5a- . Nature has provided medicines to treat diseases Flashcards
Where does morphine come from, growing conditions and medicinal usage
dried latex from seed pods of opium poppy
climate- warm humid conditions, clear, sunny (30-38C)
Soil- deep, clay-heavy, well-drained, rich in humus
pain reliever
Where does nicotine come from, growing conditions and medicinal usage
tobacco plant
climate- 20-30C, 20-30mm of rain every 2 weeks in the growing season
soil- light to medium texture, good drainage
Alzheimer’s, depression
Where does caffeine come from, growing conditions and medicinal usage
tea, coffee, cocoa
climate- tropical forests, 20-27C, heavy rainfall
soil- well-drained, good organic content
migraines, stimulant for central nervous system
rosy periwinkle growing conditions
native to Madagascar, common in tropical and sub- tropical regions, requires warm tropical conditions with no frost where soils are well drained and slightly acidic
medicinal importance of the rosy periwinkle
two of the alkaloids it contained were developed as powerful drugs in the treatment of various cancers and one of them, Vincristine, is successfully used in chemotherapy in childhood leukaemia and has helped increase the survival rates from 10% in 1970 to 90% now.
Also effective in treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma
international trade of the rosy periwinkle
global sales of vincristine are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Eli Lilly which is the US pharmaceutical giant that developed it but few of these profits are channelled back to Madagascar and it’s indigenous people
this biopiracy deprives LIDCs of valuable international trade, and potential exports and so biopiracy hinders economic growth and progress in tackling poverty and inequality
sustainable use of the rosy periwinkle
scientists are unable to synthesise the alkaloids and so the production relies on commercial cultivation of the rosy periwinkle- mainly in India, central Asia and Madagascar
Human activity is impacting Madagascar’s forests but the periwinkle’s ability to thrive has meant that it’s survived in its island home
conservation issues in international trade in medicinal plants (supply and demand)
80% of the population in the developing world relies on traditional medicines so the demand is huge so the most sought-after species are under enormous pressure
majority of pharmaceutical drugs are made from synthesised products so there is less of a worry over them running out or being under stress
conservation issues in international trade in medicinal plats (survival of wild medicinal plant species)
sourcing of plants for Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) is unsustainable and widespread- this reduces plant populations and their genetic diversity which endangers their survival and could lead to extinction- slow-growing plants are particularly vulnerable.
At least 4000 medicinal plants are threatened and 14 are acutely endangered by CITES e.g the Goldenseal is used as a herbal medicine in the USA and Canada
conservation issues in international trade in medicinal plants (protection of habitats and natural ecosystems)
deforestation in tropical rainforests threatens medicinal plants. Tropical rainforests contain 70% of terrestrial plant species but less than 1% of them have been screened for medicinal use so should be protected but due to deforestation many species have become extinct before scientists have had a chance to investigate them
Pharmaceutical companies have exploited rainforests for medicinal plants like Vincristine for childhood leukaemia and tubocurarine for Parkinson’s disease which are profitable for the industry but indigenous people have not seen the benefits- Biopiracy
