CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Question 1

______: fast-growing European tree
bark treats chronic pain, fevers, headache, gout (gastrointestinal pain and inflammation)
contains phenolics salicin and salicylic acid

Answer 1

white willow

Question 2

willow bark contains phenolics ______ and _______, both of which have fever reducing and pain relieving properties

Answer 2

salicin and salicylic acid

Question 3

how is willow bark fever reducing and pain relieving?

Answer 3

fever reducing: release of body heat following peripheral blood flow stimulation
pain relieving: CNS depression

Question 4

what was semi-synthesized from salicylic acid? in 1899

Answer 4

acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
close analogue thats just as effective with less side effects (no stomach pain/nausea)

Question 5

what is ASA patented as?

Answer 5

asprin

Question 6

ASA is antipyretic (fever reducing) an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory… what else can it help?

Answer 6

highly effective treatment for angina (chest pains) and can reduce risk of cardiac diseases if less than 100 mg is taken by a healthy adult everyday

can also prevent some cancers!

Question 7

why is it dangerous for older adults to take a daily ASA dose of less than 100 mg?

Answer 7

it can cause major intestinal bleeding, anemia, and cancer-related deaths

Question 8

______: small perennial herb
belongs to Tomato family
native to South/Central America
two forms: tabasco and habanero
proto-alkaloid capsaicin is concentrated only in placental tissue
irritant in mammals, strong burning sensation when capsaicin binds to vanilloid ion-channel receptors that normally respond to excessive heat/physical abrasion

Answer 8

capsicum pepper

Question 9

tabasco peppers have _____ fruit, habanero have _____ fruit

Answer 9

oblong
lantern-shaped

Question 10

why are capsicum peppers “hot”?

Answer 10

the proto-alkaloid capsaicin binds to vanilloid ion-channel receptors that respond to heat/abrasion, giving the hot feeling when peppers are consumed

Question 11

where is proto-alkaloid capsaicin found in capsicum peppers?

Answer 11

the placental tissues, where the seeds attach

not found anywhere else in the plant!

Question 12

does capsaicin affect any other animals other than mammals?

Answer 12

no! birds and invertebrates are fine!

Question 13

why are capsicum peppers used in cooking if they burn so badly?

Answer 13

perception of pain from our vanilloid receptors results in the release of endorphins, giving a pleasurable sensation!

Question 14

______ overwhelms neural transmission resulting in neurotransmitter depletion that reduces pain sensation over time

Answer 14

capsaicin

Question 15

why have controlled doses of capsaicin been incorporated into topical analgesics?

Answer 15

overwhelms neural transmission resulting in neurotransmitter depletion that reduces pain sensation over time
used for minor cuts/scrapes, more severe skin conditions like psoriasis, and shingles/chickenpox

Question 16

______ has anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties
it kills prostate cancer cells and inhibits growth of leukemia cells!

Answer 16

capsaicin

Question 17

_____: weedy herbacious perennial
native to Europe, widely naturalized in E NA
fresh root has long history of use in folk medicine- promote sleep and have mild sedative effect
valepotriates (valerenic acid and valtrate) and a number of essential oils (terpendoids)

Answer 17

valerian

Question 18

what is the medieval name for the valerian plant?

Answer 18

heal-all

Question 19

the _______ of valerian was used to historically treat
- digestive/urinary tract infections (ancient greeks)
-epilepsy
-nervous afflictions (stress, anxiety, sleep disorders)
-nervous tension

Answer 19

fresh root

Question 20

where does the sedative effect of valerian root come from?

Answer 20

combination of secondary products
valepotriates: valerenic acid and valtrate
essential oils (terpenoids)

Question 21

what other three herbal sedatives have clincal support?

Answer 21

hops
lemon balm
passion flower

Question 22

when valerian root is fresh it smells sweet… what does dried root smell like?

Answer 22

very unpleasant, very attractive to cats and rats

Question 23

_______: European perennial herb
naturalized in NA, Asia, Australia
antidepressant agent
sedative/tranquilizer
expectorant in treating colds and chest congestion
anti-biotic and anti-viral properties
secondary products: hypericin and hyperforin (phenolic derivatives)

Answer 23

St. John’s Wort

Question 24

the oral ingestion of St John’s Wort had all but ended until clincal studies saw that it actually was an effective ______

Answer 24

anti-depressant

Question 25

St John's Wort is considered a noxious _____ in many of the places its been naturalized, in NA Asia and Australia

Answer 25

weed

Question 26

In the Middle Ages, ______ was said to repel evil spirits and had "magic powers" used to treat depression, anxiety, insomnia also treated gastrointestinal problems, bladder ailments, kidney and lung disorders, cancerous tumours

Answer 26

St John's Wort

Question 27

why is St John's wort maybe better than synthetic anti-depressants? like prozac and paxil?

Answer 27

does the same job (treat mild to moderate depression) with fewer side effects!

Question 28

what are the active secondary products of St John's wort?

Answer 28

hypericin and hyperforin, phenolic derivatives

Question 29

what do hypericin and hyperforin do? (phenolic derivatives)

Answer 29

inhibit the re-uptake of five major neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, GABA, L-glutamate what causes anti-depressant effect!

Question 30

_____ has antibiotic and anti-viral properties, incorporated into skin ointments while also being an antidepressant!

Answer 30

hyperforin

Question 31

_____: ancient tree species native to China mainly a cultigen! (only a few recently discovered native species) "living fossil" large, very old trees are revered sexes are seperate long use in traditional Chinese medicine promotes vasodilation particularly beneficial for elderly! diterpenoids ginkgolides A-C are the active principles, free-radical scavengers

Answer 31

ginkgo

Question 32

the ginkgo tree is considered a living fossil... why?

Answer 32

its the sole living member of a very ancient group of seed plants... gingko fossils have dated back to the Jurassic Period!!

Question 33

Gingko trees are considered sacred in Japan, where are they planted?

Answer 33

in temple gardens

Question 34

gingko _____ were used to improve blood scirculation, treat skin disorders, as a plaster, meanwhile the _____ were used to treat asthma, coughs, and bladder problems

Answer 34

leaves seeds

Question 35

are gingko seeds edible?

Answer 35

yes! can be consumed raw or roasted

Question 36

gingko is used to treat various symptoms of poor blood circulation- like short-term memory loss, arterial diseases, depression, cognitive problems, inner ear disorders.... why?

Answer 36

gingko extracts promote vasodilation- the opening of blood vessels which increases circulation!

Question 37

T/F: gingko extracts seem to be very beneficial to elderly patients

Answer 37

true!

Question 38

what are the active principles of ginkgo?

Answer 38

ginkgolides A-C diterpenoids and free-radical scavengers (promotes nerve cell viability!)

Question 39

_______: perennial, bulb-producing herbaceous plants Daffodil family used medicinally in Eastern Europe and Russia for CNS disorders- also polio! active constituent: galantamine (alkaloid) which inhibits acetylcholinesterase (the enzyme that degrades acetylcholine)... so there would be increased stores of acetylcholine... since galantamine also STIMULATES the release of acetylcholine treats Alzheimers, but not a cure treats poisoning by organophosphates, reduces effects of anaesthetics, treats symptoms of autism, enhances memory

Answer 39

caucasian snowdrop

Question 40

what is the active component of the caucasian snowdrop?

Answer 40

galantamine (alkaloid)

Question 41

what does galantamine do?

Answer 41

inhibit acetylcholinesterase (the enzyme that degrades acetylcholine) also stimulates the release of acetylcholine so overall... lots of acetylcholine present in body (specifically neuron synapses)!

Question 42

______ has been approved for treatment of mild-moderate Alzheimers!! Alzheimers results in a major decrease in acetylcholine levels... _____ can increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain and subsequently help with the symptoms of Alzheimers

Answer 42

galantamine not a cure, but if taken regularly can help for over a year

Question 43

where can galantamine also be found...

Answer 43

in bulbs of other members of its genus, also daffodils, snowflakes, spider lilies