Abstract
Natural products have been the cornerstone of drug discovery for centuries, offering structurally diverse and biologically active compounds. Their unique chemical frameworks, developed through evolutionary processes, provide unmatched templates for the development of novel drug leads. This paper discusses the pharmacological importance of natural products, the modern techniques used in their identification and characterization, and the challenges faced in their development. Case studies such as taxol, artemisinin, and rapamycin illustrate their impact on modern medicine. With the integration of omics technologies and AI in bioactive compound screening, natural products remain an indispensable reservoir for future therapeutics.
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