Renaissance of ethnopharmacology to recess the impasse in the drug discovery - review

Abstract

Renaissance of ethnopharmacology has already making huge impact in the innovative approach for drug discovery. Most of the ethnopharmacology research is on botanicals, which offer natural libraries of diverse chemical scaffolds and structures. Every botanical contains hundreds of molecules and bioactive compounds. Each of the bioactive compounds may have the capability to modulate one or more targets. Of late, ethnopharmacology is helping in a big way in the overall strategy of containing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). World over organizations like Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) talk about the concerns of antimicrobial use and AMR loudly. Apparently, there is limited scope in the existing approach of using antimicrobials rather indiscriminately. However, revival of ethnopharmacoloy and drug development through ethnopharmacology fits into the scheme of thing which will reduce the overdependence on antimicrobials.