These phytochemical compounds have been synthesized and are available in large quantities in commercial labs. Why are they not packaged as finished products for their pharmacological effects?
Olajuwon Okubena Excellent question! Some metabolites or drug agents are only tested in vitro such as in cell lines and may require further toxicity testing. Some effects, when taken in vivo (for human use), may antagonize other mechanistic processes in the body. Meanwhile, concentrations at which they may work well have to be further predetermined beyond in vivo analyses. Racial differences exist sometimes, and an animal model or cell line may not account for this. In fact, we have seen gender difference in drug reactions, apart from racial heterogeneity...
Olajuwon Okubena Excellent question! Some metabolites or drug agents are only tested in vitro such as in cell lines and may require further toxicity testing. Some effects, when taken in vivo (for human use), may antagonize other mechanistic processes in the body. Meanwhile, concentrations at which they may work well have to be further predetermined beyond in vivo analyses. Racial differences exist sometimes, and an animal model or cell line may not account for this. In fact, we have seen gender difference in drug reactions, apart from racial heterogeneity...
Even though various hurdles are involved in sailing through from in vitro testing of natural products to pharma-market, I still think it is worthy to go through that simply because our health deserves tight security from poisons...
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