Recent advances in identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases. Part V: The value of natural products in drug discovery: Apicomplexan

Two obstacles face administration of the available anti-protozoal therapeutic regimens; drug resistance commonly reported due to gene mutations, and prolonged duration of administration with adverse side effects. Therefore, natural products attracted much attention for developing novel drugs due to their biosafety. In a previous PUJ issue [2024(2):57-73], the value of natural products in treatment of helminthic tropical diseases was reviewed. The present part aims to discuss their usefulness in the pharmacological industry for development of novel drugs against diseases caused by apicomplexans, and highlight the most commonly products that were investigated for treatment of malaria, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and coccidiosis.