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HERO ID
515821
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Phylogenetic selection of Narcissus species for drug discovery
Author(s)
Ronsted, N; Savolainen, V; Molgaard, P; Jager, AK
Year
2008
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
ISSN:
0305-1978
Volume
36
Issue
5-6
Page Numbers
417-422
Language
English
DOI
10.1016/j.bse.2007.12.010
Abstract
Plants are of immense importance in providing healthcare worldwide. With over 250 000 species of angiosperms alone, the potential for finding new medicinal plants and lead compounds for drug development is enormous. Some way of selecting plants for drug discovery programs is necessary. Phylogenies have great explanatory power and also enable a predictive perspective not offered by previous classifications of plants. Phylogenetic selection of target species is a new approach to drug discovery and the present study is the first attempt to correlate acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and alkaloid distribution with a molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of Narcissus. The distribution of alkaloids with AChE inhibitory activity is significantly constrained by the phylogeny. Simultaneous evaluation of all available information of alkaloids and AChE inhibitory activity in a phylogenetic framework allowed us to discuss various strategies for selection of target species for further studies of AChE inhibitory activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease; Amaryllidaceae; daffodils; drug discovery; trnL-F; Narcissus; ndhF; selection; amaryllidaceae alkaloids; plants; dna
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