Natural Products as Cytotoxic Agents

Abstract

AbstractNature has proved to be a wellspring of important antineoplastic agents. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the study of natural products with an emphasis on the discovery of novel therapeutic agents. New technologies and approaches such as high‐throughput screening, parallel synthesis, and other programs has facilitated this increased interest in natural products research. The scientific literature indicates that natural sources not previously considered as bioactive have in fact, become potential valuable treasure troves of novel chemical structures. For example, marine products from diverse sources such as thermal vents, sponges, terrestrial thermal vents, glacial cryogenic organisms, and xerophytic and endophytic organisms now give rise to a vast assortment of microorganisms. Additionally, the study of the biosynthetic machineries and biochemical process in microorganism has enhanced the research of cryptic natural products, fueling the search for natural products in the treatment of cancer. It comes as no surprise that nature biosynthesizes chemical compounds that chemists have not considered even in their imaginations. Although this article provides a few of these examples, it is certain that more will be present in the literature as the intellectual property in these discoveries are protected.