About a half of all modern pharmaceuticals was created on the basis of low-molecular biological substances, derived from either higher terrestrial plants, or soil microorganisms and marine dwellers.
      
      Russian scientists from Vladivostok have isolated about 500 new biological substances, which can be useful for medicine. Rhizokhalin, extracted from tropical sponges, shows anti-fungal properties; alkaloids of sea squirts – polykarpin and varacin C – have high anti-tumor activity. Long-term studies of quinoid pigments of sea urchins resulted in “Histochrome”, highly appreciated by cardiologists. Other valuable substances of marine dwellers show wound-healing and hepatoprotecting properties.
      
      Researchers from Novosibirsk worked with terrestrial plants and also found many useful substances. Betulin, a component of birch bark, is used for AIDS therapy; and lambertian acid, a substance from pine needles, and its derivatives improve memory and mental capacity.
      
      Source: Science @ Technology