Tree that provides paclitaxel is put on list of endangered species

Susan, M.

doi:10.1136/bmj.d7411

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Currently, several NPs or NPs-derived molecules are employed in the treatment of distinct diseases, such as the antibiotic penicillin originally obtained from the fungi Penicillium spp [69]; the analgesic aspirin, which is the most used drug in the world, derived from salicin extracted from the bark of the willow trees Salix alba [70]; and the immunosuppressant tacrolimus employed in the prevention of the rejection organ after transplants, obtained from bacteria Streptomyces tsukubaensis [71], are some examples. Besides, NPs and their derivatives have been considered promising options to improve treatment efficiency in cancer patients and decrease adverse reactions [72], whereas vinca alkaloids [73], taxane diterpenoids [74], camptothecin derivatives [75], and epipodophyllotoxin [76], are NPs-derived anticancer compounds clinically used as chemotherapeutics; while an example of the importance of biodiversity conservation is exemplified by the tree Taxus brevifolia , from which the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel was originally extracted, that was put on the list of endangered species [77,78].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PeruNPDB: The Peruvian Natural Products Database for in silico drug screening

Barazorda-Ccahuana

Ranilla

Candia-Puma

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Since the number of drugs based on natural products (NPs) represents a large source of novel pharmacological entities, NPs have acquired significance in drug discovery. Peru is considered a megadiverse country with many endemic species of plants, terrestrial, and marine animals, and microorganisms. NPs databases have a major impact on drug discovery development. For this reason, several countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, and China have initiatives to assemble and maintain NPs databases that are representative of their diversity and ethnopharmacological usage. We describe the assembly, curation, and full chemoinformatic evaluation of the content and coverage in chemical space, as well as the physicochemical attributes and chemical diversity of the initial version of the Peruvian Natural Products Database (PeruNPDB), which contains 280 compounds. Access to PeruNPDB is available for free (https://perunpdb.com.pe/). The PeruNPDB collection is intended to be used in a variety of tasks, such as virtual screening campaigns against various disease targets or biological endpoints. This emphasizes the significance of biodiversity protection both directly and indirectly on human health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PeruNPDB: The Peruvian Natural Products Database for in silico drug screening

Barazorda-Ccahuana

Ranilla

Candia-Puma

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Even though the use of herbal medicine in TM systems is wildly thought to be effective in improving disease, western medicine was initially sceptical of its usage, due to the lack of scientific evidence to back up these medicinal claims (Pan et al 2014). In spite of this, it must also be noted that some of the most useful and commonly used pharmaceuticals are derived from natural plants, such as morphine and paclitaxel (Taxol), which were isolated from the poppy opium plant and the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia), respectively (Mayor 2011. Therefore, along with their efficacy in TMs, plants constituents have been shown to be useful for the development of pharmaceuticals.…”

Section: Nutraceuticals and Traditional Medicinementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutraceutical targeting of the bile acid receptor, farnesoid X receptor, for intestinal disease

et al. 2022

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Introduction Bile acids classically known for their roles in dietary fat absorption are now recognized as hormones critical to regulating intestinal and metabolic function, including mucosal immune responses, epithelial proliferation/apoptosis, and transepithelial transport and barrier function. Downregulation of the nuclear bile acid receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR), in intestinal epithelium occurs in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, whereas FXR activation prevents disease progression in pre‐clinical models. Thus strategies to upregulate epithelial FXR expression have been proposed to treat such conditions. Previous studies suggest that some plant‐derived phytochemicals have the capacity to modulate FXR activity. Plant sources have been reported to contain such phytochemicals, which are proposed to modulate FXR. Aim The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential for developing plant extracts, rich in FXR‐modulating phytochemicals, as a novel nutraceutical‐based approach to treat and prevent intestinal diseases. Methods T84 human colonic epithelial cells and primary cultures of murine colonic epithelial enteroids were employed to examine the effects of a common‐dietary phytochemical, denoted here as KFS1, and a KFS1‐rich plant extract on FXR expression and signaling in vitro. Ex vivo studies were carried out on human colonic tissue obtained during endoscopy with ethical approval from Beaumont Hospital. In vivo studies in C57BL/6 mice were carried out and proximal colonic tissue were examined with ethical approval from the HPRA. Expression of FXR and FGF19/15, an established marker of FXR activation, was assessed by qRT‐PCR, ELISA and immunoblotting. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM for a series of n experiments. Results KFS1 treatment (5 µM; 24hrs) increased FXR mRNA and protein expression in T84 cells by 4.2 ± 0.4 (p<0.05; n = 4) and 1.7 ± 0.1 fold (p<0.05; n = 7) respectively. KFS1 also enhanced FGF19 protein expression in response to the FXR agonist GW4064 (5 µM), by 4.1 ± 0.5 fold (p<0.001; n = 7). Similarly KFS1 upregulated FXR expression by 2.1 ± 0.4 fold in human biopsies (p<0.05; n = 6). Oral KFS1 administration to mice had a tendency to upregulate colonic epithelial FXR signaling in vivo and increased FXR expression and GW4064‐induced FGF15 by 2.3 ± 0.2 (p<0.01; n = 4) and 2.2 ± 0.1 fold (p<0.01; n = 4) in murine colonic enteroids. Finally a methanolic KFS1‐rich plant extract, denoted QE1, verified by LC/MS to contain KFS1, increased FXR protein expression in vitro by 1.8 ± 0.2 fold (p<0.05; n = 5) and enhanced GW4064‐induced FGF19 protein by 1.9 ± 0.1 fold (p<0.01; n = 9). Conclusion Our data demonstrate that KFS1‐containing plant extracts modulate expression and activity of FXR in the intestinal epithelium. Given the critical role of FXR in maintenance of gut health and metabolic function, such extracts have significant therapeutic and commercial potential to be developed as a novel first‐in‐class “FXR‐targeted nutraceutical” for treatment and prevention of common in...

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“…Some notable land based examples include penicillin, an antibiotic that was originally sourced from the fungi Penicillium spp ; aspirin, derived from a compound originally extracted from the bark of the willow trees Salix alba 4; paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug originally extracted from the Pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia , which is now endangered5; and tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant drug used in organ transplants to prevent rejection, discovered from soil samples that contained the bacteria Streptomyces tsukubaensis 6…”

Section: Biodiversity and Drug Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

From drug discovery to coronaviruses: why restoring natural habitats is good for human health

Murage

Batalha

Lino

et al. 2021

BMJ

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The restoration and protection of natural habitats enhance biological diversity (biodiversity; box 1). These two concepts (natural habitats and biodiversity) are interdependent because complex symbiotic interspecies relationships are the foundation of thriving natural habitats. Nearly every aspect of our survival depends on exploiting natural resources-when land is converted for food production and housing, for example, or for the extraction of energy, raw materials, and water. The unsustainable use of natural resources has led to short term improvements in human health characterised by increases in life expectancy and a global decline in poverty. 1 But these are matched by an unprecedented alteration of the natural world characterised by loss of primary forests, species extinction, concentration of greenhouse gases, and ocean acidification, among others. 1 This has perilous consequences to the planet and to human health in the long term. Box 1: Biodiversity and ecosystemsThe Convention on Biological Diversity defines biological diversity (biodiversity) as the variability among living organisms from all sources (including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems) and the ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Ecosystem means a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. Habitat means the place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs. Biodiversity should be preserved at three levels: ecosystem, species, and genetic. In other words, we should preserve a diversity of ecosystems on Earth, and within those ecosystems we should preserve a diversity of species, as the more biodiverse ecosystems are resilient to change. Genetic diversity within a species refers to all the genes and alleles contained in the individuals of that species. It serves as a reservoir of development possibilities, and it can help species adapt to future environment changes.

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Tree that provides paclitaxel is put on list of endangered species

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

PeruNPDB: The Peruvian Natural Products Database for in silico drug screening

PeruNPDB: The Peruvian Natural Products Database for in silico drug screening

Nutraceutical targeting of the bile acid receptor, farnesoid X receptor, for intestinal disease

From drug discovery to coronaviruses: why restoring natural habitats is good for human health

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