TEST BANK
Goodman and Gilman's The
Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
14th Edition
Author(s)Laurence Brunton; Bjorn Knollmann
Print ISBN: 9781264258079
,Question 1
A research team isolates a compound from a medicinal plant and finds
that it produces a reproducible biological effect in an experimental
system. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this finding in
the early drug-discovery process?
A. The compound is already a therapeutic drug
B. The compound may represent a starting point for identifying and
,optimizing a drug candidate
C. The compound must be more effective than all synthetic compounds
D. The compound can proceed directly to clinical use
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
B is correct because an active natural product can provide a chemical
starting point for drug discovery, but substantial characterization,
optimization, safety assessment, and development are still required.
The chapter describes the progression from medicinal plants and
natural products toward modern drug discovery approaches.
A is incorrect because biological activity alone does not establish that a
compound is an approved therapeutic drug.
C is incorrect because natural origin does not guarantee superior
efficacy or safety compared with synthetic molecules.
D is incorrect because discovery of biological activity is only an early
step in the development process.
Question 2
What is the primary advantage of natural products in drug discovery?
A. They are always safe at therapeutic doses
B. They automatically possess favorable pharmacokinetic properties
C. They provide chemically diverse molecular structures that can serve
as starting points for drug development
D. They eliminate the need for lead optimization
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
C is correct because natural products can provide structurally diverse
, molecules with biological activities that are useful as starting points for
medicinal chemistry.
A is incorrect because natural products can produce substantial toxicity
or adverse effects.
B is incorrect because natural origin does not ensure favorable
absorption, distribution, metabolism, or elimination.
D is incorrect because an initial active compound commonly requires
optimization to improve potency, selectivity, safety, and drug-like
properties.
Question 3
A medicinal chemist modifies several functional groups on a biologically
active natural-product molecule while retaining its core structural
framework. What is the primary purpose of this strategy?
A. To eliminate the need for biological testing
B. To optimize the molecule's pharmacological and drug-like properties
C. To convert every natural product into a biologic agent
D. To determine whether the original plant contained the compound
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
B is correct because chemical modification of an active scaffold can
improve potency, selectivity, physicochemical properties, stability, or
tolerability.
A is incorrect because modified compounds still require experimental
evaluation.
C is incorrect because chemical modification does not convert a small
molecule into a biologic agent.
Goodman and Gilman's The
Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
14th Edition
Author(s)Laurence Brunton; Bjorn Knollmann
Print ISBN: 9781264258079
,Question 1
A research team isolates a compound from a medicinal plant and finds
that it produces a reproducible biological effect in an experimental
system. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this finding in
the early drug-discovery process?
A. The compound is already a therapeutic drug
B. The compound may represent a starting point for identifying and
,optimizing a drug candidate
C. The compound must be more effective than all synthetic compounds
D. The compound can proceed directly to clinical use
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
B is correct because an active natural product can provide a chemical
starting point for drug discovery, but substantial characterization,
optimization, safety assessment, and development are still required.
The chapter describes the progression from medicinal plants and
natural products toward modern drug discovery approaches.
A is incorrect because biological activity alone does not establish that a
compound is an approved therapeutic drug.
C is incorrect because natural origin does not guarantee superior
efficacy or safety compared with synthetic molecules.
D is incorrect because discovery of biological activity is only an early
step in the development process.
Question 2
What is the primary advantage of natural products in drug discovery?
A. They are always safe at therapeutic doses
B. They automatically possess favorable pharmacokinetic properties
C. They provide chemically diverse molecular structures that can serve
as starting points for drug development
D. They eliminate the need for lead optimization
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
C is correct because natural products can provide structurally diverse
, molecules with biological activities that are useful as starting points for
medicinal chemistry.
A is incorrect because natural products can produce substantial toxicity
or adverse effects.
B is incorrect because natural origin does not ensure favorable
absorption, distribution, metabolism, or elimination.
D is incorrect because an initial active compound commonly requires
optimization to improve potency, selectivity, safety, and drug-like
properties.
Question 3
A medicinal chemist modifies several functional groups on a biologically
active natural-product molecule while retaining its core structural
framework. What is the primary purpose of this strategy?
A. To eliminate the need for biological testing
B. To optimize the molecule's pharmacological and drug-like properties
C. To convert every natural product into a biologic agent
D. To determine whether the original plant contained the compound
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
B is correct because chemical modification of an active scaffold can
improve potency, selectivity, physicochemical properties, stability, or
tolerability.
A is incorrect because modified compounds still require experimental
evaluation.
C is incorrect because chemical modification does not convert a small
molecule into a biologic agent.
