7 presentations). The individual presentations are generally well referenced and provide both a useful summary of the respective topics and an effective entry into the primary literature.
The two stated objectives of this Symposium were to focus on the successful conversion of natural products into therapeutic agents and to focus on areas in this research field which are underdeveloped. The organizers achieved these objectives. The casual reader may be more impressed initially with the efforts toward satisfying the first objective. This reaction reflects a number of excellent presentations which illustrate diverse approaches or manipulations that have been utilized successfully to obtain clinically or scientifically useful agents. However, a person realizes on further reflection that these successful examples are also models for future efforts to expand into underdeveloped areas or leads. Contemporary and emerging technologies offer unusual promise for serious investigations in the natural product field. This volume will be of interest to established investigators in the natural product field, but its greatest contribution will probably come as a single-volume, general-approach reference for repeated study by students aspiring to scientific careers in natural product development.