Identification of novel anti-inflammatory compounds of plant origin

Identification and characterisation of natural products (NPs) capable to combat inflammatory processes and disorders associated with inflammation is the main aim of an Austrian research network with the acronym DNTI, which is now in the sixth year of its implementation. This goal is approached by a unique combination of strategies e.g. i) virtual screening of NPs databases using structure- or ligand-based pharmacophore models to identify bioactive NPs against selected anti-inflammatory targets, ii) parallel pharmacophoric profiling to predict desired but also unwanted bioactivities of single NPs and to provide suggestions for their pharmacological mechanisms of action, and iii) exploitation of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants to select promising candidates for phytochemical and subsequent pharmacological investigation. The combined use of computational techniques including traditional knowledge, high-tech chemical analysis and synthesis, and a broad range of in vitro, cell-based and in vivo pharmacological models delivered promising NPs which might serve as source for drug leads. The lecture will cover some highlights of this interdisciplinary project.

Acknowledgements: This work is financially supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), S107 (NFN “Drugs from Nature Targeting Inflammation”) and the Standortagentur Tyrol (http://www.uibk.ac.at/pharmazie/pharmakognosie/dnti/).