Natural Product Chemistry and Bioactivity Analysis
Summary
Natural product chemistry explores the structure, biosynthesis and function of organic molecules produced by living organisms. This field encompasses the extraction of complex mixtures from plants, microorganisms and marine life, followed by chromatographic separation and structural elucidation using techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Bioactivity analysis integrates these chemical investigations with in vitro and in vivo assays to identify compounds with therapeutic or industrial potential, including antimicrobial, anticancer, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents. Recent trends emphasise sustainable sourcing, biodiversity conservation and the application of computational methods to predict activity and optimise structural features. By coupling advanced analytical platforms with high-throughput screening, researchers can rapidly discover novel scaffolds and assess their mechanism of action, paving the way for lead-finding and subsequent medicinal chemistry optimisation.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have unveiled unprecedented triterpenoid scaffolds and potent bioactivities through a combination of high-resolution spectroscopy and mechanistic assays. One investigation reported the isolation of a novel B-nor-3,4-seco-lanostane triterpenoid from conifer tissue, with absolute configuration determined by electronic circular dichroism and quantum-mechanics-based NMR calculations; the compounds exhibited significant inhibition of nitric oxide production and moderate cytotoxicity. In another study, organic extracts of floral cones underwent solvent partitioning and cell-viability assays to identify fractions that selectively induced apoptosis in cervical carcinoma cells via the intrinsic pathway; gene expression analyses and flow cytometry confirmed the engagement of key apoptotic markers, highlighting the integrative approach to natural anticancer agent discovery.
Natural Product Chemistry and Bioactivity Analysis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in natural product chemistry and bioactivity analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Secondary metabolites: Organic compounds produced by organisms that are not directly involved in primary metabolic processes but often mediate ecological interactions and possess bioactive properties.
Bioassay-guided isolation: A methodology in which biological activity assays direct the fractionation and purification of extracts to identify active constituents.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy: An analytical technique that determines molecular structure by measuring the interaction of atomic nuclei with an external magnetic field.
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): The lowest concentration of a compound that inhibits visible growth of a microorganism in vitro.
Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50): The concentration of a substance required to reduce a specified biological activity by 50% under defined conditions.
References
- Holophyllane A: A Triterpenoid Possessing an Unprecedented B-nor-3,4-seco-17,14-friedo-lanostane Architecture from Abies holophylla. Scientific Reports (2017).
- Metasequoia glyptostroboides potentiates anticancer effect against cervical cancer via intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Scientific Reports (2021).
- Anti-Amyloidogenic Effects of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Fruits and Its Active Constituents. Molecules (2023).
- Abietane-Type Diterpenoids from the Arils of Torreya grandis. Molecules (2024).
About these summaries
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