Medicinal Plants & People Week 11 PDF

Week 11: Medicinal Plants / Pharmacopoeia Herbal History Exact origin unknown, likely ’000s of years Began with plant food that eased pain Ancient Egyptian civilization formalized it Early remedies included mandrake, garlic Ancient China and India documented cure...

Week 11: Medicinal Plants / Pharmacopoeia Herbal History Exact origin unknown, likely ’000s of years Began with plant food that eased pain Ancient Egyptian civilization formalized it Early remedies included mandrake, garlic Ancient China and India documented cures Important Events Early Greek and Romans- Hippocrates the father of medicine; linked diseases and herbs Dioscorides- a Roman military physician compiled a pharmacopoeia of 600 plant spp. Age of Herbals- medical botany and renewal of herbalism-printing press- 1440 Introduction of the ‘doctrine of signatures’ Modern Prescription Drugs- scientific research, investigations of therapeutic agents of plants. The birth of pharmacology- the extraction of morphine from opium in 1806 by Friedrich Serturner. 1839-1853 saw the formulation of salicylic acid from plants that became pain-relieving synthetic drug aspirin Plant Components in Prescription Drugs 25 % of drugs in the U.S. 50 % or more... May increase with time- more pharmaceutical companies and research institutions focus on synthetic ingredients isolated from plant. Contemporary Herbal Medicine Unlike the near neglect of herbalism by the West, between 75 - 90 % of world’s rural still rely on it True in places like Asia, Africa and Latin America where medicinal herbs are sold by herbalists in open markets along with vegetables, etc China has incorporated Ancient trado- medicine and acupuncture with orthodox health care system to meet the needs of her teeming population. Plantations of medicinal plants; regular training of doctors focus on active research programs- export India - traditional practices are still separated from western medicine. Most Indians prefer the herbal remedies for cultural/religious reasons. E.g. Ayurvedic medicine- Hindu based, Unani medicine- Islamic/Greek origin.  Prohibitive cost of prescription drugs In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in herbal medicine around the world. In particular, the indigenous people of the tropical rain forests are being studied by ethno- botanists to compile all of the proven herbal remedies into the world’s pharmacopoeia before they are lost forever. Tropical rain forests- particularly full of potential herbal cures not yet scientifically investigated. Rapid destruction of the ecosystems where the plants are threatened with extinction. Gradual disappearance of tribal cultures and loss of oral tradition due to urbanization. Closer Look 1.2 Perfumes to Poisons: Plants as chemical factories Four SECONDARY classes of carbon compounds. 1.Terpenes- Taxol; essential oils in herbs/spices 2.Phenolics- THC as hallucinogens/glaucoma cure 3.Glycosides- saponin (yam) as steroid; aloe 4.Alkaloids-caffeine (stimulant);cocaine- anesthetic General Uses of Herbal Plants Genetic resources for Pharmaceutical industry Ex: Rosy Periwinkle (right) Produces effective blood pressure meds Ex: aquatic sponge Produces derivative for the AIDS drugAZT Other Uses – Medicinal Field Treatment of anxiety, depression, Alzheimer, etc. Narcotics- oxycontin is a prescription medication abused, if not professionally administered. Agricultural Importance – Many species are nutritionally superior to the food we eat Industrial Importance – Made into others products:  Oils and lubricants  Perfumes and fragrances Issues of Medicinal plants *Marijuana or cannabis  *Opium poppy- Global opium trade These are two of the herbal plants that are more commonly used and abused. Referred to as recreational drugs used in sports. Marijuana: Hemp, Cannabinoids, Oils Cannabis sativa; native to C/South Asia, China Hemp (fibre), hashish/seed oils are medicinal Industrially- recreational drug, THC/CBD Psychoactive “high”; Physiological (mood/diet) UN- most illicit drug in the world (22ml/day) Red eye/dry mouth/anxiety/short term memory Issues of Marijuana in Medicine Treatment of ADD in kids with marijuana Medical marijuana policy project in San Diego, California getting high in high school Role of govt.-legalization vs, decriminalization Opium: Pain Killer or Pulse Killer Opium poppy, native of SW Asia-Syrian/Silk Road Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan; Colombia, Mexico Pain killer, sleep inducer, Derivatives-morphine, codeine, oxycodone, heroin Addictive/illegal, controlled substance; Abuses- snorted, injected Tobacco: Healer or Killer Nicotiana tabacum, named after Jean Nicot, a 16th century French Ambassador to Portugal Origin: South America / new world explorers Sacrament/healing herb / stops bleeding Chemicalized as cigarette/addictive Carcinogenic/withdrawal / electronic smoke Social ills of recreational Drugs Addiction Mental illness  Gangsterism Drug abuse Brain, body and effects of drugs Fetal alcohol syndrome Herbal Expression “Religion is the opium of the people” Karl Marx. He believed that the abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. 6000 yr old Sumerians clay tablets – joy plant Questions 1. Which ancient civilization is known for formalizing herbal medicine? A) Ancient Greece B) Ancient Egypt C) Ancient India D) Ancient China Answer: B) Ancient Egypt 2. Who is considered the "father of medicine" and linked diseases with the use of herbs? A) Dioscorides B) Hippocrates C) Friedrich Serturner D) Paracelsus Answer: B) Hippocrates 3. Who compiled a pharmacopoeia of 600 plant species during the Roman Empire? A) Dioscorides B) Hippocrates C) Avicenna D) Carl Linnaeus Answer: A) Dioscorides 4. Which of the following was the first drug to be extracted from a plant, leading to the birth of pharmacology? A) Aspirin B) Morphine C) Quinine D) Taxol Answer: B) Morphine 5. What was the major contribution of Friedrich Serturner in 1806? A) The discovery of morphine B) The synthesis of aspirin from salicylic acid C) The creation of the first pharmacopoeia D) The development of modern herbal medicine practices Answer: A) The discovery of morphine 6. What percentage of drugs in the U.S. are derived from plants? A) 10% B) 25% C) 50% D) 75% Answer: B) 25% 7. What is a significant challenge faced by tropical rainforests in terms of herbal medicine? A) Over-reliance on synthetic drugs B) Loss of biodiversity and ecosystems C) Lack of scientific research on medicinal plants D) Overpopulation of indigenous people Answer: B) Loss of biodiversity and ecosystems 8. Which plant component is responsible for the hallucinogenic properties of marijuana? A) Terpenes B) Phenolics C) Glycosides D) Alkaloids Answer: D) Alkaloids 9. Which secondary plant compound is found in herbs and spices like cinnamon and contributes to essential oils? A) Phenolics B) Glycosides C) Terpenes D) Alkaloids Answer: C) Terpenes 10. What is one of the medicinal uses of the plant Rosy Periwinkle? A) Pain relief B) Treatment for blood pressure C) Cancer treatment D) Treatment of malaria Answer: B) Treatment for blood pressure 11. Which of the following is a common use of plants in the medicinal field? A) Treatment of Alzheimer's B) Creating perfumes C) Treating depression D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above 12. Which plant is used to produce narcotics like oxycodone and heroin? A) Opium poppy B) Cannabis sativa C) Tobacco D) Mandrake Answer: A) Opium poppy 13. What is a common recreational and medicinal use of Cannabis sativa? A) Pain relief through morphine B) Sleep aid and mood enhancement C) Blood pressure regulation D) Curing malaria Answer: B) Sleep aid and mood enhancement 14. The use of opium derivatives like morphine and heroin is highly addictive and illegal. Which of the following is NOT a derivative of opium? A) Morphine B) Codeine C) Oxycodone D) THC Answer: D) THC 15. What plant is associated with both healing properties and the development of a highly addictive recreational drug, nicotine? A) Tobacco B) Opium poppy C) Cannabis sativa D) Aloe vera Answer: A) Tobacco 16. What is a common issue associated with marijuana use in medical contexts? A) It is always beneficial with no side effects B) It is legally accepted everywhere C) It can cause anxiety and short-term memory loss D) It is used exclusively for recreational purposes Answer: C) It can cause anxiety and short-term memory loss 17. What was the significance of the "doctrine of signatures" introduced during the Age of Herbals? A) It linked plant appearance to its healing properties B) It introduced a systematic approach to botanical classification C) It standardized medical dosages D) It promoted the use of herbal remedies exclusively Answer: A) It linked plant appearance to its healing properties 18. Which of the following plants is widely used in the treatment of glaucoma and as a hallucinogen? A) Marijuana B) Opium poppy C) Periwinkle D) Mandrake Answer: A) Marijuana 19. Which country has incorporated both ancient traditional medicine and acupuncture into its modern health care system? A) India B) Egypt C) China D) Italy Answer: C) China 20. In which way have indigenous people in tropical rainforests contributed to modern medicine? A) They have developed their own pharmacopoeia B) They are being studied by ethno-botanists for herbal remedies C) They are the primary producers of synthetic drugs D) They have avoided the use of medicinal plants altogether Answer: B) They are being studied by ethno-botanists for herbal remedies 21. Which plant is known for producing essential oils that are widely used in perfumes? A) Periwinkle B) Lavender C) Opium poppy D) Aloe vera Answer: B) Lavender 22. The phrase "Religion is the opium of the people," associated with Karl Marx, refers to which broader societal issue? A) The use of herbal remedies in religious rituals B) The addiction to and abuse of recreational drugs C) The societal role of religion in providing illusory happiness D) The healing properties of opium and its cultural significance Answer: C) The societal role of religion in providing illusory happiness