What are some of the pros and cons of using natural products

Solution

Various plant metabolites can be used as anticancer agents like Taxol, clchicine, vinblastine, vincristine,atropine, strychnine, opium, plant alkaloids, terpenes, iosprenes, saponons, tannins, cardiac glycosides, plant flavonoids which have different mechanisms of action on human body. The powder extract from spices and condiments is used as an anti-bacterial agent and for the treatment of circulatory disorders, blood disorders, and digestive system disorders. Various compounds like camptothecin, topotecan, are also used as anticancer compounds as they bind to the major and minor groove of specifc DNA sequences and inhibit the DNA gyrase and toposomerase enzymes that play an important role in DNA replication and thus they inhibit cell division.There are used from ancient times in India.

Pros of using these natural products as anti-cancer agents--

1)The products spongouridine and spongothymidine are obtained from sponges and they act as anticancer agents.

2)Colchicine inhibits cell division. by preventing the formation of microtubules during cell division.

3)Vincristine and vinblastine also inhibit cell division by binding to tubulin and is obtained from Catharanthus roseus flower.

4)Podophyllotoxin is a plant metabolite obtanined from plants which is an anti-cancer agent as it is used in the treatment and cure of genital warts by binding to tubulin and preventing cell division in mammalian cells.

5)Further metabolites like etoposides also act as anti-cancer agents as they bind to DNA topoisomerase and prevent cell division.

6)Taxol is obtained from Taxus plant and it also acts as anticancer agent as this metabolite forms a stable complex with tubulin and thus prevents cell division.

7)Paclitaxel also binds to tubulin and inhibits cell division.

8)homoharringtonine is obtained from chinese plant and is used as anticancer agent.

Cons of using these anticancer drugs--

1)The metabolites discussed should be used at optimal concentrations as at very high concentrations they totally inhibit cell divisio and lead to apoptosis of cells.

2)The metabolite drugs have various side effects as they bind to receptor of cells leading to changes in blood pressure.

3) atropine beladona obtained from flowers causes eye-ball dilation and opium obtained from papver somniferum causes hallucinogenic activity in the brain along with distortions.

4)The plant extracts obtained from spices and condiments have inhibitory effects on cell signaling mechanisms where tyrosine kinases are involved in cell signaling.