Plants possess an innate wisdom that can help us unlock our own healing potential.
– Alchemy of Herbs
Since the earliest days of recorded history, ancient medical knowledge has been shared and safeguarded, finding its way into every corner of our civilised world. Nearly all ancient innovations in drug discovery originated from herbal and natural sources.
Local healing traditions are gradually diminishing due to increasing tourism, intercultural exchange, the passing of experienced healers, and the rise of technology and modern healthcare facilities. It is crucial to protect this knowledge, which informs local communities about the health insights and practices associated with traditional medicine, as well as the connection between these practices and the conservation of forest resources.
Bioactive compounds produced by plants play a key role in ecosystems, participating in important natural processes and providing vital health benefits to people around the world. The current lack of cross-disciplinary approaches to assess the role of medicinal biodiversity in overall planetary health makes it difficult to manage this biodiversity sustainably and to fully harness its potential for human communities. Such a system is essential to safeguard these contributions from the ongoing impacts of the environmental crisis, which is rapidly damaging biodiversity for future generations worldwide.
Initial discoveries
By collaborating with local communities and studying how they traditionally use plants, researchers could uncover promising opportunities for developing new treatments. Combining traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods makes it easier to discover new medicines.
Today, drug research increasingly focuses on plant-based compounds due to their healing properties. The combination of biotechnology and synthetic biology has opened new avenues for discovering and developing drugs. This approach allows for the creation of novel compounds with enhanced medicinal properties. Additionally, by reducing the need to harvest entire plants — a practice that often leads to overexploitation and habitat degradation — this innovative method addresses ecological concerns.
Future prospects
Natural compounds from plants have historically played a crucial role as sources of therapeutic agents and will remain essential in the design and synthesis of various drugs aimed at treating human and animal ailments. As interest in the development of herbal medications grows, new opportunities arise to explore the therapeutic and biological properties of natural substances that have yet to be thoroughly investigated.
As medicinal chemists take an increasing interest in the development of drugs from natural substances, a range of innovative techniques and technological advancements has emerged. These advancements facilitate the selection, identification, isolation, characterisation, and biological screening of natural ingredients. Innovative techniques have the potential to reduce the technological challenges associated with natural product development, addressing the complexities faced in the discovery and production of new natural remedies.
Experts anticipate that plants will continue to produce unidentified biomolecules, paving the way for the discovery of unique and innovative treatments for microbial infections and diseases. The growing demand for medicinal plants in herbal medicine and drug discovery poses a significant threat to their survival. As a result, it is crucial to prioritise the preservation of threatened, vulnerable, and overexploited genetic resources to the greatest extent possible. This effort is essential for future generations, who will have the skills to manage and utilise these species more effectively and responsibly.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
