Medicinal Plants : HISTORY GREEKS AND ROMANS:-Western medicine started with Hippocrates (460-377 BC), known as “Father of Medicine”• Use of herbal remedies for disease.-Dioscorides, Roman physician, compiled medicinal information of over 600 plants in the De Materia Medica in 75 B.C.- Most authoritative reference, used for 1500 years! Many of these remedies still used today!-Doctrine of Signatures: (1500s) a belief that the use of a plant can be recognized by certain “signatures” visible on the plant, that corresponded to human anatomy. • Part of the plant looked like part of the human body; thus it was used to treat the human part it most closely resembled!o The plant liverwort looked like a liver, and was used to treat liver ailmentso Bloodwort red juice was used for blood disorderso Walnuts look like brains: used for treating brain disorderso Mandrake root: was thought to promote male virility and ensure conceptiono No scientific basis for any of this!AGE OF HERBALS-In 1400’s Europe, the beginning of the Renaissance saw a revival of herbalism-With printing press invention, lots of herbals published: Theatrum Botanicum, The Complete Herbal, etc.MODERN-25% of prescriptions written contain plant-derived active ingredients-90% of rural population in the world still relies on herbal medicine for health careACTIVE COMPOUNDS-Alkaloids:- Contain nitrogen; they are usually alkaline (basic pH); they have a bitter taste• They affect the nervous system of animals• Some alkaloids are medicinally important, but others are hallucinogenic or poisonous• The difference between medicinal and poisonous effect is the dosage (quantity used)• Common alkaloids: caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, morphine, quinine, ephedrine-Glycosides:• Contain a sugar molecule (glucose) attached to the active component• Cyanogenic glycosides have cyanide (HCN) – remember, cassava contains HCN; also, pits of apricots• Cardioactive glycosides contain a steroid molecule as the active component. These have an effect on heart muscle contraction; used to treat forms of heart failure • Saponins don’t have much medicinal value, some may be toxicFOXGLOVE – heart diseaseWILLOWBARK– aspirin to relieve pain, feverCINCHONA TREE– to treat malariaSNAKEROOT – schizophrenia, hypertension1ALOE – burns, cuts, skin moisturizingFOXGLOVE- Digitalis purpurea-NATIVE- Europe, Africa, and Western Asia-A flowering plant• Flower clusters, every two years, insect pollinated• Produces compounds meant to discourage grazing by mammals• Originally used to treat dropsy (severe bloating) in England• William Withering, an English doctor, found the correct dosage for treatment (1785)-Contains cardioactive glycosides in the leaves; they can be extractedo Digoxin – most widely used, because it can be cleared by the kidneyso Digitoxin – has a longer life, and is not cleared very well by kidneys.-Biological Effects:- Treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF)o When the heart fails to pump enough blood to the rest of the bodyo Body attempts to compensate, by increasing blood pressure, and decreased blood to kidneys – which makes the problem worseBiological activity:-Works in 2 ways:• Slowing the heart rate • Increasing strength of each heartbeat – improving circulationo More blood supply to the hearto More blood to the kidneys, leads to increased urine production and excretion Contradictions-Excessive dose can be fatal (never chew) – it can be a poison-80% effective:- Because it varies depending on the patient, what can be ideal for one, may be subtherapeutic for another, or even lethal to another, depending on the circumstances- Overdose/side effects: Nausea, vomiting, headache, arrhythmia (rapid, irregular beating of the heart), and even death.WILLOW TREE BARK: Aspirin (Salix species)-Used by Greeks to treat gout, rheumatism, pain, and fever-Native Americans also discovered healing powers of willow barkAspirin = Salicylic acid-Isolated by German chemists from the Bayer Co. in 1898-A ‘wonder drug’ because it has three classic properties:• Anti-inflammatory• Antipyretic (fever-reducing)• Analgesic (pain relieving)-Also prevents heart attacks, strokes, some cancers (breast bladder, stomach), delays cataracts, enhances immune systemDrawbacks of aspirin:-May irritate the stomach (thus, coating of pills helps)-Reye’s Syndrome: Children recovering from chicken pox or the flu, can develop unusual symptoms (vomiting, affects brain, liver and may be fatal) upon taking aspirin2As a plant pesticide- may be used as a pesticide on agricultural crops one day, since it stimulates the plant’s defense system – making them more resistant to pestsCHINCHONA TREE: Malaria-Malaria- is still the world’s most prevalent disease (3 million people die every year)-Endemic in tropical and subtropical countries- Plasmodium vivax is carried by the Anopheles mosquito- Symptoms: o Fever, chills, seizures, convulsions, coma and even deathCinchona tree:-Alkaloid quinine in the cinchona tree bark (from Peru) used to treat people infected with malaria - Fever-reducing propertiesAction Of Quinine:-Kills the parasite in the bloodstream of the infected person• Also acts to prevent the initial infection, for people traveling to malaria-infested areas• British in India, added tonic water and gin, making quinine more palatable (“gin and tonic”)SNAKEROOT- Rauwolfia serpentina-NATIVE: India-The source of the drug reserpine and other alkaloids that are used in the:• Treatment of hypertension (chronic high blood pressure)• As a tranquilizer (sedative) to treat schizophreniaALOE-Also called the burn plant-Stimulates cell growth and prevents fungal and bacterial infections-NATIVE: Africa• Treatment for various skin ailments, including:o Rashes, burns, sunburns, scalds, wounds-Sap of the succulent leaves contains aloin and other compounds that heal skin- Popular in cosmetic products due to moisturizing effects of Aloe: soaps, skin creams, shampoos, sunscreen lotions, bath oils- As purgative – relieves constipation- Skin/mouth ulcers, eczema, psoriasis,ringworm, athlete’s foot, poison ivy rashes- Diabetes treatment – lowers blood glucoselevelsCELL GROWTH involves three aspects: • Cell division: going from one cell to two• Cell enlargement: increase in size• Cell differentiation: cells specializeCELL DIVISION-The process by which one cell divides into two- Mitosis = division of the