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Review
. 2016 Dec 31;22(1):58.
doi: 10.3390/molecules22010058.

The Role of Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development against Neglected Tropical Diseases

Peter Mubanga Cheuka  1 , Godfrey Mayoka  2 , Peggoty Mutai  3 , Kelly Chibale  4   5   6
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development against Neglected Tropical Diseases

Peter Mubanga Cheuka et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Endemic in 149 tropical and subtropical countries, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect more than 1 billion people annually, including 875 million children in developing economies. These diseases are also responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year and are characterized by long-term disability and severe pain. The impact of the combined NTDs closely rivals that of malaria and tuberculosis. Current treatment options are associated with various limitations including widespread drug resistance, severe adverse effects, lengthy treatment duration, unfavorable toxicity profiles, and complicated drug administration procedures. Natural products have been a valuable source of drug regimens that form the cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical care. In this review, we highlight the potential that remains untapped in natural products as drug leads for NTDs. We cover natural products from plant, marine, and microbial sources including natural-product-inspired semi-synthetic derivatives which have been evaluated against the various causative agents of NTDs. Our coverage is limited to four major NTDs which include human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis.

Keywords: antiprotozoal agents; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; lymphatic filariasis; natural products; phytotherapy; schistosomiasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Antitrypanosomal drugs in clinical use.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trypanocidal alkaloids, saponins, and peroxides isolated from marine organisms.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trypanocidal phenolic and quinone derivatives.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Trypanocidal terpenes and other metabolites.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Trypanocidal semisynthetic compounds based on natural product scaffolds.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Currently used antileishmanial drugs.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Antileishmanial flavonoids, sterols, chalcones, coumarins, tannins and aurones.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Antileishmanial iridoid, naphtoquinone, quinolines, and alkaloids.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Anti-leishmanial saponins.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Lignans, taxoids, anthranoids, terpenes and other leishmanicidal metabolites.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Marine-derived antileishmanial natural products.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Natural product-based synthetic/semisynthetic antileishmanial compounds.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Clinically established antischistosomal drugs.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Antischistosomal alkaloids and ginger-derived metabolites.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Antischistosomal phloroglucinols, curcumin, and phytol.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Antischistosomal cinchona alkaloids and derivatives.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Artemisinin derivatives with antischistosomal potency.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Structures of allicin, vernodalin, emetine and dehydroemetine.
Figure 19
Figure 19
Structures of Mevinolin (lovastatin), plumbagin and sanguinarine.
Figure 20
Figure 20
Naturally derived antifilarial compounds.
Figure 21
Figure 21
Synthetic antifilarial quinones based on natural product scaffolds.
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