Medicinal Plants: Roots and Underground Parts

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary use of the drug derived from the senega plant?

It is chiefly used as an expectorant, emetic, and stimulant.

Describe the active principle found in valerian and its intended use.

The active principle is an essential oil, used to relieve nervous afflictions such as pain and anxiety.

Explain the historical significance of cascara in medicinal use.

Cascara was early used by Western Indians and Spanish settlers for its tonic and laxative properties.

From which plant is quinine derived, and what is its primary medicinal application?

Quinine is derived from the bark of the cinchona tree and is primarily used to treat malaria. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the plant parts used to obtain the drug senega.

The drug is obtained from the dried roots of the senega plant. Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary parts of the valerian plant used in herbal remedies?

Dried rhizomes and roots of the valerian plant are used in herbal remedies. Signup and view all the answers

How does the historical context of cascara contribute to its classification as a medicinal plant?

Cascara's use by indigenous peoples and early settlers as a laxative establishes its significance as a medicinal plant. Signup and view all the answers

Why is quinine considered a 'great boon to mankind'?

Quinine is considered a great boon because it effectively treats malaria, saving countless lives. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of Aconite derived from the monkshood roots?

Aconite is used externally for neuralgia and rheumatism, and internally to relieve fever and pain. Signup and view all the answers

From which plant is colchicine derived and what condition is it primarily used to treat?

Colchicine is derived from Colchicum autumnale and is primarily used to treat gout and rheumatism. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the botanical characteristics and origin of Gentian root.

Gentian root comes from Gentiana lutea, a tall perennial herb with orange-yellow flowers, common in the Alps and other mountain regions of Europe. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the National Formulary from other pharmacological references?

The National Formulary lists drugs of minor importance that are legally approved. Signup and view all the answers

Why are drugs obtained from roots and other underground parts significant in pharmacognosy?

They are significant because they often contain concentrated active compounds used for medicinal purposes. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'medicinal plants' in the study of pharmacognosy?

Medicinal plants refer to plant species that possess therapeutic properties and are used in traditional and modern medicine. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of drying roots like Aconite and Gentian for their medicinal use?

Drying is crucial as it preserves the active components and ensures the safety and efficacy of the medicinal use. Signup and view all the answers

How does the classification of drug plants aid in their usage within pharmacotherapy?

Classification helps in identifying plant species based on their medicinal properties, facilitating their appropriate application in treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the chief alkaloid present in succiruba bark, and what is its primary medical use?

The chief alkaloid is quinine, which is primarily used as a tonic and antiseptic for fever treatment. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the tree from which slippery elm bark is sourced and its primary characteristic.

Slippery elm bark is sourced from the Ulmus fulva tree, known for being a non-poisonous drug source. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of Ephedra sinica in traditional Chinese medicine.

Ephedra sinica, known as 'ma huang', has been used for over five thousand years in treating colds. Signup and view all the answers

What is gum guaiac, and what are its primary uses?

Gum guaiac is a hard resin from lignum vitae trees, used as a stimulant, laxative, and chemical indicator. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the origin and uses of Jamaican quassia.

Jamaican quassia is obtained from Picraena excelsa and is used as a tonic and for treating dyspepsia and malaria. Signup and view all the answers

What type of drug is derived from the leaves of Aloe, particularly in reference to purgation?

Aloe leaves contain a resinous juice used chiefly as a purgative. Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary alkaloids found in belladonna and their medical applications?

The primary alkaloids are hyoscyamine and atropine, used for pain relief and to check excessive perspiration. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the source of cocaine and its cultivation regions.

Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the coca shrub, native to Peru and Bolivia, and cultivated in South America. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the classification of drug plants and provide an example based on the content.

Drug plants can be classified based on their parts used; for example, slippery elm uses its inner bark. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of cellulose nitrate applications in pharmaceutical contexts?

Cellulose nitrate is often used as a binder or film-forming agent in drug formulations. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the properties of hemicellulose and its relevance to drug plant material.

Hemicellulose has varying sugar compositions and is important for the structural integrity of plant materials. Signup and view all the answers

What role does pharmacognosy play in the development of herbal medicines?

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants, crucial for understanding their effects. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways is guaiacum sensitive to oxygen, and how is this property utilized?

Guaiacum changes color in the presence of oxygen, which allows it to be used as a chemical indicator. Signup and view all the answers

What is the medicinal use of bitter-tasting quassia, and from which plants is it obtained?

Quassia is used as a tonic and is obtained from Picraena excelsa and Quassia amara. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Drugs Obtained from Roots and Other Underground Parts

Aconite is obtained from the roots of the monkshood plant (Aconitum Napellus)
- Native to the Alps, Pyrenees, and other mountainous regions of Asia and Europe
- Widely cultivated in temperate countries as an ornamental and drug plant
- Contains several alkaloids, used externally for neuralgia and rheumatism, and internally to relieve fever and pain
- Collected in Autumn and Dried
Colchicum root is dried corn of Colchicum autumnale
- Perennial herb of Europe and Northern Africa
- Active principle is an alkaloid used in the treatment of gout and rheumatism
Gentian is sourced from Gentania lutea, a tall perennial herb with conspicuous orang-yellow flowers
- Very common in the Alps and other mountains of Europe
- Roots are dug in the Fall, sliced, and dried
- Used chiefly as a purgative
Senega is obtained from dried roots of the senega snakeroot or milkwort (Polygala Senega)
- Small herbaceous perennial of Eastern North America
- Used as an expectorant, emetic, and stimulant
- Native American tribes used the plant as a cure for snake bite
Valerian is obtained from dried rhizome and roots of the garden heliotrope (Valeriana officinalis)
- Cultivated in the US as an ornamental species
- Active principle is an essential oil
- Used to relieve nervous afflictions, such as pain, coughing, and hysteria

Drugs Obtained by Barks

Cascara is obtained from the bark of Western Buckthorn (Rhammus Purshiana)
- Early used by Western Indians and Spanish settlers, called it cascara sagrada or sacred bark
- Cascara and Buckthorn bark from R.frangula used as a tonic and laxative
Quinine, one of the most important drugs known, is used to cure malaria
- Several species of genus cinchona have a medicinal bark
  - C.Calisaya was the first to be utilized
  - C.Ledgeriana, C.Officinalis, and C.Succiruba were the chief source of commercial bark
- The bark contains several alkaloids, the most important of which is quinine, a very bitter substance
- Valuable as a tonic and antiseptic, used in the treatment of fever generally
Slippery Elm is obtained from the inner bark of the slippery elm (Ulmus fulva), a large tree of Eastern North America
- A non-poisonous drug
Ephedrine is an alkaloid obtained from Ephedra sinica, E.equisentina, and other Asiatic species of the genus
- Low, dioecious, leafless shrubs with slender green stems
- The entire woody plant is used for extraction of the drug
- Under the name "ma huang", ephedra has been used in China for over five thousand years
- In the US, ephedrine has been used extensively in the treatment of colds and for other medicinal purposes
Guaiacum, also known as gum guaiac, is a hard resin that exudes naturally from the stem of the Lignum Vitae trees (Guaiacum officinale and G, sanctum)
- Hardens as round, glassy, greenish-brown tears
- Obtained from incision, from the cut end of logs, or from pieces of the wood
- Used as a stimulant and laxative
- Also a good chemical indicator as it is very sensitive to oxygen
- Lignum trees are native to the West Indies and South America
Quassia is obtained from two different sources
- Jamaican quassia comes from Picraena excelsa, a tall tree of Jamaica and other West Indian islands
- Surinam quassia is the product of Quassia amara, which grows in tropical America as well as the West Indies
- Has a very bitter taste, used as a tonic and in the treatment of dyspepsia and malaria

Drugs Obtained from Leaves

Aloe is obtained from different sources
- Barbadoes aloe comes from Aloe vullgaris
- Socotrine aloes comes from Aloe ferox, a tropical plant with succulent leaves and showy flowers
- Frequently cultivated in greenhouses
- Leaves contain a resinous juice with several glucosides
- Used chiefly as a purgative
Belladonna is obtained from dried leaves and tops, as well as the roots of Atropa Belladonna
- A coarse herb native to Central and Southern Europe and Asia Minor
- Extensively cultivated as a drug plant in the US, Europe, and India
- Leaves are collected during flowering season and dried
- Contains several alkaloids, with hysoscyamine and atropine being the most important
- Used externally to relieve pain, and internally to check excessive perspiration and coughs
- Atropine is used to dilate the pupil of the eye
Coca is obtained from the leaves of the coca shrub (Erythroxolyn Coca)
- Native to Peru and Bolivia
- Extensively cultivated in South America, where the leaves are chewed, and also in Java and Formosa
- Leaves mature in 4 years and can be picked 3-4 times per year

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Description

Explore the world of medicinal plants, focusing on those obtained from roots and other underground parts. This quiz covers various herbs such as Aconite, Colchicum, Gentian, and Senega, detailing their origins, uses, and preparation methods. Test your knowledge of these important natural remedies used in treating various ailments.