Prospecting arthropod biomolecules for medicinal and therapeutic use: Recent breakthroughs

Abstract

Arthropods, particularly insects, are endowed with the richest chemical diversity which needs to be harnessed. Arthropods are reservoirs of neurotoxins, peptides, terpenoids, saponins, sugars, etc., that have the potential to cure modern human ailments like HIV, dengue, chikungunya, Ebola virus, Japanese encephalitis, and other syndromes. Basic knowledge of chemical interactions among and between organisms is important to understand the nature of disease treatment, controlling pest and food production, to name a few examples. In order to achieve improved livelihoods, it is necessary to use the chemistry of nature and to use it in a sustainable manner. Isolation, characterization of the molecule, and mass production need a holistic understanding of the chemical and physical properties of the substances arthropods produce. Pharmacognosy is still naive and needs to be further explored.