A colorful treasure in our sights: Our planet’s biodiversity holds enormous potential for the search for active ingredients. The cover story of the January issue of bild der Wissenschaft is dedicated to this topic. It also deals with the challenges of developing medicines from natural substances and interesting animal behavior: Some species also take advantage of “nature’s pharmacy”.
The tree of life has branched out to a gigantic extent over the course of millions of years: countless species of bacteria, fungi, lichens, plants and animals have emerged. Through sometimes sophisticated strategies, they were able to adapt to the challenges of their respective lifestyles. Success in the tough fight for survival in nature is also based on the development of substances with special effects. Through them, living beings can, among other things, regulate physiological functions, obtain food or defend themselves. Humans have been using some of these substances for a long time – but given the world’s gigantic biodiversity, there is still enormous potential.
It can be exploited to the fullest
In the first article on the title topic, BDW author Frank Frick and bdw editor Salome Berblinger initially focus on the topic fundamentally. They illustrate the successes achieved so far in the use of natural substances as well as the many further possibilities for discovering pharmacologically active substances in the terrestrial environment. They also highlight the special challenges in developing natural substances into new medications. Further research into biodiversity is also of great importance: There are still many living beings to be discovered, especially in the soil and in the oceans – and therefore potential for the search for cancer drugs, antibiotics, etc., according to the article “Treasure Chest of Nature” out.
Afterwards, an article is dedicated to the cooperation with the Senckenberg Nature Museum in Frankfurt am Main, which led to the bdw cover story. The occasion is the opening of a permanent exhibition in spring 2024, which will present in an accessible way how diverse natural substances can be used in pharmacy and medicine. The article “Nature and Medicine” provides an insight into what visitors can expect at the Senckenberg Nature Museum.
The second main article focuses on the relationship between naturopathy and modern medicine. In it, bdw author Susanne Donner makes it clear that the two approaches are closer than one might think. Animals and plants form an important basis for medicines in both areas. She also takes a look at the history of medicine and shows how ideas about how and why certain substances work have changed. The selection of medicines was once influenced by the concept of the four humors. Today, however, the idea of disease-specific target structures with regard to the use of active ingredients from nature dominates, as can be seen from the article “From Natural Substances to Medicine”.
Some animals also know what is good
Interestingly, humans are not the only creatures that take advantage of nature’s “pharmacy”: bdw author Tim Schröder reports on animals that give themselves and even other animals medical treatments. For example, certain plants or animals are eaten because of their effects or certain “preparations” are used externally. This is particularly evident in some species of monkeys and birds. Some forms of treatment have probably been established over a long time. In the case of others, however, it appears that the animals only recently produced them, Schröder reported in the article “Animal Doctors”.
The cover story is rounded off by an interview that Salome Berblinger conducted with the biologist Marco Thines from the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. This is about the topic of biopiracy, which primarily affects the global south. Thines explains how people and nature should be protected from the unlawful use of biological resources and what consequences this has for research.