@article {1505, title = {Secondary Metabolite as Therapeutic Agents with Significant Highlight on Terpenoids}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {September 2025}, pages = {1140-1147}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {1140}, abstract = {

The belief that plants possess biologically active compounds with healing properties beneficial for treating various health conditions has endured since ancient times. The therapeutic importance of these plants highlights their vast potential for the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals, attributed to their chemical constituents that positively impact human health. Numerous naturally occurring phytochemicals, both dietary and non-dietary, have demonstrated significant potential in preventing and treating various diseases. Secondary metabolites are organic compounds naturally produced by plants, microbes, and certain animals, serving vital roles that extend beyond essential survival functions. Compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolics have garnered considerable interest due to their varied chemical structures and powerful biological effects. They demonstrate a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antidiabetics, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant as well as antimalarial, which make them important therapeutic agents in contemporary medicine. Terpenoids, or terpenes, form the largest group of natural compounds and are known for their biological activities, making them valuable in the treatment of human diseases. In the present work we have highlight the potential therapeutic benefit of terpenoids. Among the secondary metabolites terpenoids having more potential to be therapeutic agents for various disorders. Over the past two decades, bioprospecting natural products from the marine environment has led to the discovery of hundreds of terpenoids with unique structures and promising bioactivities, with many more yet to be uncovered.

}, keywords = {anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Secondary metabolites, Terpenoids}, doi = {10.5530/pres.20252366}, author = {Sarika Sapan Parekh and Rahul Trivedi and Divya Kanojia and Sweta Ba Besh and Maitri Mahant and Ghanshyam Ratilal Parmar} } @article {66, title = {Novel Phytocompounds from Vernonia amygdalina with Antimalarial Potentials}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {February 2020}, pages = {53-59}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {53}, abstract = {

Background: Malaria, one of the diseases predominant in the African continent, has been reported to be treated with plants and also some in vitro and in vivo tests have supported this. Vernonia amygdalina belonging to the family of Asteraceae is one of the plants widely used in Nigeria and studied for treatment of malaria and some scientific researchers have validated this claim. Objectives: In the present study, we aimed at isolation of possible compounds from the methanolic stem-bark of V. amygdalina, elucidation and characterization of the isolated compounds, and carry out antimalarial evaluations of the isolated compounds. Materials and Methods: Isolation of compounds was done using column chromatography technique, elucidation and characterization were done based on infrared, Mass, 1H, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The in vitro antimalarial activity was carried out on the ring stage of the malaria parasite cycle of chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains. Results: Five novel compounds were isolated; 4α-Hydroxy-n-pentadecanoic acid (CC7), 11α- Hydroxyurs-5,12-dien- 28-oic acid-3α, 25-olide (CC10), 1-Hen eicosanol-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (CC19), 10-Geranilanyl-O-β-D-xyloside (AC2A), 6β,10β,14β-Trimethyl heptadecan-15α-olyl-15-O-β-D-glucopyrano syl-1,5β-olide (CC14), and one new compound; Glucuronolactone (CC3). The compounds CC10, CC19, AC2A, CC14, and CC3 recorded schizont inhibition at different percentages. Compounds CC19, AC2A, and CC14 recorded half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 10.55 μg/ml, 12.56 μg/ml, and 11.68 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The IC50 values obtained are much higher than that of chloroquine, which is 0.02 μg/ml. These compounds showed antimalarial activity at different levels. The presence and effect of these compounds validate the use of this plant for the treatment of malaria in the traditional medicinal practice of Nigeria.

}, keywords = {Antimalarial, Half-maximal inhibitory concentration, Isolation, Phytocompounds, Vernonia amygdalina}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_81_19}, author = {InnocentMary IfedibaluChukwu Ejiofor and Aparoop Das and Showkat R Mir and Mohammed Ali and Kamaruz Zaman} }