Drug Discovery, CAM and Natural Products

This editorial is related to two papers in volume 1 issue 2 of eCAM and to others concerned with molecules derived from terrestrial and marine species (1‐15). These papers focus on natural products, especially those derived from the sea. Therefore, it is appropriate to apply the contributions of these papers, since they can offer a different perspective. It is, indeed, a matter of great coincidence that these papers are being published at a time when eCAM is making extensive efforts to highlight this subject, which occupies an important place in biomedicine and has enormous potential. This situation in which the focus, at least of publications, is on animal products, is in marked contrast to that of botanicals and herbals—qua plant-derived molecules, the available literature on which may be considered immense and sometimes focused in highly specialized journals. A recent issue of Science offers a veritable cornucopia of evidence concerned with new drugs, and it begins with an editorial entitled ‘Drug Discovery’ by Donald Kennedy Editor-in-Chief (16). This is followed by an introduction titled ‘Rethinking Drug Discovery (17) and a news essay, ‘Surviving the Blockbuster Syndrome; Orphan Drugs of the Future’ (18). Five reviews and viewpoints examine various aspects of molecular biology, organic chemistry and drug delivery systems (19‐23). If one explores the enormous wealth in this issue of Science in science’s next wave (www.nextwave.org), at least five presentations offer enormous potential for application (Bioprospecting beginning with ‘The Sweet Side of Venom and Practicing’ (24‐28). This sojourn into the world of drug discovery is, in my opinion, an area pertinent to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It is not remote but is closely related, relevant and highly visible, not to mention that it has rapidly increasing potential for wider distribution and understanding. This appears almost inevitable with the practice of western medicine shifting somewhat or, at least, bridging the divide between western and eastern medicine through the intervention of CAM. After all, many of these claims of healing have deep and everlasting recorded roots in the ancient world, most notably throughout Asia. The challenge will be to subject certain claims to the rigors of science and demand that conclusions be evidence-based (12). Otherwise, CAM will be unable to withstand the criticism of biologists and, sometimes, that of educated and skeptical public.