Lecture 18 Flashcards
How do plants prevent/treat cancer?
Mitotic inhibitors
Why do plants have mitotic inhibitors? A) Increase reproductive success B) Defence C) Cure cancer D) Attract pollinators
B
What type of plant is Yew?
Tree/shrub
T/F
All parts of the Yew plant are toxic
False - the fleshy seed-coat is not - was used for poisoned arrows
T/F
Yew is not used today
False - it’s used in gardens/topiary - is shade resistant
How many yew seeds can kill a child? A) 1 B) 5 C) 10 D) 90
B
T/F
Many societies used yew as a poison
True
Scythians tipped arrows, Celts tipped arrows and did ritual suicides, foraging cultures used it to hunt
What is the mechanism of yew toxicity?
Alkaloids = hypotension = heart failure
What is the active ingredient yew gave to cancer treatment?
Taxol - it prevents cell division
T/F
Yew’s use in cancer treatment is due to ethnobotany
False
What is the distribution of yew?
circumboreal
In Ayurvedic medicine yew was used for: A) opening the 3rd eye B) cancer treatment C) stimulant D) in religious ceremonies E) All of the above F) all but C
F
T/F
Yew is a symbol of immortality and eternity in Ayurveda
False
In Norse it was
T/F
Christian churches have lots of yew trees because they worship them
False
the trees were there first from druid sacred sites that christianity overtook
Which cancers is taxol used a treatment for? A) colon B) breast C) lung D) testicular E) ovarian
B, C, E
What is the Madagascar periwinkle traditionally used for?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Ayurveda & traditional Chinese
Which alkaloids come from the Madagascar periwinkle? A) vincristine B) caffeine C) vinblastine D) all of the above
A & C
How does Madagascar periwinkle treat cancer?
Disrupting cell division by inhibiting tubulin
What do we use vincristine for in western medicine?
lukemia & lung cancer
What do we use vinblastine for in western medicine?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Where is the mayapple native?
Eastern NA
What is mayapple traditionally used for?
A) external cancer
B) internal cancer
C) A&B
A
What is the active ingredient in mayflower?
Etoposide & teniposide
How does mayflower treat cancer?
inhibits topoisomerase 2 - prevents mitosis continuation
What cancers is etoposide not used for? A) lung B) all leukemias C) glioblastoma D) testicular cancer
B - only non lymphatic leukemias
Which cancers is teniposide used for? A) lung B) lymphocytic leukemia C) testicular D) ovarian
B
What non-cancer related medical applications are there for mayflower? A) treat HPV B) antiviral C) antitumor D) anti rheumatic
All of the above
What is vitamin B17 used for A) cancer treatment B) antimicrobial C) antioxidant D) anti-inflammatory
None of the above - it’s cyanide
What is the action of cyanide?
Stops cellular respiration
What is the best prevention of cancer?
Proper diet & healthy lifestyle
How are vegetables beneficial for cancer prevention?
phytochemicals - dithiolthiones (broccoli etc) stimulate liver to destroy carcinogens
Which tea is the best cancer preventative? A) roibus B) black C) green D) fruit
C - green tea has catechizes which prevent metastasis
