Introduction
Combinatorial chemistry is a laboratory technique in which millions of molecular constructions can be synthesized and tested for biological activity. This is the concept that is at the forefront at the search of procedures that will accelerate and facilitate new drug discoveries. The traditional picture of drug discovery may envision a biologist extracting extracts from plants in a tropical rain forest in South America, and the resulting leaf components are then tested for biological activity. And if they test positive, then the chemists can discern the formula, structure and vital information on the natural product. Now picture the organic lab synthesizing millions of different species, all slight alterations of a base molecule…. Which is the more effective method?
David G.I. Kingston of Virginia Tech comments on the importance of the rainforest. He says that “the discovery of new natural products with significant biological activities has been greatly facilitated in recent years by advances in high throughput screening, so that the major limitation on drug discovery is now often the supply of novel extracts.” [ Kingston Overview ] Our position is that although combinatorial chemistry is quickly advancing in the field of drug discovery, the importance of the rainforest cannot be replaced. Both sides have their advantages – combinatorial chemistry produces millions of potentially active products and tests them rapidly with high-throughput screening, but it cannot replace the diversity that the rainforest offers. This total diversity is something that we cannot hope to duplicate in the lab.
HomeWhat is Combinatorial Chemistry?
-- Solid Phase Synthesis
-- Future Applications of Combinatorial ChemistryMedicines Derived from Combinatorial Chemistry
The Value of The Rainforests
The Fate of the RainforestMedicines Discovered from rainforest Plants