of past and current local therapeutic uses and administration forms, plant-parts and localities where the different species are used. Being a newly introduced name in the region, "Árnica" offers an interesting field to study the genesis and dynamics of ethnopharmacological categories and medicinal plant complexes. METHODS A systematic review of the botanical, ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological literature from 1895 to 2010 and of databases was performed in order to obtain information on the use of plants locally named as "Árnica" or with binomials that include the word "Árnica", in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. RESULTS The "Árnica" complex includes 32 different plant species in the Iberian Peninsula, belonging to six families of Angiosperms, which partially share morphological characteristics and therapeutic properties. These are some of the most popular medicinal species of the Iberian Peninsula and are mainly used to treat inflammation, wounds, hematoma, and contusion. The vegetal materials are primarily macerated or decocted, and the methods of administration are plasters, washes, frictions or direct application of the plant. CONCLUSIONS Medicinal plant complexes are frequent in ethnopharmacological contexts and require being clearly detected, and systematically studied. Plant species within each complex are only partly interchangeable because the sharing of characters, including medicinal uses, is low. "Árnica" medicinal plant complex is extremely dynamic in the Iberian Peninsula. In less than two hundred years up to 32 different plant species belonging to six different plant families became labeled "Árnica". Medical staff was extremely influential in the adoption of "Árnica" as a vernacular name between 1785 and 1864 in Spain and Portugal but not in the repertory of uses adopted for the plants within the complex. In terms of total descriptors shared in the complex, Arnica montana L. is less relevant than other three species, belonging to the Inuleae Cass. tribe, of the Asteraceae (Chiliadenus glutinosus (L.) Fourr., Inula montana L. and Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter). Thus "Árnica" complex is labeled by three different Inuleae Cass. species and receives the name from a fourth Madieae Jeps. species (Arnica montana L.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Concepción Obón
- Department of Applied Biology, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Miguel Hernández University, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
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23
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Rønsted N, Symonds MRE, Birkholm T, Christensen SB, Meerow AW, Molander M, Mølgaard P, Petersen G, Rasmussen N, van Staden J, Stafford GI, Jäger AK. Can phylogeny predict chemical diversity and potential medicinal activity of plants? A case study of Amaryllidaceae. BMC Evol Biol 2012; 12:182. [PMID: 22978363 PMCID: PMC3499480 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During evolution, plants and other organisms have developed a diversity of chemical defences, leading to the evolution of various groups of specialized metabolites selected for their endogenous biological function. A correlation between phylogeny and biosynthetic pathways could offer a predictive approach enabling more efficient selection of plants for the development of traditional medicine and lead discovery. However, this relationship has rarely been rigorously tested and the potential predictive power is consequently unknown. RESULTS We produced a phylogenetic hypothesis for the medicinally important plant subfamily Amaryllidoideae (Amaryllidaceae) based on parsimony and Bayesian analysis of nuclear, plastid, and mitochondrial DNA sequences of over 100 species. We tested if alkaloid diversity and activity in bioassays related to the central nervous system are significantly correlated with phylogeny and found evidence for a significant phylogenetic signal in these traits, although the effect is not strong. CONCLUSIONS Several genera are non-monophyletic emphasizing the importance of using phylogeny for interpretation of character distribution. Alkaloid diversity and in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and binding to the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) are significantly correlated with phylogeny. This has implications for the use of phylogenies to interpret chemical evolution and biosynthetic pathways, to select candidate taxa for lead discovery, and to make recommendations for policies regarding traditional use and conservation priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Rønsted
- Botanic Garden, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Sølvgade 83, Opg. S, Copenhagen, DK-1307, Denmark
| | - Matthew R E Symonds
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia
| | - Trine Birkholm
- Natural Products Research, Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Søren Brøgger Christensen
- Natural Products Research, Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Alan W Meerow
- USDA-ARS-SHRS, National Germplasm Repository, 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida, USA
- Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Marianne Molander
- Natural Products Research, Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Per Mølgaard
- Natural Products Research, Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Gitte Petersen
- Botanic Garden, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Sølvgade 83, Opg. S, Copenhagen, DK-1307, Denmark
| | - Nina Rasmussen
- Natural Products Research, Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Johannes van Staden
- Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3201, South Africa
| | - Gary I Stafford
- Botanic Garden, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Sølvgade 83, Opg. S, Copenhagen, DK-1307, Denmark
| | - Anna K Jäger
- Natural Products Research, Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
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Phylogenies reveal predictive power of traditional medicine in bioprospecting. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:15835-40. [PMID: 22984175 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1202242109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There is controversy about whether traditional medicine can guide drug discovery, and investment in bioprospecting informed by ethnobotanical data has fluctuated. One view is that traditionally used medicinal plants are not necessarily efficacious and there are no robust methods for distinguishing those which are most likely to be bioactive when selecting species for further testing. Here, we reconstruct a genus-level molecular phylogenetic tree representing the 20,000 species found in the floras of three disparate biodiversity hotspots: Nepal, New Zealand, and the Cape of South Africa. Borrowing phylogenetic methods from community ecology, we reveal significant clustering of the 1,500 traditionally used species, and provide a direct measure of the relatedness of the three medicinal floras. We demonstrate shared phylogenetic patterns across the floras: related plants from these regions are used to treat medical conditions in the same therapeutic areas. This finding strongly indicates independent discovery of plant efficacy, an interpretation corroborated by the presence of a significantly greater proportion of known bioactive species in these plant groups than in random samples. We conclude that phylogenetic cross-cultural comparisons can focus screening efforts on a subset of traditionally used plants that are richer in bioactive compounds, and could revitalize the use of traditional knowledge in bioprospecting.
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25
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Abd El-Gha MN, Mohamed FI, El-Ashry ZM, Abd El-Rah HM. Cytogenetic and Ultra Structural Effects of Narcissus tazetta Extract
on Root Meristem Cells of Vicia faba L. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 2012; 7:414-427. [DOI: 10.3923/ijar.2012.414.427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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Sharma V, Sarkar IN. Bioinformatics opportunities for identification and study of medicinal plants. Brief Bioinform 2012; 14:238-50. [PMID: 22589384 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbs021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants have been used as a source of medicine since historic times and several commercially important drugs are of plant-based origin. The traditional approach towards discovery of plant-based drugs often times involves significant amount of time and expenditure. These labor-intensive approaches have struggled to keep pace with the rapid development of high-throughput technologies. In the era of high volume, high-throughput data generation across the biosciences, bioinformatics plays a crucial role. This has generally been the case in the context of drug designing and discovery. However, there has been limited attention to date to the potential application of bioinformatics approaches that can leverage plant-based knowledge. Here, we review bioinformatics studies that have contributed to medicinal plants research. In particular, we highlight areas in medicinal plant research where the application of bioinformatics methodologies may result in quicker and potentially cost-effective leads toward finding plant-based remedies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivekanand Sharma
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Given Courtyard N309, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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Molander M, Saslis-Lagoudakis CH, Jäger AK, Rønsted N. Cross-cultural comparison of medicinal floras used against snakebites. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2012; 139:863-872. [PMID: 22209885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2011] [Revised: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Envenomation causes an estimated 1.8-2.5 million incidences per year with a mortality level of 100-125,000 persons annually and more than 100,000 individuals suffer from severe complications, which may end in amputation of the attacked limb. The use of plants is a major part of the traditional practitioners' treatment of snakebites. MATERIALS AND METHODS A database was created for plants used to treat snakebites worldwide. From this database, we selected five countries with a high number of entries and representing different cultures, geography and floristic zones: Brazil, Nicaragua, Nepal, China and South Africa. The datasets were analysed by regression and binominal analysis to see if any family or genus used against snakebites was overrepresented in the respective traditional medicinal systems relative to the abundance in the local flora. The families from the different geographical areas were compared to ascertain whether the same plant families are preferred by different peoples. RESULTS Three 'hot' families (Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae) were recovered in at least two of the five compared countries in the regression analyses and one 'hot' family (Zingiberaceae) was recovered in two of the compared countries in the binomial analyses. Four out of five floras possess families identified as outliers in both regression and binomial analyses. Eight families were recovered by both the binomial and the regression analysis (40-62% of all highlighted families respectively). At the genus level, only Piper (Piperaceae) was recovered as a 'hot' genus in at least two floras. Seven genera were highlighted by both analyses (25-44% of the highlighted genera). CONCLUSIONS Cross-cultural comparison of medicinal floras used against snakebites appears to be useful for highlighting candidate families and genera for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Molander
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Saslis-Lagoudakis CH, Klitgaard BB, Forest F, Francis L, Savolainen V, Williamson EM, Hawkins JA. The use of phylogeny to interpret cross-cultural patterns in plant use and guide medicinal plant discovery: an example from Pterocarpus (Leguminosae). PLoS One 2011; 6:e22275. [PMID: 21789247 PMCID: PMC3138776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2011] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has led to discoveries that have helped combat diseases and improve healthcare. However, the development of quantitative measures that can assist our quest for new medicinal plants has not greatly advanced in recent years. Phylogenetic tools have entered many scientific fields in the last two decades to provide explanatory power, but have been overlooked in ethnomedicinal studies. Several studies show that medicinal properties are not randomly distributed in plant phylogenies, suggesting that phylogeny shapes ethnobotanical use. Nevertheless, empirical studies that explicitly combine ethnobotanical and phylogenetic information are scarce. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study, we borrowed tools from community ecology phylogenetics to quantify significance of phylogenetic signal in medicinal properties in plants and identify nodes on phylogenies with high bioscreening potential. To do this, we produced an ethnomedicinal review from extensive literature research and a multi-locus phylogenetic hypothesis for the pantropical genus Pterocarpus (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). We demonstrate that species used to treat a certain conditions, such as malaria, are significantly phylogenetically clumped and we highlight nodes in the phylogeny that are significantly overabundant in species used to treat certain conditions. These cross-cultural patterns in ethnomedicinal usage in Pterocarpus are interpreted in the light of phylogenetic relationships. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study provides techniques that enable the application of phylogenies in bioscreening, but also sheds light on the processes that shape cross-cultural ethnomedicinal patterns. This community phylogenetic approach demonstrates that similar ethnobotanical uses can arise in parallel in different areas where related plants are available. With a vast amount of ethnomedicinal and phylogenetic information available, we predict that this field, after further refinement of the techniques, will expand into similar research areas, such as pest management or the search for bioactive plant-based compounds.
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Jensen BS, Christensen SB, Jäger AK, Rønsted N. Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from the Australasian tribe Calostemmateae with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. BIOCHEM SYST ECOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2011.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Larsen MM, Adsersen A, Davis AP, Lledó MD, Jäger AK, Rønsted N. Using a phylogenetic approach to selection of target plants in drug discovery of acetylcholinesterase inhibiting alkaloids in Amaryllidaceae tribe Galantheae. BIOCHEM SYST ECOL 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2010.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Pacharawongsakda E, Yokwai S, Ingsriswang S. Potential natural product discovery from microbes through a diversity-guided computational framework. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2009; 82:579-86. [PMID: 19148634 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-008-1847-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2008] [Revised: 12/22/2008] [Accepted: 12/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
As the occurrence of natural compounds is related to the spatial distribution and evolution of microorganisms for biological and ecological relevance, the data integration of chemistry, geography, and phylogeny within an analytical framework is needed to make better decisions on sourcing the microbes for drug discovery. Such a framework should help researcher to decide on (a) which microorganisms are capable to produce the structurally diverse-bioactive compounds and (b) where those microbes could be found. Here, we present GIST (Geospatial Integrated Species, sites and bioactive compound relationships Tracking tool), a computational framework that could describe and compare how the chemical and genetic diversity varied among microbes in different areas. GIST mainly exploits the measures of bioactive diversity (BD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD), derived from the branch length of bioactive dendrogram and phylogenetic tree, respectively. Based on BD and PD, our framework could provide guidance and tools for measuring, monitoring, and evaluating of patterns and changes in biodiversity of microorganisms to improve the success rate of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eakasit Pacharawongsakda
- Information Systems Laboratory, Bioresource Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pathumthani, Thailand
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