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 previously unknown compound from a
medicinal plant and finds that it produces the desired biological effect
in an initial assay. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this
finding at this stage of drug discovery?
A. The compound is already a clinically useful drug
B. The compound may represent a lead compound for further
,development
C. The compound has established human safety
D. The compound has demonstrated therapeutic superiority over
existing drugs
Correct Answer:
B. The compound may represent a lead compound for further
development
Rationale:
A biologically active natural product can serve as a lead compound,
which is a starting point for optimization and further evaluation.
Biological activity alone does not establish clinical usefulness, safety, or
superiority. A is incorrect because discovery of activity does not make a
compound a drug. C is incorrect because safety must be established
through appropriate preclinical and clinical evaluation. D is incorrect
because comparative therapeutic benefit has not yet been
demonstrated.
Question 2
Why have medicinal plants historically been important sources of
pharmacologically active compounds?
A. Plant-derived compounds automatically have favorable
pharmacokinetics
B. Plants can produce structurally diverse secondary metabolites with
biological activity
C. Plant compounds do not require chemical characterization
D. Natural products are generally free of toxicity
, Correct Answer:
B. Plants can produce structurally diverse secondary metabolites with
biological activity
Rationale:
Plants synthesize numerous chemically diverse secondary metabolites,
some of which interact with biological targets and can provide useful
starting points for drug discovery. A is incorrect because natural origin
does not guarantee favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism, or
elimination. C is incorrect because active compounds require isolation
and structural characterization. D is incorrect because natural products
can produce significant toxicity just as synthetic compounds can.
Question 3
A scientist extracts material from a plant and tests the crude extract
against a disease-relevant biological target. The extract shows activity.
What is the next logical objective in a natural-product drug-discovery
program?
A. Begin large-scale clinical trials
B. Identify and characterize the active constituent or constituents
C. Market the crude extract as a prescription medication
D. Assume that all compounds in the extract contribute equally to the
activity
Correct Answer:
B. Identify and characterize the active constituent or constituents
Rationale:
When a crude extract shows activity, the investigators generally need to
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 previously unknown compound from a
medicinal plant and finds that it produces the desired biological effect
in an initial assay. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this
finding at this stage of drug discovery?
A. The compound is already a clinically useful drug
B. The compound may represent a lead compound for further
,development
C. The compound has established human safety
D. The compound has demonstrated therapeutic superiority over
existing drugs
Correct Answer:
B. The compound may represent a lead compound for further
development
Rationale:
A biologically active natural product can serve as a lead compound,
which is a starting point for optimization and further evaluation.
Biological activity alone does not establish clinical usefulness, safety, or
superiority. A is incorrect because discovery of activity does not make a
compound a drug. C is incorrect because safety must be established
through appropriate preclinical and clinical evaluation. D is incorrect
because comparative therapeutic benefit has not yet been
demonstrated.
Question 2
Why have medicinal plants historically been important sources of
pharmacologically active compounds?
A. Plant-derived compounds automatically have favorable
pharmacokinetics
B. Plants can produce structurally diverse secondary metabolites with
biological activity
C. Plant compounds do not require chemical characterization
D. Natural products are generally free of toxicity
, Correct Answer:
B. Plants can produce structurally diverse secondary metabolites with
biological activity
Rationale:
Plants synthesize numerous chemically diverse secondary metabolites,
some of which interact with biological targets and can provide useful
starting points for drug discovery. A is incorrect because natural origin
does not guarantee favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism, or
elimination. C is incorrect because active compounds require isolation
and structural characterization. D is incorrect because natural products
can produce significant toxicity just as synthetic compounds can.
Question 3
A scientist extracts material from a plant and tests the crude extract
against a disease-relevant biological target. The extract shows activity.
What is the next logical objective in a natural-product drug-discovery
program?
A. Begin large-scale clinical trials
B. Identify and characterize the active constituent or constituents
C. Market the crude extract as a prescription medication
D. Assume that all compounds in the extract contribute equally to the
activity
Correct Answer:
B. Identify and characterize the active constituent or constituents
Rationale:
When a crude extract shows activity, the investigators generally need to
