Chapter 11 - Natural Bioactive Molecules: Mechanism of Actions and Perspectives in Organ Pathophysiology

Abstract

Abstract Natural products have played a crucial role in the domain of discovery and development of new drugs. A huge diversity in chemical structures of various natural products present in the plant and animal kingdom has been modulated over the years via genetic effects. The bioactive molecules from nature, therefore, continue to play important roles as new medicinal tools. With the help of modern spectroscopic and other screening techniques, identification of new bioactive natural compounds is not a difficult task anymore and thus opening up exciting new opportunities in pharmaceutical industries as well as in the field of the new drug development. Recently, tremendous demand for the implementation of these nature-derived bioactive molecules in complementary and alternative medicine has increased due to their low toxicity, availability from renewable sources, complete biodegradability, and low cost. Therapeutic efficacy of these bioactive molecules is also promising in the field of organ pathophysiology. So, this chapter attempts to assess the impacts and opportunities of nature-derived bioactive molecules in the field of organ pathophysiology. Nature-derived bioactive molecules can be classified into two broad categories: small bioactive molecules and macromolecules. Among the small bioactive molecules, triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, and polyphenolic compounds play various crucial roles in organ pathophysiology. The multifunctional therapeutic application of these compounds is also well established. Among the triterpenoids, arjunolic acid, a naturally occurring nanometer-long chiral triterpenoid saponin isolated from the bark of Terminalia arjuna, is well reputed for its multitude of biological activities, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antifungal, antibacterial, anticholinesterase, antitumor, antiasthmatic, wound healing, and insect growth inhibiting activity. Flavonoids are involved in various biological processes and apart from antioxidant potential, their contribution to human health is mainly due to the antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Quercetin is a well-reputed flavanoid that contributes a number of beneficial activities in organ pathophysiology. Mangiferin, a xanthone glucoside, isolated from the bark of Mangifera indica has also been shown to possess various biological functions and is now under consideration for its therapeutic potential. Apart from these, taurine, a conditionally essential amino acid, and d -saccharic acid-1,4-lactone (from kombucha tea), a beta-glucuronidase inhibitor also have clinical implications for the prevention of diabetes and other organ pathophysiology. Among the macromolecules, the proteins isolated from the herbal plants play beneficial roles in toxin- and drug-induced organ pathophysiology. Studies at the cellular level suggest the therapeutic efficacy of two novel plant proteins: a 43-kD protein molecule from Cajanus indicus L. and a 35-kD protein molecule purified from the plant Phyllanthus niruri. All these information unties the multifunctional therapeutic application of natural small bioactive and macromolecules and could be expected to be a therapeutic promise in alternative medicine.