Natural Products Chemistry & Research

Editorial Note for Natural Products Chemistry & Research

Ari M. Sunkar

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BIOMOLECULE

Biomolecule, also called biological molecule, any of numerous substances that are produced by cells and living organisms. Biomolecules have a wide range of sizes and structures and perform a vast array of functions. The four major types of biomolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.

BIOCATALYSIS

Biocatalysis refers to the use of living (biological) systems or their parts to speed up (catalyze) chemical reactions. In biocatalytic processes, natural catalysts, such as enzymes, perform chemical transformations on organic compounds. Both enzymes that have been more or less isolated and enzymes still residing inside living cells are employed for this task.Modern biotechnology, specifically directed evolution, has made the production of modified or non-natural enzymes possible. This has enabled the development of enzymes that can catalyze novel small molecule transformations that may be difficult or impossible using classical synthetic organic chemistry. Utilizing natural or modified enzymes to perform organic synthesis is termed chemoenzymatic synthesis; the reactions performed by the enzyme are classified as chemoenzymatic reactions.

HERBAL REMEDY

A medication prepared from plants, including most of the world's traditional remedies for disease. Most people think of herbal remedies as products sold over the counter as "supplements", such as saw palmetto extract or goldenseal ointment. However, many over- the-counter and prescription drugs are based on ingredients originally derived from plants, including aspirin and digoxin. Lab tests have shown that some herbal remedies are indeed effective against illness. One should use these drugs as carefully as prescription medicines, taking care to avoid overdose, interactions with other medications, and misuse.

BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS METABOLITES

A metabolite refers to any substance involved in metabolism. It is often regarded as the immediate by-product of a metabolic process. However, some references consider those involved in a metabolic reaction (not necessarily a by-product) as a metabolite.

Metabolites are biomolecules that are relatively smaller in size than the large biomolecules (e.g. proteins and nucleic acids). They are naturally occurring. However, they can be produced artificially for industrial and pharmaceutical uses. The metabolites can be grouped into two major types: primary and secondary.

Primary metabolites are those that are directly involved in the growth, development, and reproduction of an organism whereas secondary metabolites are those that are not. Thus, primary metabolites are critical to the survival and the fecundity of an organism. Secondary metabolites may not be as crucial but the lack or insufficiency could lead to the impairment of the organism.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Alternative medicine is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, and allied health professionals, such as nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine is used in place of standard medical care. An example is treating heart disease with chelation therapy (which seeks to remove excess metals from the blood) instead of using a standard approach. Examples of alternative practices include homeopathy, traditional medicine, chiropractic, and acupuncture. Complementary medicine is different from alternative medicine. Whereas complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. See also complementary medicine, conventional medicine.