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Which of the following substances is derived from the opium poppy?
Which of the following substances is derived from the opium poppy?
The doctrine of signatures suggests that a plant's appearance can indicate its healing properties.
The doctrine of signatures suggests that a plant's appearance can indicate its healing properties.
True
What is the main ingredient in aspirin originally derived from?
What is the main ingredient in aspirin originally derived from?
Willow bark
Approximately _____ to _____ percent of Western medicines are based on plant chemicals.
Approximately _____ to _____ percent of Western medicines are based on plant chemicals.
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How long have plants been used for medicinal purposes?
How long have plants been used for medicinal purposes?
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Match the medicinal plants with their corresponding uses:
Match the medicinal plants with their corresponding uses:
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More than 50% of Western medicines are derived from plant chemicals.
More than 50% of Western medicines are derived from plant chemicals.
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The global trade in medicinal plants was estimated at _____ billion USD in 2002.
The global trade in medicinal plants was estimated at _____ billion USD in 2002.
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What was the primary motivation for chewing coca by the Inca peoples?
What was the primary motivation for chewing coca by the Inca peoples?
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Cocaine was banned in Coca-Cola due to its medicinal properties.
Cocaine was banned in Coca-Cola due to its medicinal properties.
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Name one principal drug derived from the opium poppy.
Name one principal drug derived from the opium poppy.
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What was quinine initially added to tonic water for?
What was quinine initially added to tonic water for?
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Tropane alkaloids are commonly used in medicinal treatments for conditions like __________.
Tropane alkaloids are commonly used in medicinal treatments for conditions like __________.
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Ephedrine has been used in Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years.
Ephedrine has been used in Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years.
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Match the following plants with their associated medicinal uses:
Match the following plants with their associated medicinal uses:
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What does resperpine effectively lower?
What does resperpine effectively lower?
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What is a significant concern regarding opioids?
What is a significant concern regarding opioids?
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The cardiac glycosides _____ and digitoxin are obtained from foxglove.
The cardiac glycosides _____ and digitoxin are obtained from foxglove.
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Which of the following is NOT a use of the Madagascar periwinkle?
Which of the following is NOT a use of the Madagascar periwinkle?
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Senna is a significant ingredient in most commercial laxative products today.
Senna is a significant ingredient in most commercial laxative products today.
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The coca plant is native to the __________ mountains of northwest South America.
The coca plant is native to the __________ mountains of northwest South America.
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Match the following plants with their primary uses:
Match the following plants with their primary uses:
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Yams are the only source of diosgenin used in hormonal drugs.
Yams are the only source of diosgenin used in hormonal drugs.
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What has ginseng been suggested to improve under stress?
What has ginseng been suggested to improve under stress?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a secondary product in plants?
Which of the following is NOT considered a secondary product in plants?
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Alkaloids are harmless at higher concentrations.
Alkaloids are harmless at higher concentrations.
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What is the primary medical use of quinine?
What is the primary medical use of quinine?
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Match the following secondary products with their examples:
Match the following secondary products with their examples:
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What beneficial role do secondary products play in plants?
What beneficial role do secondary products play in plants?
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Terpenoids consist of two or more five-carbon isoprene units.
Terpenoids consist of two or more five-carbon isoprene units.
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Study Notes
Medicinal Plants
- Plants have been used medicinally for at least 5,000 years, providing various pharmaceutical agents, including hormones, antibiotics, and narcotics.
- Plants produce hallucinogens, poisons, and pesticides.
- Plants were used to treat common ailments like pain, fevers, and wounds.
- Examples include ephedra (amphetamine-like stimulant for asthma), opium poppy (pain relievers morphine and codeine).
- Early societies valued knowledge of medicinal plants (and their healing properties).
- Doctrine of signatures (belief that a plant's appearance indicates its healing properties) was prevalent in early civilizations. (e.g. heart-shaped leaves for heart ailments, yellow juice for jaundice).
- Earliest pharmacopoeias (herbal books) were compiled in Egypt, Arabia, and China.
- Many modern medicinal drugs are still derived from plants.
- Approximately 25-30% of Western medicines are based on plant chemicals.
- The global medicinal plant trade was estimated at $30 billion USD in 2002.
- This trade is split between prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- Up to the 1950s, over 80% of Western medicines were plant-based.
- Some complex medications, like plant cardiac glycosides (used for heart disease) and morphine derivatives (for chronic pain), remain more economically difficult to create synthetically.
- Medically active chemicals are mainly secondary products (though not essential to the plant).
- These chemicals serve as plant defenses (e.g. bitter tastes to repel herbivores) or attract pollinators (with bright colors, appealing tastes and smells).
- They also help neutralize waste/toxins (as plants lack an excretory system).
- Plants contain at least three groups of medically significant secondary products:
- Alkaloids: Nitrogenous ring compounds (influencing the central nervous system); examples include caffeine, morphine, quinine, strychnine, and nicotine, often toxic in high concentrations.
Important Medicinal Plants
- Quinine (Cinchona calisaya): Important anti-malarial agent derived from South American trees; used in tonic water.
- Ephedrine (Ephedra major, E. sinica): Amphetamine alkaloid from Chinese shrubs; used for asthma, raising blood pressure, and treating coma patients.
- Indian Snakeroot (Rauwolfia serpentina): Reserpine alkaloid used to treat mental illness, snakebites, lower blood pressure, and hypertension.
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): Cardiac glycosides (digoxin and digitoxin) used to strengthen and regulate heartbeats.
- Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus): Produces alkaloids used to treat cancers like leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and ovarian cancer.
Other Important Plants
- Yams (Dioscorea species): Source of diosgenin, used in contraceptives and fertility drugs.
- Ginseng (Panax ginseng): Used medicinally in China for at least 5,000 years; believed to grant wisdom and long life; now a trade commodity.
- Coca (Erythroxylum coca): The coca plant, chewed by Inca peoples as a stimulant, and to ease hunger; cocaine is derived from the plant
- Senna (Senna angustifolia): Main ingredient in many commercial laxatives; the bark of cascara from the Pacific Northwest is also used for laxative purposes.
- Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum): Source of pain-relieving drugs like morphine and oxycodone (as well as codeine).
- Other important plants that were discussed include, but are not limited to, henbane, belladonna, and other plants used in traditional medicine.
Plant Biochemistry
- Plants produce various essential or aromatic oils, cardiac and steroidal terpenoid glycosides.
- Also, important medicinal compounds like phenolic compounds. Plants use these compounds as pigments, poisons and drugs.
Additional Info
- Doctrine of signatures: belief that appearance of a plant indicated its healing properties
- Many plants were used in traditional medicine (e.g. snake root for snake bite, and other plants for curing ailments)
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of medicinal plants that have been utilized for thousands of years as sources of pharmaceuticals. This quiz covers the history, applications, and significance of these plants, along with examples of their medicinal properties. Discover how ancient knowledge has shaped modern medicine.
