Medicinal Natural Products: A Biosynthetic Approach

Medicinal Natural Products A Biosynthetic Approach Paul M Dewick Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK It has been estimated that up to 70% of the world's population is reliant on natural materials for medical treatment and in the light of the continued search for new drugs by today's pharmaceutical industry there is currently renewed interest in pharmacologically active natural products, be they from microorganisms, animals or plants. Written for undergraduate students of pharmacy, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, chemistry and indeed all those with an interest in natural products, Medicinal Natural Products provides a comprehensive introduction to this subject from a biosynthetic point of view. Building on fundamental chemical principles and demonstrating a unique integration of plant, microbial and animal natural products in one volume, Paul Dewick guides the reader through a wealth of diverse natural metabolites used in medicine. Sources, production methods, use as drugs and modes of action are all covered, together with semi-synthetic derivatives and synthetic analogues developed from natural product templates. Medicinal Natural Products includes extensive use of chemical schemes with annotated mechanistic explanations and is highly cross-referenced to emphasize the links and similarities among natural products. Written in a user-friendly style, this is a stimulating textbook for today's students, and an ideal starting point for project and dissertation work.