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The discovery of new
bioactive natural products from New Zealand’s native flora
is a major focus of the Plant Extracts Research
Unit of Crop & Food Research. The leader of the Unit, Dr
Nigel Perry, has over 100 refereed publications and several patents.
Other staff have expertise in the isolation and identification of
biologically active (bioactive) natural products, chromatographic
and spectroscopic analyses, chemical synthesis, biosynthesis and commercial
development.
Bioactivity-directed
isolation
We have a fully documented
library of collections and extracts of New Zealand’s unique
native plants. These have been screened for a range of useful biological
activities, including antimicrobial and insecticidal potential.
Active extracts are then subjected to bioactivity-directed isolation
to purify the important compounds.
One of our current projects
is the screening of New Zealand native terrestrial and marine organisms
for anti-inflammatory activity in collaboration with the National
Institute of Water and Air Research and the Malaghan Institute for
Medical Research. Another important initiative is our work with
Tuhoe on traditional Maori medicinal plants.
Structure, synthesis and activity
The structures of new
bioactive compounds are established by NMR spectroscopy. The Unit
is located in the University of Otago’s Chemistry
Department, which gives us access to their high-powered instruments.
Synthetic chemistry and molecular modeling are used in structure/activity
studies.
Commercial
development
Our links with clinical
researchers enable us to test new bioactive
molecules in vivo. We have collaborations for
development and for contract research with New Zealand and overseas
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical companies.
Contact
details
Plant Extracts Research
Unit
Crop & Food Research
University of Otago
P O Box 56
Dunedin
New Zealand
Email: plantex@crop.cri.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 8354
Fax: +64 3 479 8543
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Working
with us
Steve Lorimer 
