Chapter 8 - Recent Developments in Natural Product-Based Drug Discovery in Tropical Diseases

Abstract

Abstract Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Vaccines are not available for most of the diseases listed here, and many do not have cures. Secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenolics, terpenes, quinones, and others isolated from plants based on traditional system of medicine need to be discovered for combating the menace of the these diseases. One of the other approaches is to stop/kill the vectors that carry these disease or help in proliferation of the diseases. Essential oil products of certain plants, small molecules interfering the metabolism, and peptides have proven their stake in this regard. Thus, we should rely on natural products for better cure. The present review mainly focuses on the recent developments that had taken place in natural product-based drug discovery in tropical diseases in last 5 years (2008–2013).