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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346380

Title: Drugs and natural products: From plants and livestock to human therapeutics

Author
item Green, Benedict - Ben
item Lee, Stephen

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2017
Publication Date: 10/31/2017
Citation: Green, B.T., Lee, S.T. 2017. Drugs and natural products: From plants and livestock to human therapeutics. Abstract in Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 31(10):946.

Interpretive Summary: Plants toxic to livestock species have a significantly negative agricultural impact but can be an important source of bioactive molecules for use in medicine. This talk will discuss specific examples of the agricultural-based research that are relevant to Human and Veterinary Medicine including: cyclopamine from Veratrum californicum (western false hellebore), piperidine alkaloids from Lupinus species (lupines), and cicutoxin from Cicuta species (water hemlock).

Technical Abstract: Plants toxic to livestock species have a significantly negative impact on agriculture but can be an important source of bioactive molecules for use in medicine. The initial research on plant toxicity is focused on the response to the poisoning and the specific livestock species impacted by the toxic plant. This research emphasizes the identification of the plant and natural product(s) responsible for the toxicity to livestock, the prevention of further poisonings, and the development of treatments for the affected animals. Once the bioactive molecules impacting the livestock species have been identified, research on these compounds is then focused on determining the mechanism of action, the development of models for further study, and the identification of potential drug candidates for the treatment of disease. Specific examples of the agricultural-based research that are relevant to Human and Veterinary Medicine include: cyclopamine from Veratrum californicum (western false hellebore), piperidine alkaloids from Lupinus species (lupines), and cicutoxin from Cicuta species (water hemlock).