Natural Product Research in China

发布时间：2016年05月05日 来源：中国化学会

Professor Guo-Wei Qin, Chairman of the Department of Phytochemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences presented this report (see Attachments). He noted that in addition to pure isolated compounds, Chinese science prepared 'effective purified fractions' and 'formulations of herbs'. These latter two provided the bulk of medicines in China and were subject to clinical trials. He referred to the use of caputucesin drug ( an anti-tumour alkaloid used for over 20 years) and the anti-malarial artemesinin ( molecular structure determined by joint Beijing-Shanghai research, in 1970) whose poor water solubility had inspired the search for molecular variants. The drug Artemesa was now in use. The Chinese government had established drug research centres to test pure compounds (10mg required), in vitro, free of charge, with intellectual property shared. His Institute still runs a State-supported screening centre.

Prof Qin noted that the UNESCO Network-supported meeting scheduled for March 2000 in Kunming reflected the desire to increase the capability of Chinese science for the total synthesis of biologically active compounds. He has prepared a directory of institutions active in natural products chemistry ( see Attachments). He indicated strong support from China for ASOMPS X in Dhaka and requested Prof Mosihuzzaman to send brochures to all the institutions listed. Regarding the UNESCO Network, China joined in 1990 and has organised three symposia already ( Shanghai 1991; Chengdu 1993; Hangzhou 1996) with the fourth in Kunming in 2000. He noted the agreement to host a visiting scholar from Bangladesh in Kunming at the Institute of Botany and, perhaps, also in Shanghai at his Institute, which had hosted several Vietnamese scientists. He issued a strong invitation to other countries to send their young scientists for such visits.

Prof Taylor commented in the need for greater cooperation between natural product chemistry and pharmacology (e.g. brine shrimp assay established in Chiang Mai with WHO support). He noted that many countries were weak in pharmacology and that there was little emphasis in the Regional Network on this. He saw opportunities for more focussed activities in such testing routines at various Network centers.