Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nature’s Generosity in Protecting Human Health

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Rationality and Scientific Lifestyle for Health

Part of the book series: University of Tehran Science and Humanities Series ((UTSHS))

Abstract

This chapter aims to demonstrate the high value of natural compounds in modern drug discovery. Although, in today’s global market, the extraction of natural products does not count as a primary method to produce medicines, yet nature’s selectivity toward producing specific stereoisomers makes this source an interesting target for further studies. The biological and chemical comparison between natural and synthetic chiral structures shows thoughtful selectivity of nature toward creating the isomer that possesses the highest therapeutic properties and least side effects. Thus, even the developments of modern techniques in synthetic chemistry and drug design could not replace or overshadow the importance of these natural treasures in the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, we devoted this chapter to introduce the essential role of nature in all its forms (plants, bacteria, fungus, or even animals’ organs) in the discovery of some critical therapeutic agents, including a few well-known drugs that saved the lives of many patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 34.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Akram M, Alam O, Usmanghani K, Naveed A, Asif M (2012) Colchicum autumnale: a review. J Med Plants Res 6:1489–1491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Artalejo A, Garcia A, Montiel C, Sanchez-Garcia P (1985) A dopaminergic receptor modulates catecholamine release from the cat adrenal gland. J Physiol 362(1):359–368

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Astutik S, Pretzsch J, Ndzifon Kimengsi J (2019) Asian medicinal plants’ production and utilization potentials: a review. Sustainability 11(19):5483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atack JR, Yu QS, Soncrant TT, Brossi A, Rapoport SI (1989) Comparative inhibitory effects of various physostigmine analogs against acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterases. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 249(1):194–202

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ault A (2008) Percy Julian, Robert Robinson, and the identity of eserethole. J Chem Educ 85(11):1524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bamji SF, Corbitt C (2017) Glyceollins: soybean phytoalexins that exhibit a wide range of health-promoting effects. J Funct Foods 34:98–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bantle JP, Hunninghake DB, Frantz ID, Kuba K, Mariash CN, Oppenheimer JH (1984) Comparison of effectiveness of thyrotropin-suppressive doses of d- and l-Thyroxine in treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Am J Med 77(3):475–481

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett MR (1999) One hundred years of adrenaline: the discovery of autoreceptors. Clin Auton Res 9(3):145–159

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bentley RJ (1995) From optical activity in quartz to chiral drugs: molecular handedness in biology and medicine, vol 38. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya B, Panda D, Gupta S, Banerjee M (2008) Anti-mitotic activity of colchicine and the structural basis for its interaction with tubulin. Med Res Rev 28(1):155–183

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blakemore PR, White JD (2002) Morphine, the proteus of organic molecules. Chem Commun 11:1159–1168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaschko H (1939) The specific action of l-Dopa decarboxylase. J Physiol 96(50):50–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadley KJ (2010) The vascular effects of trace amines and amphetamines. Pharmacol Ther 125(3):363–375

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brook K, Bennett J, Desai SP (2017) The chemical history of morphine: an 8000-year journey, from resin to de-novo synthesis. J Anesth Hist 3(2):50–55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brossi A (1985) Further explorations of unnatural alkaloids. J Nat Prod 48(6):878–893

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brossi A, Pei X-F (1998) Biological activity of unnatural alkaloid enantiomers. In: The alkaloids: chemistry and biology, vol 50. Elsevier, pp 109–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Brossi A, Schönenberger B, Clark OE, Ray R (1986) Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase from electric eel by (−)- and (+)-physostigmine and related compounds. FEBS Lett 201(2):190–192

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan LJ, O’Donnell SR (1984) Stereoselectivity of extraneuronal uptake of catecholamines in guinea-pig trachealis smooth muscle cells. Br J Pharmacol 82(3):757–762

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Butler MS (2004) The role of natural product chemistry in drug discovery. J Nat Prod 67(12):2141–2153

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bylund DB (2016) Norepinephrine. In: Reference module in biomedical sciences. Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  • Canner PL, Berge KG, Wenger NK, Stamler J, Friedman L, Prineas RJ, Friedewald W (1986) Fifteen year mortality in coronary drug project patients: long-term benefit with niacin. J Am Coll Cardiol 8(6):1245–1255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll FI (2004) Epibatidine structure-activity relationships. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 14(8):1889–1896

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casy AF, Parfitt RT (2013) Opioid analgesics: chemistry and receptors. Springer Science & Business Media

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerquaglia C, Diaco M, Nucera G, La Regina M, Montalto M, Manna R (2005) Pharmacological and clinical basis of treatment of familial mediterranean fever (Fmf) with colchicine or analogues: an update. Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy 4:117–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chiribau CB, Sandu C, Fraaije M, Schiltz E, Brandsch R (2004) A Novel Γ-N-methylaminobutyrate demethylating oxidase involved in catabolism of the tobacco alkaloid nicotine by arthrobacter nicotinovorans Pao1. Eur J Biochem 271(23–24):4677–4684

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choi DW, Peters S, Viseskul V (1987) Dextrorphan and levorphanol selectively block N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated neurotoxicity on cortical neurons. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 242(2):713–720

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christison R (1855) On the properties of the Ordeal-Bean of Old Calabar Western Africa. Monthly J Med (edinb) 20(3):193–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke P, Kumar R (1983) Characterization of the locomotor stimulant action of nicotine in tolerant rats. Br J Pharmacol 80(3):587–594

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Coppi G, Vidi A, Bonardi G (1972) Quantitative determination of d-Dopa present in levodopa samples. J Pharm Sci 61(9):1460–1461

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corey EJ, Kürti L (2010) Examples of enantioselective synthesis. In: Corey EJ, Kürti L (eds) Enantioselective chemical synthesis. Academic Press, Boston, pp 179–326

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dabiri M, Salehi P, Kozehgary G, Heydari S, Heydari A, Esfandyari M (2008) Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by 14-hydroxylsubstituted morphinans. Tetrahedron Asymmetry 19(16):1970–1972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalbeth N, Merriman TR, Stamp LK (2016) Gout. The Lancet 388(10055):2039–2052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dale FJ, Robinson B (1970) The synthesis and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of (+)-physostigmine and (+)-physovenine. J Pharm Pharmacol 22(12):889–896

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daly JW, Garraffo MH, Spande TF, Decker MW, Sullivan JP, Williams M (2000) Alkaloids from frog skin: the discovery of epibatidine and the potential for developing novel non-opioid analgesics. Natural Product Reports 17(2):131–135

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daly J, Spande T, Garraffo H (2005) Alkaloids from amphibian skin: a tabulation of over eight-hundred compounds. J Nat Prod 68:1556–1575

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Damaj M, Creasy K, Grove A, Rosecrans J, Martin B (1994) Pharmacological effects of epibatidine optical enantiomers. Brain Res 664(1–2):34–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davenport-Hines R (2003) The pursuit of oblivion: a global history of narcotics. WW Norton & Company

    Google Scholar 

  • De Backer D, Biston P, Devriendt J, Madl C, Chochrad D, Aldecoa C, Brasseur A, Defrance P, Gottignies P, Vincent J-L (2010) Comparison of dopamine and norepinephrine in the treatment of shock. N Engl J Med 362(9):779–789

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dewick PM (2009) Alkaloids. In: Medicinal natural products: a biosynthetic approach. 3rd edn. Wiley & Sons, pp 311–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Drobnik J, Drobnik E (2016) Timeline and bibliography of early isolations of plant metabolites (1770–1820) and their impact to pharmacy: a critical study. Fitoterapia 115:155–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dufault C, Tremblay G, Nowaczynski W, Genest J (1961) Influence of dextro-thyroxine and androsterone on blood clotting factors and serum cholesterol in patients with atherosclerosis. Can Med Assoc J 85(19):1025–1031

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Eichelbaum MF, Testa B, Somogyi A (2003) Stereochemical aspects of drug action and disposition. In: Handbook of experimental pharmacology, vol 153, 1st edn. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler USv, (1946) A specific sympathomimetic ergone in adrenergic nerve fibres (sympathin) and its relations to adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. Acta Physiol Scand 12(1):73–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer J, Ganellin CR, Ganesan A, Proudfoot J (2010) Analogue-based drug discovery, 1st edn. Wiley-VCH

    Google Scholar 

  • Flock EV, David C, Hallenbeck GA, Owen CA, JR. (1963) Metabolism of d-thyroxine. Endocrinology 73(6):764–774

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foulds J, Stapleton JA, Bell N, Swettenham J, Jarvis MJ, Russell MA (1997) Mood and physiological effects of subcutaneous nicotine in smokers and never-smokers. Drug Alcohol Depend 44(2–3):105–115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Funk C (1911) Lxv.—synthesis of Dl-3: 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. J Chem Soc Trans 99:554–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furukawa H, Singh SK, Mancusso R, Gouaux E (2005) Subunit arrangement and function in Nmda receptors. Nature 438(7065):185–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Gal J (2012) The discovery of stereoselectivity at biological receptors: Arnaldo Piutti and the taste of the Asparagine Enantiomers—history and analysis on the 125th anniversary. Chirality 24(12):959–976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gates M, Tschudi G (1952) The syntheis of morphine. J Am Chem Soc 74(4):1109–1110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert DG, Robinson JH, Chamberlin CL, Spielberger CD (1989) Effects of smoking/nicotine on anxiety, heart rate, and lateralization of eeg during a stressful Movie. Psychophysiology 26(3):311–320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Girard S, Robins RJ, Villiéras J, Lebreton J (2000) A short and efficient synthesis of unnatural (R)-nicotine. Tetrahedron Lett 41(48):9245–9249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gjedde A, Léger GC, Cumming P, Yasuhara Y, Evans AC, Guttman M, Kuwabara H (1993) Striatal l-Dopa decarboxylase activity in Parkinson’s Disease in Vivo: implications for the regulation of dopamine synthesis. J Neurochem 61(4):1538–1541

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein DS (2001) Adrenaline and noradrenaline. In: Encyclopedia of life science. Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorman CA, Jiang NS, Ellefson RD, Elveback LR (1979) Comparative effectiveness of dextrothyroxine and levothyroxine in correcting hypothyroidism and lowering blood lipid levels in hypothyroid patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 49(1):1–7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goto K, Shishido H (1933) Über Dihydro-Sinomenilan Und Seinen Abbau. Justus Liebigs Annalen Der Chemie 507(1):296–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goto K, Shishido H, Takubo K (1932) Über 1-Brom-Sinomenilsäure Und 1-Brom-Sinomenilon. Justus Liebigs Annalen Der Chemie 495(1):122–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gudin J, Fudin J, Nalamachu S (2016) Levorphanol use: past, present and future. Postgrad Med 128(1):46–53

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guggenheim M (1913) Dioxyphenylalanin, Eine Neue Aminosäure Aus Vicia Faba. Hoppe-Seyler´ s Zeitschrift für Physiologische Chemie 88(4):276–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Harington CR, Barger G (1927) Chemistry of thyroxine: constitution and synthesis of thyroxine. Biochem J 21(1):169

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hennessey JV (2015) Historical and current perspective in the use of thyroid extracts for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Endocrine Pract 21(10):1161–1170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiroshima Y, Miyamoto H, Nakamura F, Masukawa D, Yamamoto T, Muraoka H, Kamiya M, Yamashita N, Suzuki T, Matsuzaki S, Endo I, Goshima Y (2014) The protein ocular albinism 1 is the orphan Gpcr Gpr143 and mediates depressor and bradycardic responses to dopa in the nucleus tractus solitarii. Br J Pharmacol 171(2):403–414

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson B (2001) In the Arms of Morpheus: The Tragic History of Laudanum, Morphine, and Patent Medicines. Firefly Books

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtz P (1939) Dopadecarboxylase. Die Naturwissenschaften 27(43):724–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hymowitz T, Newell C (1981) Taxonomy of the genus glycine, domestication and uses of soybeans. Econ Bot 35(3):272–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyneck M, Dent J, Hook JB (1990) Chirality: pharmacological action and drug development. In: Brown C (ed) Chirality in drug design and synthesis. Academic Press, pp 1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Iversen L (1997) The uptake of catechol amines at high perfusion concentrations in the rat isolated heart: a novel catechol amine uptake process. Br J Pharmacol 120(S1):267–282

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Iversen LL, Jarrott B, Simmonds MA (1971) Differences in the uptake, storage and metabolism of (+)- and (−)-noradrenaline. Br J Pharmacol 43(4):845–855

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquet YF (1979) Morphine: exogenous endorphin? In: Endorphins in mental health research. Springer, pp 325–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacquet Y, Klee W, Rice K, Iijima I, Minamikawa J (1977) Stereospecific and nonstereospecific effects of (+)- and (−)-morphine: evidence for a new class of receptors? Science 198(4319):842–845

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jobst J, Hesse O (1864) Ueber Die Bohne Von Calabar. Justus Liebigs Annalen Der Chemie 129(1):115–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Julian PL, Pikl J (1935) Studies in the indole series. V. The complete synthesis of physostigmine (eserine). J Am Chem Soc 57 (4):755–757

    Google Scholar 

  • Julian PL, Pikl J (1935) Studies in the Indole Series. Iii. On the Synthesis of Physostigmine. Journal of the American Chemical Society 57 (3):539–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karoum F, Freed WJ, Chuang L-W, Cannon-Spoor E, Wyatt RJ, Costa E (1988) d-Dopa and l-Dopa similarly elevate brain dopamine and produce turning behavior in rats. Brain Res 440(1):190–194

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall EC (1915) The isolation in crystalline form of the compound containing iodin, which occurs in the thyroid: its chemical nature and physiologic activity. J Am Med Assoc LXIV 25:2042–2043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall E (1964) Reminiscences on the isolation of thyroxine. In: Mayo clinic proceedings, p 548

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall EC (1983) The isolation in crystalline form of the compound containing iodin, which occurs in the thyroid: its chemical nature and physiologic activity. J Am Med Assoc 250(15):2045–2046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kier LB (1969) The preferred conformation of noradrenaline and a consideration of the Α-adrenergic receptor. J Pharm Pharmacol 21(2):93–96

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King TL, Brucker MC (2010) Pharmacology for women’s health. Jones & Bartlett Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinghorn AD, Pan L, Fletcher JN, Chai H (2011) The relevance of higher plants in lead compound discovery programs. J Nat Prod 74(6):1539–1555

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kopp P, Solis-S JC (2009) Thyroid hormone synthesis. In: Wondisford FE, Radovick S (eds) Clinical management of thyroid disease. saunders, Philadelphia, W.B, pp 19–41

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Krikler D, Lefevre D, Lewis B (1971) Dextrothyroxine with propranolol in treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. The Lancet 297(7706):934–936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaPrairie JL, Schechter JC, Robinson BA, Brennan PA (2011) Perinatal risk factors in the development of aggression and violence. In: Huber R, Bannasch DL, Brennan P (eds) Advances in genetics, vol 75. Academic Press, pp 215–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurent A (1847) Sur La Composition Des Alcalis Organiques Et De Quelques Combinaisons Azotées. Annales De Chimie Et De Physique 19:359–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Lecomte S, Chalmel F, Ferriere F, Percevault F, Plu N, Saligaut C, Surel C, Lelong M, Efstathiou T, Pakdel F (2017) Glyceollins trigger anti-proliferative effects through estradiol-dependent and independent pathways in breast cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal 15(1):26

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Leete E (1963) The biosynthesis of the alkaloids of colchicum. Iii. The incorporation of phenylalanine-2-C14 into colchicine and demecolcine. J Am Chem Soc 85(22):3666–3669

    Google Scholar 

  • Leete E (1992) The biosynthesis of nicotine and related alkaloids in intact plants, isolated plant parts, tissue cultures, and cell-free systems. In: Secondary-metabolite biosynthesis and metabolism. Springer, pp 121–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindholm J, Laurberg P (2011) Hypothyroidism and thyroid substitution: historical aspects. J Thyroid Res 2011:809341

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez VM, Decatur CL, Stamer WD, Lynch RM, McKay BS (2008) l-Dopa Is an endogenous ligand for Oa1. PLoS Biol 6(9):236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludin H (2018) The l-Dopa story: translational neuroscience ante verbum. Clin Transl Neurosci 2:1876540–2514183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machairiotis N, Vasilakaki S, Kouroutou P (2020) Natural products: potential lead compounds for the treatment of endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 245:7–12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie HW (1892) A case of myxoedema treated with great benefit by feeding with fresh thyroid glands. BMJ 2(1661):940

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maier UH, Zenk MH (1997) Colchicine is formed by para-para phenol coupling from autumnaline. Tetrahedron Lett 38(42):7357–7360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcelli T, Hiemstra H (2010) Cinchona alkaloids in asymmetric organocatalysis. Synthesis 2010(08):1229–1279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meissner W (1819) Ueber Ein Neues Pflanzenalkali (Alkaloid). Journal Für Chemie Und Physik 25:379–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Midgley JEM, Larisch R, Dietrich JW, Hoermann R (2015) Variation in the biochemical response to l-Thyroxine therapy and relationship with peripheral thyroid hormone conversion efficiency. Endocrine Connect 4(4):196–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohebbi M, Bararjanian M, Ebrahimi SN, Smieško M, Salehi P (2018a) Noscapine derivatives as new chiral catalysts in asymmetric synthesis: highly enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes. Synthesis 50(09):1841–1848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohebbi M, Salehi P, Bararjanian M, Ebrahimi SN (2018b) Noscapine-derived Β-amino alcohols as new organocatalysts for enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes. J Iran Chem Soc 15(1):47–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morales F, Padilla S, Falconí F (2016) Medicinal plants used in traditional herbal medicine in the Province of Chimborazo, Ecuador. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 14(1):10–15

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moses J, Siddiqui A, Silverman PB (1996) Sodium Benzoate differentially blocks circling induced by d- and l-Dopa in the Hemi-Parkinsonian Rat. Neurosci Lett 218(3):145–148

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murray GR (1891) Note on the treatment of myxoedema by hypodermic injections of an extract of the thyroid gland of a sheep. BMJ 2(1606):796

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Musacchio JM (1975) Enzymes Involved in the Biosynthesis and Degradation of Catecholamines. In: Iversen LL, Iversen SD, Snyder SH (eds) Biochemistry of biogenic amines. Springer, US, Boston, MA, pp 1–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman DJ, Cragg GM, Snader KM (2000) The influence of natural products upon drug discovery. Natural Product Rep 17(3):215–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen L, He H, Pham-Huy C (2006) Chiral drugs: an overview. Int J Biomed Sci IJBS 2:85–100

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novak BH, Hudlicky T, Reed JW, Mulzer J, Trauner D (2000) Morphine synthesis and biosynthesis-an update. Curr Org Chem 4(3):343–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onoyovwe A, Hagel JM, Chen X, Khan MF, Schriemer DC, Facchini PJ (2013) Morphine biosynthesis in opium poppy involves two cell types: sieve elements and laticifers. Plant Cell 25(10):4110

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pallavicini M, Valoti E, Villa L, Lianza P (1994) Synthesis of (−)- and (+)-esermethole via chemical resolution of 1,3-dimethyl-3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-methoxyoxindole. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 5(1):111–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Payton-Stewart F, Khupse RS, Boué SM, Elliott S, Zimmermann MC, Skripnikova EV, Ashe H, Tilghman SL, Beckman BS, Cleveland TE, McLachlan JA, Bhatnagar D, Wiese TE, Erhardt P, Burow ME (2010) Glyceollin I enantiomers distinctly regulate er-mediated gene expression. Steroids 75(12):870–878

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pechnick RN, Poland RE (2004) Comparison of the effects of dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, and levorphanol on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 309(2):515–522

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pei X-F, Greig NH, Flippen-Anderson JL, Bi S, Brossi A (1994) Total synthesis of racemic and optically active compounds related to physostigmine and ring-C Heteroanalogues from 3-[2′-(dimethylamino)ethyl]2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1,3-dimethyl-1h-indo L-2-Ol. Helv Chim Acta 77(5):1412–1422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian C, Li T, Shen T, Libertine-Garahan L, Eckman J, Biftu T, Ip S (1993) Epibatidine is a nicotinic analgesic. Eur J Pharmacol 250(3):R13–R14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ravin JG, Higginbotham EJ (2009) The story of Percy Lavon Julian: against all odds. Arch Ophthalmol 127(5):690–692

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rentsch KM (2002) The importance of stereoselective determination of drugs in the clinical laboratory. J Biochem Biophys Methods 54(1):1–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riggs BL, Hartmann LC (2003) Selective estrogen-receptor modulators—mechanisms of action and application to clinical practice. N Engl J Med 348(7):618–629

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth GM (1962) The role of the catecholamines in hypertension: a review. Am J Cardiol 9(5):724–730

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salehi P, Dabiri M, Kozehgary G, Baghbanzadeh M (2009) An efficient method for catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aryl aldehydes by a C2-symmetric chiral imino alcohol. Tetrahedron Asymmetry 20(22):2609–2611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salehi B, Sestito S, Rapposelli S, Peron G, Calina D, Sharifi-Rad M, Sharopov F, Martins N, Sharifi-Rad J (2018) Epibatidine: a promising natural alkaloid in health. Biomolecules 9(1)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheindlin S (2010) Episodes in the story of physostigmine. Mol Interventions 10(1):4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serturner F (1805) Darstellung Der Reinen Mohnsaure (Opiumsaure) Nebst Einer Chemischen Untersuchung Des Opiums Mit Vorzuglicher Hinsicht Auf Einen Darin Neu Entdeckten Stoff Und Die Darin Gehorigen Bemerkungen. Trommsdorffs Journal Der Pharmazie 14(1):47–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma B (2014) Nature of chiral drugs and their occurrence in environment. J Xenobiotics 4(1):14–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shellabarger CJ, Brown JR (1959) The biosynthesis of thyroxine and 3:5:3′-triiodothyronine in larval and adult toads. J Endocrinol 18(1):98

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Q, Chen K, Morris-Natschke SL, Lee K-H (1998) Recent progress in the development of tubulin inhibitors as antimitotic antitumor agents. Curr Pharm Des 4(3):219–248

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slater S (2011) The discovery of thyroid replacement therapy. Part 3: a complete transformation. J R Society of Med 104 (3):100–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sneader W (2005) Drug discovery: a history. Wiley & Sons

    Google Scholar 

  • Song CE (2009) Cinchona alkaloids in synthesis and catalysis : ligands, immobilization and organocatalysis, pp 107–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Starr P (1960) Sodium dextrothyroxine and sodium levothyroxine: results of their use in an athyreotic patient with angina pectoris and hypercholesteremia. JAMA 173(17):1934–1935

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg D (2007) The search for cholesterol-lowering drugs. In: Steinberg D (ed) The cholesterol wars. Academic Press, Oxford, pp 125–142

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Stolz F (1904) Über Adrenalin Und Alkylaminoacetobrenzcatechin. Ber Dtsch Chem Ges 37(4149):416

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumithira G, Sujatha M (2013) Drug chirality & its clinical significance evident, future for the development/separation of single enantiomer drug from racemates-the chiral switch. Int J Pharm Geniun Res 1(1):1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Takada K, Swedberg M, Goldberg S, Katz J (1989) Discriminative stimulus effects of intravenous l-nicotine and nicotine analogs or metabolites in squirrel monkeys. Psychopharmacology 99(2):208–212

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tilghman S, Boue S, Burow M (2010) Glyceollins, a novel class of antiestrogenic phytoalexins. Mol Cell Pharmacol 2:155–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Toussaint C, Verniory A (1969) Serum renin levels and postnephrectomy blood pressure. N Engl J Med 281(5):272–273

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trease GE (1964) Pharmacy in history, vol 784. Baillière, Tindall and Cox

    Google Scholar 

  • Triggle DJ, Mitchell JM, Filler R (1998) The pharmacology of physostigmine. CNS Drug Rev 4(2):87–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tse G, Eslick GD (2016) Soy and isoflavone consumption and risk of gastrointestinal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr 55(1):63–73

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vaidya B, Pearce SHS (2008) Management of hypothyroidism in adults. BMJ 337:a801

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Echteld I, Wechalekar MD, Schlesinger N, Buchbinder R, Aletaha D (2014) Colchicine for Acute Gout. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (8).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vardanyan RS, Hruby VJ (2006) Adrenergic (sympathomimetic) drugs. In: Vardanyan RS, Hruby VJ (eds) Synthesis of essential drugs. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 143–159

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle EN, Schardt W, Uldall PR, Brown A, Jonfiah D, Moore A, Park R, Wood E (1974) Study of the lipid-lowering action of choloxin and nilevar in patients with chronic renal failure. Postgrad Med J 50(590):737–740

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wassall RD, Teramoto N, Cunnane TC (2009) Noradrenaline. In: Squire LR (ed) Encyclopedia of neuroscience. Academic Press, Oxford, pp 1221–1230

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson BA, Willis MS (2010) Percy Lavon Julian: pioneer of medicinal chemistry synthesis. Lab Med 41(11):688–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu M, Zhou X-J, Konno R, Wang Y (2006a) d-Dopa is unidirectionally converted to l-Dopa by d-amino acid oxidase, followed by dopa transaminase. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 33:1042–1046

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu M, Zhou X-J, Konno R, Wang Y-X (2006b) d-Dopa is unidirectionally converted to l-Dopa by d-Amino acid oxidase, followed by dopa transminase. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 33(11):1042–1046

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Gong Z-H, Nordberg A (1994) Effects of chronic treatment with (+)-and (−)-nicotine on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in rat brain. Brain Res 644(1):32–39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    Nazanin Seighal Delshad, Bahareh Soleimanpour & Peyman Salehi

Authors
  1. Nazanin Seighal Delshad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bahareh Soleimanpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peyman Salehi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peyman Salehi .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Seighal Delshad, N., Soleimanpour, B., Salehi, P. (2021). Nature’s Generosity in Protecting Human Health. In: Rationality and Scientific Lifestyle for Health. University of Tehran Science and Humanities Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74326-0_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation