Economic Benefits of Natural Products in Modern Drug Discovery in the Twenty-First Century

Natural products can influence the economic diversity and sustainable livelihood of a country. The natural products obtained from plants, animals, marine sources, and microorganisms possess potential therapeutic properties. Plant- derived medicines and extracts can be used to treat various pathological conditions. Composite plant extracts without isolation of the active ingredient can be used as pharmaceuticals. Natural products obtained from microorganisms are the vital source for antibiotics, immune modulators, anticancer agents, anthelminthics, etc. Herbal extracts can be used for wellness and are very effective as cosmeceuticals. Modern drug discovery involves the use of one or two active compounds to design pharmaceuticals. Plant- and animal- based natural products can be used in next- generation modern drug discovery. Natural products obtained from various plants like Santalum album (sandalwood), Crocus sativus (saffron), Juglans regia (walnut), Curcuma longa (turmeric), few species of Aspergillus produces products like kojic acid which serve as fungal metabolic shows abundant economic benefits. Currently, there are various challenging diseases like cancer, HIV, diabetes mellitus, etc. affecting significantly the global health. For these diseases, potent natural pharmaceuticals can be designed as novel herbal formulations. Modern nanotechnology can be used to design herbal drug delivery. Paclitaxel and morphine are very- well- known drugs obtained from extracts of plants that exhibit higher economic value. The use of natural products in modern drug discovery can boost up the economy. This chapter discusses various natural products in medicines, their efficacy, advantages, and economic benefits in modern drug discovery. Opportunities, risks, challenges, and future prospective of natural products in modern drug discovery are also highlighted.