plants that heal. what makes plants medicinal or therapeutic? primary metabolites: needed for the...
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Plants that Heal
What makes plants medicinal or therapeutic?
Primary metabolites: needed for the life of a plant; includes sugars, amino acids, proteins, fats and nucleic acids
Secondary metabolites: chemicals that are needed for specific stages of development; have various metabolic activities
3 major classes of secondary metabolites: alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolics
Alkaloids
bitter tasting organic compounds containing nitrogen
one of the most important medicinally active compounds
examples: morphine, caffeine,nicotine
Terpenoids
unsaturated hydrocarbons of plant resins and oils
examples: 1. isoprene 2. essential oils 3. taxol 4. rubber
Phenolics
compounds with -OH group attached to an aromatic ring
Examples: 1. flavonoids (purple pigments) 2. tannins (brownish coloration) 3. lignins 4. salicylic acid
How are medicinal plants used?
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decoction
essential oils
extracts
herbal vinegars
cloth soaked in warm or cool herbal solution and applied directly to injured areas
tea made from bark, root, seed and simmered for 20-30 minutes
derived from plants through steam distillation or cold pressing
made by pressing plants and soaking in alcohol or water
plants put into vinegar and left to stand for 2 or more weeks
infusion
ointments
poultices
powder syrup tincture
leaves, flowers and other parts of the plants are steeped, not boiled for 5-10 min. in hot water
an extract,tea, pressed juice or powdered from a herb is added to a salve
hot, soft mass of herbs spread on cloth and applied for up to 24 hours on areas of the body
Ethnobotanical Approach
1. A cosmological view of the universe is incorporated
2. A cultural context within which health care is given
3. A repertoire of pharmaceutical substances is utilized
Comparison of diseases Indigenous GI 15% Derma 15% Inflam 12% Renal-blood11% Nervous 10% Antimicro 9% Ob/gyn 7% Cardivas 2% Cancer 1% Others 16%
Western Nervous 29% Renal-blood 17% Ob/gyn 14% Antimi 12% Cardiovas 10% Inflam 7% Cancer 4% GI 2% Derma 1% others 4%
Comparison bet. herbal medicines and conventional drugs
Conventional based on isolated
chemicals many made
synthetically not part of the
natural energy cycle and so are deficient in energy
Herbal medicine based on whole
plant
all are natural are energy rich as
they use the sun's energy
use unnaturally high concentrations of chemicals
more dramatic in their action
lower the vitality of the body
use natural substances
are slower to work
enhance vitality of the body
Selected medicinal plants developed from Ethnobotanical
sources
Cinchona sp. (Rubiaceae)
source of quinine
bark used against malaria
malaria is the world's greatest killer
Cinchona was discovered by the Jesuits in South America used by the Indians
Filipendula ulmaria (Rosaceae)
Source of salicylic acid
bark is boiled but very bitter and can cause stomach ache
no. 1 used for aches and pains and resulted to aspirin
Rauvolfia sp. (Apocynaceae)
used by the Hindu people of Nepal and India
originally used to treat snakebites because the root resembled a snake
is now used to treat hypertension due to the chemical reserpine
Atropa belladonna (Solanaceae)
also called deadly nightshade because it is very poisonous
women use drops from the leaves to make their pupils expand and produce wide-eyed, innocent look
used to treat glaucoma
Erythroxylum coca (Erythroxylaceae)
coca leaves
used by Peruvians to control hunger
source of cocaine which act on the central nervous system so that the coca chewer feel invigorated and relatively immune to fatigue and hunger
Papaver somniferum (Papaveraceae)
Opium
called “joy plant” b the Sumerians
Arabs brought the plant to China
no. 1 choice as an analgesic in the form of morphine and codeine(very potent alkaloids)
heroin is the synthetic form
Digitalis purpurea (Scrophulariaceae)
contains digitoxin and digoxin
used for atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeats
Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae)
part used are the stems
contain ephedrine
also called ma huang in China
stimulates the central nervous system and may decrease appetite and elevate mood
Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae)
contains eugenol which cures toothache
very aromatic and can be used as spice
Physostigma venenosum (Fabaceae)
Pilocarpus jaborandi (Rutaceae)
source of physostigmine and pilocarpine respectively
both used for glaucoma
Camellia sinensis (Theaceae)
active ingredient: caffeine stimulant
contain theophylline which is a diuretic and used for asthma
also contain essential oils that are good antibacterial and antifungal agents
anti-oxidants ?
Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae)
important chemicals are vinblastine and vincristine
used in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and pediatric leukemia
Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae)
active ingredient is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
used as an anti-emetic
Philippine Medicinal Plants (DOH)
Akapulko (Cassia alata)
Ampalaya( Momordica charantia)
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa)
Bawang, Bauang / Garlic (Allium sativum)
Bayabas (Psidium guajava)
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn)
Lagundi (Vitex negundo)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia pellucida Linn.)
Sabila or Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Sambong (Blumea balsamifera L.)
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Tsaang Gubat or Wild Tea (Ehretia microphylla Lam.)
Yerba Buena (Mentha spicata)