Gut Microbiota-Mediated Biotransformation of Medicinal Herb-Derived Natural Products: A Narrative Review of New Frontiers in Drug Discovery

Christine Tara Peterson ()
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Christine Tara Peterson: Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

J, 2024, vol. 7, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: The discovery of natural products has been pivotal in drug development, providing a vast reservoir of bioactive compounds from various biological sources. This narrative review addresses a critical research gap: the largely underexplored role of gut microbiota in the mediation and biotransformation of medicinal herb-derived natural products for therapeutic use. By examining the interplay between gut microbiota and natural products, this review highlights the potential of microbiota-mediated biotransformation to unveil novel therapeutic agents. It delves into the mechanisms by which gut microbes modify and enhance the efficacy of natural products, with a focus on herbal medicines from Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, known for their applications in treating metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The review also discusses recent advances in microbiota-derived natural product research, including innovative methodologies such as culturomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics. By exploring the intricate interactions between gut microorganisms and their substrates, this review uncovers new strategies for leveraging gut microbiota-mediated processes in the development of groundbreaking therapeutics.

Keywords: bioavailability; microbiome; natural products discovery; microbial metabolism; probiotics; prebiotics; personalized medicine; drug development; biotransformation; metabolomics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 I10 I12 I13 I14 I18 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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