Natural Products and Bioactivity Assessment
Summary
Natural products, encompassing a diverse array of small molecules derived from plants, microbes and marine organisms, have long served as a reservoir of pharmacologically significant agents. These compounds, often secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids, exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities including anticancer, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Bioactivity assessment integrates chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for compound isolation and structural elucidation with in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate biological function and safety. Advances in metabolomic profiling, high‐throughput screening and molecular docking have accelerated the identification of novel scaffolds and mechanistic insights into molecular targets. Interdisciplinary collaboration between phytochemists, pharmacologists and computational biologists has expanded the scope of discovery, enabling the translation of natural leads into clinical candidates. Beyond therapeutic applications, natural products underpin innovations in agriculture, cosmetics and nutraceuticals, reflecting their global significance in addressing health challenges and sustainable development.
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Natural Products and Bioactivity Assessment publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in natural products and bioactivity assessment across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Secondary metabolite: A non-essential small molecule produced by organisms that often mediates ecological interactions and exhibits bioactive properties.
Bioactivity assessment: The evaluation of a compound’s biological effects through in vitro, in vivo or in silico assays to determine pharmacological potential and safety.
Metabolomic profiling: A comprehensive analytical approach to identify and quantify metabolites in a biological sample, revealing biochemical pathways and compound correlations.
Phenolic compounds: A class of aromatic secondary metabolites characterised by one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a benzene ring, often exhibiting antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.
Monoterpene hydrocarbons: A subgroup of terpenoids consisting of two isoprene units, commonly found in essential oils and contributing to aroma and bioactivity.
References
- Anticancer Potentials of the Lignan Magnolin: A Systematic Review. Molecules (2023).
- Phytochemical Analysis and Specific Activities of Bark and Flower Extracts from Four Magnolia Plant Species. Horticulturae (2024).
- Profiles of Essential Oils and Correlations with Phenolic Acids and Primary Metabolites in Flower Buds of Magnolia heptapeta and Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens. Molecules (2021).
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