Going Back to the Good Old Days: The Merit of Crude Plant Drug Mixtures in the 21st Century

Abstract

Throughout human history, natural products have been effectively employed as sources of medicine both in their crude mixture forms and as purified single chemical entities. With advances in medicinal chemistry researches and availability of drugs from synthetic sources, the use of natural medicines in the last few decades have been greatly undermined in the developed world and those that survived must have to fit for purpose through rigorous quality control checks and/or evidence of quality, safety and efficacy. This article outlines the merits of natural medicines for the 21 st century complex diseases through various concepts of therapeutic approaches. The high prevalence of more complex diseases that require approaches of polypharmacology principles among others are discussed.

The Quest to Enhance the Efficacy of Berberine for Type-2 Diabetes and Associated Diseases: Physicochemical Modification Approaches

“…Wang et al [119] synthesised a series of new derivatives of berberine or pseudoberberine (26) ( Figure 5) with potential activity on AMPK activation and upregulation of LDL receptor gene expression. The structural difference between 26 and berberine (1) is due to the dimethoxyl position: 9,10 in berberine and 10,11 positions in compound (26). Berberrubine (M1, 2), being an active metabolite of berberine, and hence berberine sometimes considered as a prodrug, Li et al [120] synthesised derivatives with potential cholesterol-lowering activities with improved bioavailability.…”

“…Numerous other high berberine-yielding medicinal plants have further been reported with the most famous being Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread) and related species and Hydrastis Canadensis or goldenseal. Since berberine acts through the polypharmacology principle of drug action [26], there is a growing interest to increase its efficiency through synthetic derivatives that have better pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics profile. With the aim of promoting research in this field, our recent communication scrutinised the gut microbiota as a hidden therapeutic target that dictate the diverse pharmacology of berberine [27].…”

Plants‐Derived Neuroprotective Agents: Cutting the Cycle of Cell Death through Multiple Mechanisms

“…One of the most important structural features of polyphenols is their potential to treat a diverse range of disease conditions including NDs and metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes). It is also worth noting that complex diseases such as the NDs do not have one single pharmacological target and drugs working through a simple therapeutic principle (one drug → one-target → one disease) may not be effective, while drugs like polyphenols working through polypharmacology (multidrug → multitarget → multidisease/complex disease) or multifunctional (one drug → multitarget → multidisease/complex disease) principles have a far better chance to treat these diseases [ 91 ]. It is not surprising then that even reversing the neurotransmitter deficit in AD and PD does not offer a cure to NDs.…”

Recent Advances in Berberine Inspired Anticancer Approaches: From Drug Combination to Novel Formulation Technology and Derivatization

“…The diversity of berberine's effect and potential to treat numerous diseases has been extensively reviewed and include antibacterial [14], anti-inflammatory [15] antidiabetic [16], antiobesity [17] and antidementia [18] effects. The best way to explain these effects is of course the polypharmacology principle of action, which is evident for multifunctional natural products like berberine [19]. As with other diseases, the therapeutic potential of berberine for cancer is also mediated through effect on diverse The diversity of berberine's effect and potential to treat numerous diseases has been extensively reviewed and include antibacterial [14], anti-inflammatory [15] antidiabetic [16], antiobesity [17] and antidementia [18] effects.…”

“…As with other diseases, the therapeutic potential of berberine for cancer is also mediated through effect on diverse The diversity of berberine's effect and potential to treat numerous diseases has been extensively reviewed and include antibacterial [14], anti-inflammatory [15] antidiabetic [16], antiobesity [17] and antidementia [18] effects. The best way to explain these effects is of course the polypharmacology principle of action, which is evident for multifunctional natural products like berberine [19]. As with other diseases, the therapeutic potential of berberine for cancer is also mediated through effect on diverse cellular targets and signalling processes (see Section 2 below).…”