ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Origins of Drugs. The simplest division of the origins of Drugs would be natural and synthetic. The present medicinal armamentarium is largely founded upon medicinal folklore of the past. Among the allied sciences which have contributed to recent advances in Drug therapy are organic chemistry and physiology. Organic chemistry has been and continues to be a source of many new chemical structures with exciting therapeutic possibilities. The physiologists have been responsible for conceptualizing the physiologically active principles in certain organs. The mere discovery of biologic activity in a new compound, however, is only the beginning of the complex process necessary to convert what is usually a raw laboratory product into a safe and effective Drug product. Drug product development involves three major parallel interactive types of activity: biologic development, marketing development, and something have called physico-chemical-pharmaceutical development.
