University of Helsinki
Hidden Treasures: From Natural Products to Medicines
A natural product can be defined as a plant, an animal, or a microorganism, that has not been subjected to any treatment other than drying or other such preservation processes. A natural product can also be a part of an organism, for example, a leaf of a plant or an isolated organ of an animal.
Compounds derived from natural products can be obtained by extraction, followed by isolation and purification procedures. Isolated pure compounds are further tested for bioactivity by various methods. Many of the natural compounds are isolated, purified, and compounded directly into tablets or injectables. Drugs can also be based on derivatives of natural products where the chemical structure has been modified to obtain the desired medicinal properties.
For centuries, natural products were the only available form of drugs. Among modern drugs, about 40% are of natural origin with some therapeutic areas seeing higher use of natural drugs. Approximately 60% of anticancer drugs and 75% of drugs against infectious diseases are either natural products or derivatives of natural products.
At the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Tammela’s group studies various natural products for their chemical composition and bioactivity. One study area is the Chaga mushroom which is used in folk medicine for the treatment of cancer and gastric disorders. In the Bioactivity Screening lab, the Chaga mushroom is tested for its anti-herpes simplex virus ability.
Learn more about Dr Karmen Kapp from Professor Päivi Tammela’s bioactivity screening group.
- Chaga mushrooms in the forest.
- Extraction of natural products.
- Analysis of products.
