Medicinal and Poisonous Plants

Questions and Answers

What is the primary location of resin production in Cannabis plants?

Glandular trichomes (correct)

Leaves

Roots

Stems

Which of the following factors affects the potency of the resin in Cannabis plants?

Soil quality

Climate

Water quality

Genetic strains and growing conditions (correct)

Where is Cannabis sativa believed to have originated?

Central Asia (correct)

Europe

South America

Central Africa

What is the earliest documented record of marijuana's use as a hallucinogen?

500 BC among the Scythians Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of Cannabis in ancient India?

Religious ceremonies and achieving a contemplative state Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic feature of the odour of Indian hemp?

Heavy and characteristic in the fresh drug but faint in the dried specimen Signup and view all the answers

What are the microscopic features of Indian hemp?

Numerous glandular hairs, sessile or with unicellular or multiseriated stalk and an 8-celled head, conical, curved, unicellular clothing trichomes, along with cystoliths of calcium carbonate in the enlarged bases Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of resin in Cannabis?

15-20% Signup and view all the answers

What is the main psychoactive component of Cannabis?

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of screening plants worldwide?

To identify plants that provide new treatment for human diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of some poisonous plants?

They are poisonous in part and harmless otherwise Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of legal and illegal drugs derived from plants?

They have negative effects on the economy Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a plant that contains psychotropic chemicals?

Cannabis Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific name of the Calabar Bean?

Physostigma venenosum Signup and view all the answers

Why do some plants cause allergic reactions in people and animals?

When ingested, they release harmful chemicals Signup and view all the answers

What varies from country to country regarding poisonous plants?

The laws governing the use of poisonous plants Signup and view all the answers

What is a common use of some plants with deleterious effects?

As insecticides Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a medicinal plant and a poisonous plant?

A medicinal plant has therapeutic effects, while a poisonous plant has harmful effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason THC accumulates in body tissues?

Because it is fat soluble Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of marijuana on sperm production in males?

It decreases sperm production Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using marijuana or marinol in patients undergoing chemotherapy?

To reduce the side effects of chemotherapy Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the synthetic form of THC used in medicine?

Marinol Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the alkaloid found in the cannabis plant?

Cannabisativine Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using marijuana in patients with multiple sclerosis?

To reduce spasmodic movement Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of THC on the foetus in pregnant women?

It can cross the placenta and possibly damage the foetus Signup and view all the answers

What is the colour obtained in Beam's test for cannabis?

Purple or red Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of moderate use of marijuana on learning and memory?

It impairs learning and short-term memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the colour of the spot when a drug is sprayed with bis-diazotizes-di-o-anisidine in 0.1N Sodium Hydroxide?

Red Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of adding 15% Hydrochloric acid in dehydrated alcohol to the light petroleum ether extract of the drug?

A red colour develops at the junction of the two liquids. Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of drug dependence in cannabis users?

A strong psychic dependence without physical dependence and little tendency to increase the dose. Signup and view all the answers

What is the time frame for the effects of oral ingestion of cannabis to appear?

3 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of smoking cannabis on users?

Anxiety and restlessness appear within a few minutes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the factor that influences the effects of cannabis on users?

The environment and the personality of the user Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of larger doses of cannabis on users?

A variety of physical and psychological effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the common effect of cannabis use on users?

Unusual sensations and anxiety Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the lower layer when water is added to the distinguishing test for cannabis?

The lower layer acquires an orange pink colour which disappears Signup and view all the answers

What is the main effect of the drink made from this plant?

It produces a stupefying effect Signup and view all the answers

In which country is the plant used to treat asthma?

China Signup and view all the answers

What is the main alkaloid found in the leaves of the plant?

Atropine Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of atropine in eye surgery?

To dilate the pupils Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of alkaloids found in the roots of the plant?

0.35% Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an extract of the flowers of the plant when applied orally?

General anesthesia Signup and view all the answers

Why should the plant only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner?

Because it has a narrow therapeutic index Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of alkaloids found in the seeds of the plant?

0.426% Signup and view all the answers

What is the use of crushed leaves of the plant?

To relieve pain Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of nicotine on respiration?

Initial stimulation followed by depression of respiration Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of nicotine overdose?

Respiratory arrest Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of psychotic episodes induced by cannabis intoxication?

Paranoid delusions of ability Signup and view all the answers

What is the constituent of Nicotiana tabacum responsible for its pharmacological effects?

Nicotine Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of cannabis use on the respiratory system?

Bronchitis and asthma Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of chronic cannabis use on the gastrointestinal system?

Alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation Signup and view all the answers

What colour does cannabigerol give when sprayed with bis-diazotizes-di-o-anisidine in 0.1N Sodium Hydroxide?

Orange Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of cannabis use on psychological processes?

Increased irritability and disturbances of judgment Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of adding 15% Hydrochloric acid in dehydrated alcohol to the light petroleum ether extract of the drug?

The upper layer becomes colourless while the lower layer acquires an orange pink colour Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of physostigmine in clinical settings?

To contract the pupil of the eye Signup and view all the answers

What is characteristic of drug dependence in cannabis users?

Psychic dependence without physical dependence Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical dose of physostigmine in its pure alkaloid form?

2 mg Signup and view all the answers

What is the time frame for the effects of oral ingestion of cannabis to appear?

About 3 hours after ingestion Signup and view all the answers

What is the oral LD50 of physostigmine in mice?

4.5 mg/kg Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of cannabis use on users?

Disturbed auditory and visual perception Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the lower layer when water is added to the distinguishing test for cannabis?

The colour disappears Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum reported number of Calabar beans eaten followed by survival of a human?

35 Signup and view all the answers

What is a factor that influences the effects of cannabis on users?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of physostigmine on heart contractility?

It decreases heart contractility Signup and view all the answers

What is the common name of the plant Cannabis sativa Linn?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the family name of the plant Cannabis sativa Linn?

Cannabaceae Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of the liquid extracted from the leaves and roots of Datura metel?

As a hallucinogen Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the flowers of Datura metel?

They are immensely varied in colour Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Datura metel and Datura innoxia?

Datura metel has glabrous leaves, while Datura innoxia has spiny leaves Signup and view all the answers

What is the family of Datura metel?

Solanaceae Signup and view all the answers

What is the toxicity of Datura metel?

Very poisonous, even in small doses Signup and view all the answers

Where is Datura metel commonly found?

Wet places, river banks, etc. in sunny positions Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical height of Datura metel?

Up to 6 ft Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of the plant in Vietnam?

Production of antiasthmatic cigarettes Signup and view all the answers

What is the toxic effect of excess doses of the plant?

Severe intoxication and death Signup and view all the answers

What is the main alkaloid found in the roots of the plant?

Hyoscyamine Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an extract of the flowers of the plant when applied orally?

General anaesthesia Signup and view all the answers

Why should the plant only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner?

Because the toxic dose is very close to the medicinal dose Signup and view all the answers

What is the use of crushed leaves of the plant?

Relief of pain Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of atropine in eye surgery?

To dilate the pupils Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of THC on the foetus in pregnant women?

It can cross the placenta and possibly damage the foetus Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using marijuana or marinol in patients undergoing chemotherapy?

To reduce nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of moderate use of marijuana on learning and memory?

It impairs learning, short-term memory, and reaction time Signup and view all the answers

What is the colour obtained in Beam's test for cannabis?

Purple or red Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of marijuana on sperm production in males?

It decreases sperm production Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason THC accumulates in body tissues?

Because it's fat-soluble Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the synthetic form of THC used in medicine?

Marinol Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the alkaloid found in the cannabis plant?

Cannabisativine Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of marijuana use on the respiratory system?

It is not mentioned in the content Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using marijuana in patients with multiple sclerosis?

To reduce spasmodic movement Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Screening of Plants for Human Diseases

Screening of plants has produced many drugs and is still an ongoing process
Records of responses from individuals (including animals) from consumption of plants with deleterious effects were also indications of poisonous plants

Poisonous and Medicinal Plants

A poisonous plant is a plant that has harmful effects on the body
A medicinal plant is any plant that contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or as a precursor for the synthesis of useful drugs
Examples of poisonous plants include strychnine and pyrethrum, which have been used for hunting poisons and insecticides
Some plants are poisonous in part and harmless otherwise, or poisonous at one season and not at another

Psychotropic Chemicals and Drugs

Certain plants contain psychotropic chemicals, which are extracted and ingested or smoked, including tobacco, cannabis (marijuana), cocaine, and opium
These drugs can cause damage to health or even death
Both illegal and legal drugs derived from plants have negative effects on the economy, affecting workers' productivity and law enforcement costs

Calabar Bean (Physostigma venenosum Balf.)

The plant is known for its resin production by glandular trichomes
Potency of the resin varies greatly depending on genetic strains and growing conditions

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis)

Use of Cannabis can be traced back about 5000 years to ancient China
Earliest documented records of marijuana's use as a hallucinogen can be traced to the Scythians, ancient nomadic horsemen from central Asia, about 500 BC
Marijuana use spread from central Asia to Asia minor, northern Africa, India, and elsewhere
The first written mention in India was around 600 BC
Marijuana use in India was associated largely with religious ceremonies and achieving a contemplative state

Microscopy and Constituents of Cannabis

Numerous glandular hairs, sessile or with unicellular or multiseriated stalk and an 8-celled head, conical, curved, unicellular clothing trichomes
Clusters of calcium oxalates are also present
Cannabis contains a large number of phenolic compounds known as cannabinoids, but the main psychoactive component is delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THC)
The concentration of THC in the plant varies considerably, depending on the genetic strain, sex of the plant, climate, and growing conditions

Effects and Medicinal Uses of Cannabis

Effects of Cannabis include a sense of euphoria and calmness
Moderate use of marijuana impairs learning, short-term memory, and reaction time
THC is fat-soluble and accumulates in body tissues, measurable amounts may remain in the body for days after inhalation
Effects on males include a decrease in sperm production and decreased testosterone levels
In pregnant women, THC can cross the placenta and possibly damage the fetus
Medicinal uses of Cannabis include treating glaucoma, nausea, and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, and counteracting weight loss associated with AIDS wasting syndrome

Identification and Distinguishing Test of Cannabis

Microscopy: Trichomes stain deep-reddish-purple with vanillin in ethanolic sulphuric acid
Beam's test: A purple or red color is obtained when the extract is treated with N/10 alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH)
Distinguishing test: Spray a spot of the drug with bis-diazotizes-di-o-anisidine in 0.1N Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH); THC gives red color, cannabidiol gives violet color, cannabigerol gives orange color

Physical Effects of Cannabis Intoxication

Heart rate and blood pressure increase
Cold extremities
Dilated pupils and injected conjunctiva vessels
Ataxia and deep reflexes
Hypoglycaemia
Diarrhea
Frequency of micturation
Bronchitis and asthma
Respiratory depression may occur in severe intoxication

Psychological Effects of Cannabis Intoxication

Elation
Distortion of time and space
Irritability
Disturbances of memory and judgment
Psychotic episodes of an acute type characterized by paranoid delusions of ability
Schizophrenic-like reactions
Teratogenic effects in animals

Tobacco

Scientific Name and Common Name

Scientific Name: Nicotiana tabacum Linn (Family Solanaceae)
Common Name: Tobacco

Constituents

Nicotine (richest in leaves, followed by stalk, roots, and flowers)
Nornicotine
Anabasine
Nocityrine
Nicotelline
Anatabine
Small traces of amino acids, harmane, terpenes, etc.

Pharmacological Effects of Nicotine

Initial stimulation and depression phases of actions
Excitation of respiration
Death results from respiratory arrest due to both central paralysis and peripheral blockade of muscles of respiration

Dependence on Cannabis

Characterized by a desire or need to continue taking the drug
Psychic dependence on the effects of the drug without physical dependence
Little or no development of tolerance and consequently little or no tendency to increase the dose
Users do not experience difficulty in discontinuing its use

Toxic Effects of Cannabis

Unusual sensations induced in man by cannabis use are common
Nausea and vomiting may be the first effects of oral ingestion of cannabis
Anxiety and restlessness are common effects of smoking cannabis
Full effects of cannabis are largely dependent on the personality of the user and on the environment as well as the dose taken
Small doses may be followed by a mildly pleasant effect, while larger doses may give rise to a variety of physical and psychological effects

Physostigmine

Uses and Pharmacology

Used clinically to contract the pupil of the eye
Reverses the CNS toxicity of anticholinergic drugs
Manages intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma
Investigated for its ability to increase cognition, particularly in demented patients

Dosage

Typical dose for the pure alkaloid is 2 mg
No clinical evidence relating to the crude plant material or to an extract

Pregnancy/Lactation

Documented adverse effects
Avoid use

Indian Hemp

Scientific Name and Common Name

Scientific Name: Cannabis sativa Linn. Family: Cannabibaceae
Common Name: Cannabis, Marijuana, hemp, grass, hashish, bhang, charas, ganja, Igbo, etc.

Datura metel

Common Name and Botanical Source

Common Name: Thorn Apple, Angel's Trumpet, Hindu Datura, Horn of Plenty, Downy Thorn Apple
Botanical Source: Datura metel Family: Solanaceae

Description

Annual or short-lived shrubby perennial herb
Growing up to 6 ft (1.8 m) high
Slightly pubescent, with green to dark violet shoots and oval to broad oval leaves
Flowers are pleasantly scented and immensely varied
Seed capsule is covered with numerous conical warts or short, sparse spines

Uses

The whole plant, but especially the leaves and seed, is anaesthetic, anodyne, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, bronchodilator, hallucinogenic, hypnotic, and mydriatic
Used to treat epilepsy, hysteria, insanity, heart diseases, fever with catarrh, diarrhoea, skin diseases, etc.
Poultice of the crushed leaves is used to relieve pain

Cautions

Great caution is advised in the use of this plant since excess doses cause hallucinations, severe intoxication, and death
The toxic dose is very close to the medicinal dose
Contains the alkaloids hyoscyamine, hyoscine, and atropine

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This quiz covers the use of plants in identifying chemical compounds for new treatments and the effects of poisonous plants on the human body.