Long-term objectives are to provide the materials whereby biodynamic compound will be discovered and developed as pharmaceuticals for improving human well-being in specific health areas, while at the same time providing for sustained economic growth and the conservation of biodiversity in northern Peru. Fundamental to these aims is the collection of plants which have been used medicinally by peoples in Peru and elsewhere in South America for generations to treat a broad range of illnesses; these plants are thus already targeted or prescreened for testing using current biomedical techniques. Primary screens will be conducted to test for activity against a number of infective agents, including respiratory viruses, herpes viruses, pathogenic yeasts, and tuberculosis. When crude extracts prove positive in primary and also secondary screens, biodirected assays will allow active fractions to be identified to biodynamic compound. Isolation and characterization of these principles will provide phytochemicals which could be developed into new pharmaceuticals of substantial benefit to human health globally. Furthermore, an important contribution will be to identify and help grow those medicinal plants needed in research development and for commercial use. Successful cultivation should lead to a greater value being placed on the forests and surroundings areas, and if this worth proves sufficient, the probability that deforestation will be reduced and biodiversity retained is enhanced.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
3U01TW000331-05S1
Application #
6396610
Study Section
Project Start
1999-01-01
Project End
2000-12-31
Budget Start
1998-10-01
Budget End
1999-09-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Type
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Aponte, Jose C; Jin, Zhuang; Vaisberg, Abraham J et al. (2011) Cytotoxic and anti-infective phenolic compounds isolated from Mikania decora and Cremastosperma microcarpum. Planta Med 77:1597-9
Aponte, Jose C; Yang, Han; Vaisberg, Abraham J et al. (2010) Cytotoxic and anti-infective sesquiterpenes present in Plagiochila disticha (Plagiochilaceae) and Ambrosia peruviana (Asteraceae). Planta Med 76:705-7
Aponte, José C; Vaisberg, Abraham J; Rojas, Rosario et al. (2009) A multipronged approach to the study of peruvian ethnomedicinal plants: a legacy of the ICBG-Peru Project. J Nat Prod 72:524-6
Aponte, Jose C; Vaisberg, Abraham J; Rojas, Rosario et al. (2008) Isolation of cytotoxic metabolites from targeted peruvian amazonian medicinal plants. J Nat Prod 71:102-5
Rojas, Rosario; Caviedes, Luz; Aponte, Jose C et al. (2006) Aegicerin, the first oleanane triterpene with wide-ranging antimycobacterial activity, isolated from Clavija procera. J Nat Prod 69:845-6
Milanowski, Dennis J; Winter, Rudolph E K; Elvin-Lewis, Memory P F et al. (2002) Geographic distribution of three alkaloid chemotypes of Croton lechleri. J Nat Prod 65:814-9
Okunade, A L; Lewis, W H; Elvin-Lewis, M P et al. (2001) Cinchonicine-derived alkaloids from the bark of the Peruvian Ladenbergia oblongifolia. Fitoterapia 72:717-9