Tanima Castrignano
Bioprospecting, the search for valuable compounds in living organisms, and bio-discovery, the process of identifying and harnessing these compounds, have emerged as powerful tools for drug development and industrial applications. Natural products derived from plants, animals and microorganisms have been a significant source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Bioprospecting encompasses the systematic collection of samples from different environments, including forests, oceans and even extreme habitats like hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents. These samples can be further processed to isolate and identify the active compounds. Traditional methods involve extraction, fractionation and purification techniques, coupled with bioassays to assess the biological activities of the isolated compounds. Modern techniques such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics have revolutionized the field by enabling the rapid screening and identification of potential drug candidates.
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