Zeitschrift für Pharmakognosie und Naturprodukte

Natural Product Discovery in the Digital Age Big Data and Bioinformatics

Abstract

Irene Ahmad

Natural products, compounds derived from living organisms, have long been invaluable sources of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and other biologically active molecules. Historically, their discovery relied heavily on labor-intensive processes such as bioassay-guided fractionation. However, with the advent of the digital age, the landscape of natural product discovery has undergone a significant transformation. Big data and bioinformatics have emerged as powerful tools, revolutionizing the way researchers identify, isolate and characterize novel natural products. Natural products have been a prolific source of biologically active compounds, with many serving as the basis for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Their structural complexity and diverse chemical scaffolds make them valuable starting points for drug development. However, traditional methods of natural product discovery are often time-consuming, resource-intensive and limited by the vastness of natural biodiversity.