Page 19 - Drug Discovery and Development: Prospects and Challenges

Drug Discovery and Development: Prospects and Challenges / 9

stage in drug discovery and development (Аrbаin et al., 2021). Most drug
products fail to reach the market due to two reasons, the first is that they
do not work and the second is that they are not safe (Hughes et al., 2011).
Brothers and sisters,
Brothers and sisters,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

JOURNEY IN RESEARCH: A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Journey in Research: A Personal Experience
Isolation and Characterisation Studies
Isolation and Characterisation Studies
We have successfully isolated and characterised several compounds from different plants
We have successfully isolated and characterised several compounds from
throughout our research journey using chromatography and spectroscopic methods. At the beginning
different plants throughout our research journey using chromatography
of the experiential research, we focused on Rubiaceae and Guttiferae families. As a young researcher,
and spectroscopic methods. At the beginning of the experiential research,
we focused on Rubiaceae and Guttiferae families. As a young researcher,
it was very exciting to work on natural products. The first impression at that time was on the
it was very exciting to work on natural products. The first impression at
Ophiorrhiza species. This species was a research interest of former supervisor Professor Dayar Arbain
that time was on the Ophiorrhiza species. This species was a research
interest of former supervisor Professor Dayar Arbain of Universitas
of Universitas Andalas. Ophiorrhiza species is a member of the Rubiaceae family. The first compound
Andalas. Ophiorrhiza species is a member of the Rubiaceae family.
that we successfully isolated is the alkaloid harman (Figure 7) from Ophiorrhiza sp. (Arbain et al.,
The first compound that we successfully isolated is the alkaloid harman
1998). Harman is a group of indole alkaloids originally isolated from Peganum harmala. Harman is
(Figure 7) from Ophiorrhiza sp. (Arbain et al., 1998). Harman is a group
of indole alkaloids originally isolated from Peganum harmala. Harman
reported to exhibit strong anti-depressant activity (Ferraz et al., 2019).
is reported to exhibit strong anti-depressant activity (Ferraz et al., 2019).

Figure 7: Alkaloid harman compound from Ophiorrhiza sp.
Figure 7: Alkaloid harman compound from Ophiorrhiza sp.
In our recent review of 50 Ophiorrhiza species, we found that
Ophiorrhiza has significant biological activities. The plants have been
In our recent review of 50 Ophiorrhiza species, we found that Ophiorrhiza has significant
used traditionally to treat pain, inflammation, cancer, and bacterial-
biological activities. The plants have been used traditionally to treat pain, inflammation, cancer, and
and viral-based infections. In addition, Ophiorrhiza species can treat
snakebite, stomatitis, ulcers, and wounds and function as an antioxidant,
bacterial- and viral-based infections. In addition, Ophiorrhiza species can treat snakebite, stomatitis,
antitussive, and analgesic. They are also used to treat gastropathy, leprosy,
ulcers, and wounds and function as an antioxidant, antitussive, and analgesic. They are also used to
and amenorrhea and have sedative and laxative properties that can be
treat gastropathy, leprosy, and amenorrhea and have sedative and laxative properties that can be

extracted from their root barks. Overall, the Ophiorrhiza species possess a wide range of biological
activities and phytochemical constituents, as shown in Figure 8 (Krishnan et al., 2014; Midhu et al.,
2019; Taher et al., 2020).

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