Pure Appl. Chem., 2005, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp. 75-81
doi:10.1351/pac200577010075
Biodiversity as a source of new pharmacophores: A new theory of memory III*
Atta-ur-Rahman‡ and M. Iqbal Choudhary
H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan
Abstract:
Several classes of natural products with significant inhibitory activity against target enzymes involved in several diseases have been identified. Spectrophotometer and high-throughput assays were used to assess the inhibition of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP), which led us to some novel inhibitors having potential as anticancer agents. Inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes has led to the discovery of new inhibitors with potential for use in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. We have also discovered several potent antioxidant agents from natural sources by using a battery of antioxidant assays. Anti-inflammatory activity of a number of natural products was assayed through a cell-based in vitro bioassay. This article also contains a section on a slightly different topic of chemical basis of memory as presented during the lecture. The theory of the chemical basis of memory based on hydrogen bonding in the brain is further elaborated.
Keywords: anti-inflammatory; antioxidants; eucosceptrine; Iris germanica; Leucosceptrum cannum; molecular basis of memory; prolylendopeptidase inhibition; Terminalia glaucescens; terminalin.
*Paper based on a presentation at the 24th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products and the 4th International Congress on Biodiversity, held jointly in Delhi, India, 26-31 January 2004. Other presentations are published in this issue, pp. 1-344.