Medicinal and Psychoactive Plants Flashcards
1
Q
Many publications called ___ were richly illustrated; all of them focused on the medicinal uses of plants, but also included much misinformation and superstition
A
herbals
2
Q
__ ____ __ _____ held that the medicinal use of plants could be ascertained by recognizing features of the plant that corresponded to human anatomy
A
The Doctrine of Signatures
3
Q
It is estimated that 25% of prescriptions written in the U.S. contain __ ____ ____ (close to 50% if fungal products are included); an even greater percentage are based on semisynthetic or wholly synthetic ingredients originally isolated from plants
A
plant-derived ingredients
4
Q
Renewed interest in medicinal plants has focused on ___ ____ among indigenous populations around the world, especially those in the tropical rain forests
A
herbal cures; they had a high level of biodiversity
5
Q
In addition to the destruction of the forests, the erosion of __ ___ is also a threat to herbal practices
A
tribal cultures
6
Q
The active principles in medicinal plants are chemical compounds known as
A
secondary plant products
7
Q
Two major categories of secondary plant products are
A
alkaloids and glycosides
8
Q
Alkaloids contain ____, they are usually alkaline (basic), and they have a ___ taste
A
nitrogen; bitter
9
Q
The difference between a medicinal and a toxic effect of many alkaloids (or any drug) is
A
often a matter of dosage
10
Q
Serotonin is a _____ in the brain. If you look closely, you can see this basic chemical structure in several of the above compounds
A
neurotransmitter
11
Q
____ are so named because a sugar molecule is attached to the active component; they are generally categorized by the nature of the nonsugar or active component
A
Glycosides
12
Q
Cardioactive glycosides and saponins contain a __ ___ as the active component
A
steroid molecule
13
Q
___ ____ have their effect on the contraction of heart muscle and, in proper doses, some can be used to treat various forms of heart failure
A
Cardioactive glycosides
14
Q
Conversely, some of the deadliest plants, such as milkweed and oleander, contain toxic levels of
A
cardioactive glycosides
15
Q
One useful saponin is ___ from __, which can be used as a precursor for the synthesis of various hormones such as progesterone and cortisone
A
diosgenin; yams
16
Q
Today in the U.S., several million __ __ rely on digitalis as the primary treatment for their condition
A
Heart patients
17
Q
___ is an old name for a condition characterized by severe bloating due to fluid accumulation in the lungs, abdomen, and extremities
A
Dropsy
18
Q
Today, we know that the fluid retention is due to __ ___ ___, a failure of the heart to pump sufficiently
A
congestive heart failure
19
Q
___ ___ was an English country doctor who began treating dropsy patients with digitalis tea prepared from ground leaves of the purple foxglove, a member of the snapdragon family
A
William Withering
20
Q
It is now known that the leaves of purple foxglove contain more than 30 glycosides, with ___ and ___ the most medically significant
A
digoxin; digotoxin
21
Q
The __ ___ in Digitalis slow the heart rate while increasing the strength of each heartbeat so that more blood is pumped with each contraction
A
cardioactive glycosides
22
Q
The resulting improvement in ___ decreases edema in the lungs and extremities and increases kidney output
A
circulation
23
Q
The bark of ___ ____ has long been known among many cultures as an effective treatment for reducing fever and relieving pain
A
willow trees
24
Q
In 1898 it was discovered that __ ___ was more palatable and caused less gastric distress than salicylic acid; it was soon given the name aspirin
A
acetylsalicylic acid
25
Aspirin is valued for its three classic properties as
an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (fever reducer), and analgesic (pain reliever)
26
Newer uses of aspirin include the prevention of
heart attacks, strokes, and colon, ovarian, and esophageal cancer
27
___ may also delay the development of cataracts in the elderly and enhance the immune system in protecting the body against bacteria and viruses
Aspirin
28
The greatest attention has been given to the beneficial effects of an aspirin a day in the prevention of
heart attacks
29
Administration of aspirin after a heart attack or stroke reduces the risk of
a second heart attack or stroke
30
Also, aspirin given to healthy middle-aged men reduces the incidence of a first heart attack by
44%
31
One drawback of aspirin is that it can
irritate the stomach and it can cause excessive bleeding
32
____ is still the world’s most prevalent disease; 2-3 million people die each year from it, and at least 1 million are young children
Malaria
33
The fever bark tree, called __ ___ by the Incas, is a member of the coffee family and native to the eastern slopes of the Andes
quina-quina (bark of barks)
34
In 1820, two French scientists isolated the __ ___from the quina-quina
alkaloid quinine
35
For more than 4000 years, Hindu healer in India used snakeroot ____ _____, to treat snakebites (because of the coiled shape of the root), insect bites, and mental illness
Rauwolfia serpentina
36
The first active principle isolated from the Rauwolfia serpentina was
reserpine
37
The sedative effect of reserpine made it valuable as one of the first tranquilizers prescribed for_____; a side effect was a reduction in blood pressure
schizophrenia
38
Today, reserpine is used primarily to treat ____; the majority of drugs prescribed for controlling high blood pressure contain Rauwolfia alkaloids
hypertension
39
___ has been used for thousands of years to treat various skin ailments including rashes, sunburns, direct burns, scalds, and minor wounds
Aloe
40
When cut, the succulent leaves yield a thick mucilaginous sap that can be soothing when applied to injured skin
Aloe
41
Aloe sap promotes faster healing with less scarring by
stimulating cell growth and inhibiting bacterial and fungal infection
42
Compounds in the sap inhibit ___, _____, and ____; the sap is also useful in treating skin and mouth ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, and poison ivy rashes
pain, itching, and inflammation
43
In a recent investigation, dried aloe sap showed some promise for treating diabetes by
lowering blood glucose levels
44
Several states subsequently passed laws regulating the sale of over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies containing the decongestant _______, which can be used to make methamphetamine
pseudoephedrine
45
Herbal teas with ___ can cause irregular heartbeats, dizziness, headaches, heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and psychotic episodes
ephedrine
46
___ and ___ from the Madagascar periwinkle are used to treat various forms of leukemia and lymphoma
Vincristine and vinblastine
47
____, a terpene from the bark of the Pacific yew, has great promise for treating ovarian and breast cancer
Taxol
48
Like many medicinal plants, herbal remedies contain ____ _____ that can have powerful physiological effects
secondary compounds
49
St. John’s wort is used to treat
depression
50
St. John’s wort apparently lifts spirits by raising levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly
serotonin
51
But, it has been reported that patients who take St. John’s wort experience a drop in ___ ____ of certain prescribed medications they are taking
blood concentration
52
__ ___ is offering hope for Alzheimer’s patients
Ginkgo biloba
53
A daily regimen of ginkgo extract results in __ or even ___ of ___ ____ in elderly people who suffer from mild dementia
stabilization or even improvement of brain function
54
Ginkgo extracts may halt the progression of Alzheimer’s; ___ and ___ ___ are enhanced while ____ and ___ are reduced
concentration and short-term memory; absent-mindedness and anxiety
55
Conversely, ginkgo extracts can magnify the effects of _____ such as aspirin and warfarin (coumadin) and thus induce bleeding
anticoagulants
56
Psychoactive drugs affect the central nervous system mainly by influencing the release of
neurotransmitters or mimicking their actions
57
___ excite and enhance mental alertness and physical activity; they reduce fatigue and suppress hunger
Stimulants
58
___ produce changes in perception, thought, and mood, often inducing a dreamlike state
Hallucinogens
59
___ dull mental awareness, reduce physical performance, and often induce sleep or a trancelike state
Depressants
60
By strict definition, a narcotic drug is one that
induces central nervous system depression resulting in numbness, lethargy, and sleep
61
In contemporary use, the term narcotic applies to
any psychoactive compound that is dangerously addictive
62
Addictive compounds generally elicit one or more of the following: (3)
psychological dependence, physiological dependence, and tolerance
63
The ovary of opium poppy matures into a capsule, and if the capsule is sliced when it is still green, it exudes a milky latex rich in
potent alkaloids
64
The dried latex turns brown and can be peeled from the capsule; this is
crude opium
65
More than 20 alkaloids have been identified in opium, with __ and __ probably the most significant
morphine and codeine
66
___ are chemicals produced naturally in the brain that modify mood by reducing sensations of pain and enhancing pleasurable feelings; they bind to receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and intestines
Endorphins
67
__ depresses areas of the brain involved in the perception of pain and reduces anxiety that accompanies pain, apparently by binding to endorphin receptor sites
Morphine
68
___ is a general central nervous system depressant and, like opium, is strongly addictive
Morphine
69
The use of morphine declined dramatically after it was realized just how addictive the drug could be, but it is still the drug of choice today for
intense pain
70
Medically, ____ is one of the most commonly used opiates
codeine
71
___ has value as an oral analgesic but is only one-fifth as strong as morphine; it is usually used in combination with nonopiate analgesics such as aspirin and acetaminophen
Codeine
72
___ is superior to ___ in suppressing the cough reflex in the central nervous system; therefore, it is often used in prescription cough syrups
Codeine; morphine
73
___, a semisynthetic derivative of morphine, was introduced as a nonaddictive opiate with analgesic properties superior to morphine and cough-suppressant properties superior to codeine
Heroin
74
___ was used in many over-the-counter medicines for about two decades
Heroin
75
We now know that heroin is ___ times more addictive than morphine; it is not used medicinally in the U.S. nor is it manufactured here legally
six
76
Addictive substances, including opium and opium derivatives, trigger a withdrawal response when
the drug is no longer taken
77
Common symptoms of ___ include increased respiration, perspiration, runny nose, goose bumps, muscle twitches, insomnia, vomiting, and diarrhea
withdrawal
78
The marijuana plant is ____ ____, but some taxonomists recognize two additional species and several varieties
Cannabis sativa
79
The marijuana plants are known for their resin production by ___ ___, with the maximum amount of resin coating the unfertilized pistillate flowers and adjacent leaves
glandular trichomes
80
It is widely cultivated today and many names have been given to the plants and to products made from the plants or resin (e.g., marijuana, hemp, grass, pot, hash, hashish, bhang, charas, ganja, ma, kif, dagga)
Cannabis sativa
81
___, the least potent marijuana, consists of dried, cut tops that are ground with spices to prepare a drink or candy
Bhang
82
___ is prepared from resin-rich pistillate flowers and tops of specially bred high-yielding strains; it is usually smoked
Ganja
83
___, the most potent, consists of pure resin (also known as hashish) from special strains and is also smoked
Charas
84
___ contains a large number of phenolic compounds known as cannabinoids, but the main psychoactive component is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Cannabis
85
The effects of marijuana relate to the interaction of ___ with cannabinoid cell surface receptors in many regions of the brain
THC
86
According to some studies, even moderate use of ___ impairs learning, short-term memory, and reaction time
marijuana
87
Because THC is ___ ____ it accumulates in body tissues, and measurable amounts may remain in the body for days after inhalation
fat soluble,
88
Effects of marijuana on males include a decrease in
sperm production and decreased testosterone levels
89
In pregnant women, THC can
cross the placenta and possibly damage the fetus
90
Marijuana and hashish are usually inhaled in smoke, which can
damage lung tissue
91
In contemporary medicine, marijuana is used mainly to treat
glaucoma and as an aid to chemotherapy
92
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by
increased pressure within the eye that can damage the optic nerve and cause blindness
93
Smoking marijuana and ingesting preparation with THC significantly___ ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma
decrease
94
Patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer often experience side effects of
nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
95
___ is the major alkaloid of the coca plant; it occurs in the leaves, which can be harvested two or three times a year
Cocaine
96
___ ____ was an enthusiastic advocate of the drug as a stimulant and as a means of combating morphine addiction
Sigmund Freud
97
As a preparation for colds, asthma, and hay fever, ___ effectiveness was related to the shrinking of mucus membranes and draining of sinuses
Cocaine
98
It was believed that cocaine was not addictive and was relatively harmless (damage to the __ and __ ___ was considered the major drawback)
nose and mucus membranes
99
___ acts as a local anesthetic, temporarily blocking the transmission of nerve impulses at the site of application
Cocaine
100
__ is a powerful stimulant to the central nervous system that produces a short-lived euphoric high
Cocaine
101
Physiological effects of cocaine include
increased heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature, and dilation of the pupils
102
Cocaine abuse has resulted in death due to
heart attack, cerebral hemorrhage, respiratory failure, and convulsions
103
Chronic cocaine use can cause a psychosis similar to ___ with accompanying paranoia and hallucinations
schizophrenia
104
Heavy users of cocaine develop ___ and ___; if they are snorters, there is often considerable damage to mucus membranes and nasal cartilage
insomnia and appetite loss
105
Cocaine is generally recognized as being both ___ and__ addictive; withdrawal symptoms include depression, irritability, and drug craving
psychologically; physically
106
___, the major alkaloid in tobacco, is the most addictive drug in widespread use
Nicotine
107
It is now recognized that 90% of the lung cancer in men and almost 80% in women is due to ___ ____; 30% of all cancer deaths can be linked to smoking
cigarette smoking
108
Each year, 120,000 deaths due to ___ ____ ___are attributed to smoking, and smokers have double the risk of developing heart disease
coronary heart disease
109
Pregnant women who smoke have a greater incidence of
low-birthweight babies and higher rates of premature and stillborn births
110
The risk of developing ___ is 4 to 25 times greater for smokers than for nonsmokers
emphysema
111
___ ____ is also harmful; children of smokers have an increased risk of respiratory disorders and reduced lung function; in adults, passive smoking is a cause of lung cancer
Secondary smoke
112
Tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of more than ___ chemicals plus extremely fine particulates
2000
113
Included in the mixture are nicotine, tars, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, aromatic hydrocarbons, and other hazardous substances
Tobacco Smoke
114
The alkaloid ____ is addictive in any form of tobacco
nicotine
115
___ is a stimulant to the central nervous system, it is a poison in its pure form, and it is converted to carcinogenic products in the body
Nicotine
116
Tars, which are organic substances produced during the burning of tobacco leaves, are known
carcinogens
117
Poisonous gases found in cigarette smoke include
carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and formaldehyde
118
___ ____ has been shown to be associated with coronary heart disease and the retardation of fetal growth
Carbon monoxide
119
___ contains some 30 alkaloids, with mescaline the most active hallucinogen
Peyote
120
___ is similar in structure to a neurotransmitter and has its main effect on the central nervous system
Mescaline
121
The effects of ___ alone differ from the action of consuming the whole mescal button, where the alkaloids may interact synergistically
mescaline
122
Intoxication induced by __ may consist of strikingly brilliant visions
peyote
123
It may also produce unpleasant visual hallucinations accompanied by anxiety
peyote
124
Intoxication is often accompanied by physical effects including nausea, tremors, chills, and vomiting
Peyote
125
Certain members of the ___ ___ family were regarded as powerful medicines among the Aztecs; these morning glories continue to be used by tribes in present-day Mexico
morning glory
126
The seeds of these species contain ___ ___ similar to, but far milder than, the potent hallucinogen LSD
D-lysergic acid
127
Known as ___ among the Aztecs, it was used in divination as well as religious and magical rituals
ololiuqui
128
___ is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world
Caffeine
