title: The Role of Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development against Neglected Tropical Diseases.
abstract: Endemic in 149 tropical and subtropical countries, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect more than 1 billion people annually, including 875 million children in developing economies. These diseases are also responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year and are characterized by long-term disability and severe pain. The impact of the combined NTDs closely rivals that of malaria and tuberculosis. Current treatment options are associated with various limitations including widespread drug resistance, severe adverse effects, lengthy treatment duration, unfavorable toxicity profiles, and complicated drug administration procedures. Natural products have been a valuable source of drug regimens that form the cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical care. In this review, we highlight the potential that remains untapped in natural products as drug leads for NTDs. We cover natural products from plant, marine, and microbial sources including natural-product-inspired semi-synthetic derivatives which have been evaluated against the various causative agents of NTDs. Our coverage is limited to four major NTDs which include human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. chkpet008@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Peter Mubanga
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cheuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. mykgod001@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Godfrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, 00202 KNH Nairobi, Kenya. pckemei@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Peggoty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mutai
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. kelly.chibale@uct.ac.za.|Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. kelly.chibale@uct.ac.za.|South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. kelly.chibale@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chibale
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: antiprotozoal agents; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; lymphatic filariasis; natural products; phytotherapy; schistosomiasis