Bioactive natural products as a potential source of new pharmacophores.
A theory of memory*
Atta-ur-Rahman** and M. Iqbal Choudhary
International Centre for Chemical Sciences, H.E.J.
Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270,
Pakistan
Abstract: The plant kingdom offers a rich source of structural
biodiversity in the form of a variety of natural products. Our work
on new bioactive compounds from medicinal plants has led to the isolation
and structure elucidation of a number of exciting new pharmacophores.
Bioassay-guided fractionation has recently led to the discovery of a
series of new acetylcholinesterase, urease and a-glucosidase inhibitors,
antioxidants and other classes of bioactive compounds, which will be
presented. A theory based on hydrogen bonding on the chemical basis
of memory storage in the brain is presented.
*Lecture presented at the 22nd IUPAC International
Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products, São Carlos, Brazil,
3-8 September 2000. Other presentations are published in this issue,
pp. 549-626.
**Corresponding author