Unveiling Drimenol Synthase: Structure and Catalytic Mechanism of a Unique Terpene Cyclase-Phosphatase

Fast Summary:

• The proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Volume 122, issue 26 (July 2025), highlights the meaning of terpenoid natural products in ancient and contemporary pharmacology.
• C15 sesquiterpenes, a class of terpenoids, have been noted for their analgesic properties, specifically as derived from myrrh. Myrrh was historically utilized as a painkiller and referenced in ancient texts like the Ebers papyrus.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The study underscores how natural products like terpenoids have played an essential role in medicinal practices over centuries. For India-a contry rich in biodiversity and home to Ayurvedic medicine-this research reaffirms the importance of traditional knowledge systems that rely on plant-based remedies. It also holds potential implications for India’s pharmaceutical industry to further explore bioactive compounds for modern therapeutic applications while leveraging indigenous flora and ancient wisdom. Such findings could stimulate investment in ethnopharmacology research, positioning India as a leader in integrating tradition with cutting-edge science.

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