Antibiotics from Peru.
Many medicinals are derived or synthesized from herbals, and plants. The discovery of Penicillin by when a growth of fungus (a plant) suppressed the growth of a bacterial pure culture in a laboratory petri dish. Alexander Fleming became famous quite by accident.
What to Plant in your Garden. The Medicinal Garden
Pain Relief & Anesthetics
- Aspirin (Salicylic Acid): Derived from the bark of the Willow tree, it is one of the most widely used drugs for pain, fever, and inflammation.
- Morphine & Codeine: Extracted from the Opium Poppy, these are potent analgesics used for severe pain management.
- Cocaine: Though strictly regulated, it was originally derived from the Coca plant and used as a local anesthetic.
Heart & Circulatory Health
- Digoxin & Digitoxin: Isolated from Foxglove (Digitalis), these "cardiac glycosides" are used to treat heart failure and irregular heartbeats like atrial fibrillation.
- Quinidine: Found in the Cinchona tree, it is used as an antiarrhythmic to treat heart rhythm disorders.
- Reserpine: Derived from the Indian snakeroot (Rauvolfia serpentina), it has been used to treat high blood pressure.
Cancer Treatments (Chemotherapy)
- Paclitaxel (Taxol): Originally discovered in the bark of the Pacific Yew tree, it is a key treatment for breast, lung, and ovarian cancers.
- Vincristine & Vinblastine: Extracted from the Madagascar Periwinkle, these are essential for treating childhood leukemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Infectious Diseases
- Quinine: Sourced from Cinchona bark, it was the first effective treatment for malaria.
- Artemisinin: Derived from Sweet Wormwood, it is now a standard treatment for malaria, especially in resistant cases.
Respiratory & Neurological Care
- Pseudoephedrine: Found in the Ephedra plant, it is a common decongestant.
- Theophylline: Derived from Tea and Cocoa plants, it is used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions as a bronchodilator.
- Galantamine: Extracted from Snowdrops, it is used to manage symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
- Atropine & Scopolamine: Sourced from Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna), these are used respectively to treat slow heart rates and motion sickness.
Beyond the common medications like aspirin and morphine, a vast array of modern pharmaceuticals are derived from plants, ranging from advanced cancer treatments to everyday over-the-counter aids.
1. Modern FDA-Approved Botanical Drugs
Some medications are approved specifically as "botanical drugs," meaning they are complex mixtures of plant extracts rather than a single isolated chemical.
Sinecatechins (Veregen):
An ointment derived from Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, used to treat external genital and perianal warts.
Crofelemer (Mytesi): Extracted from the red sap of the Dragon’s Blood tree (Croton lechleri), it treats non-infectious diarrhea in adults with HIV/AIDS.
Birch Triterpenes (Filsuvez): A gel made from Birch bark used for the treatment of wounds associated with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare genetic skin disorder.
Anacaulase (NexoBrid): Derived from Pineapple stems, this enzyme-based treatment is used to remove dead tissue from severe thermal burns.
Journal of Integrative Dermatology
2. Neurological & Brain Health
Galantamine: Found in Snowdrops and daffodils, this alkaloid is a key treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease by helping to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain.
L-DOPA: While now often synthesized, it was originally discovered in Velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) and remains a primary treatment for Parkinson's disease.
Scopolamine: Derived from plants in the Nightshade family (like Jimsonweed), it is commonly used in transdermal patches to prevent motion sickness and postoperative nausea.
ThoughtCo
3. Digestion & Metabolic Health
Metformin: The most common drug for Type 2 diabetes was inspired by a compound in French Lilac (Galega officinalis), which was historically used to treat frequent urination.
Senna & Psyllium: These are widely used over-the-counter laxatives. Senna comes from the leaves/pods of the Senna plant, while Psyllium comes from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds.
Silymarin: Extracted from Milk Thistle seeds, it is used clinically in some regions to treat liver diseases and toxic liver damage.
ThoughtCo
4. Specialized Pain & Inflammation
Colchicine: Derived from the Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale), it is a standard treatment for acute gout flares.
Capsaicin: The active component of Chili peppers is used in topical creams and patches to relieve chronic pain from arthritis and neuropathy.
Buprenorphine: A semi-synthetic derivative of thebaine (found in the Opium Poppy), it is used both as a painkiller and as a primary treatment for opioid addiction.
5. Other Notable Compounds
Etoposide: A chemotherapy medication used for various cancers, derived from the Mayapple plant (Podophyllum peltatum).
Pilocarpine: Isolated from the Jaborandi plant of South America, it is used to treat glaucoma and dry mouth.
Quinine Derivatives: Modern drugs like chloroquine were synthesized using the structure of quinine (from Cinchona bark) as a template.
Plant Images
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/world/video/stingless-bees-peru-amazon-c2e-spc
No comments:
Post a Comment