How are hits extracted from plants or animals?

How are hits extracted from plants or animals?

• A. From a whole plant/animal, a part (organ) of a plant or animal is selected, extracts and purified components are taken from it, the active ingredient is isolated, semi-synthesis of active ingredient occurs, and finally synthesis of active constituents
• B. Isolate the active ingredient first
• C. Purify extracts and then isolate active ingredient
• D. Extract whole plant material and use crude extracts without purification

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how natural-product hits are traced to a single active compound. In natural product drug discovery, you start with crude extracts from plant or animal material and screen them for activity. Once something shows activity, you don’t jump straight to a specific molecule—you purify the mixture step by step, separating it into fractions and testing those fractions. This purification continues until you isolate the exact active ingredient in pure form. That sequence—purifying the extracts and then isolating the active compound—best describes how hits are identified from natural sources. Skipping purification or trying to isolate an active ingredient without starting from an extract isn’t practical, and using crude material without purification wouldn’t let you pinpoint the specific active molecule. Semi-synthesis or synthesis of components may come later to optimize or supply the compound, but not the initial extraction-and-identification process.

The idea being tested is how natural-product hits are traced to a single active compound. In natural product drug discovery, you start with crude extracts from plant or animal material and screen them for activity. Once something shows activity, you don’t jump straight to a specific molecule—you purify the mixture step by step, separating it into fractions and testing those fractions. This purification continues until you isolate the exact active ingredient in pure form. That sequence—purifying the extracts and then isolating the active compound—best describes how hits are identified from natural sources.

Skipping purification or trying to isolate an active ingredient without starting from an extract isn’t practical, and using crude material without purification wouldn’t let you pinpoint the specific active molecule. Semi-synthesis or synthesis of components may come later to optimize or supply the compound, but not the initial extraction-and-identification process.