Medicinal plants

Question 1

What parasite causes malaria? How is it transmitted?

Answer 1

Plasmodium. Transmitted in blood carried by mosquitoes

Question 2

Young children constitute what percentage of malaria fatalities? In what part of the world?

Answer 2

77%. Sub-Saharan Africa

Question 3

What famous figure is known to have died of malaria?

Answer 3

Alexander the Great

Question 4

What medicine was used by the Quecha people of South America to treat Malaria? How was this made know to Europeans? When?

Answer 4

quina quina given to the Spanish viceroy in Peru to help treat his dying wife (in 1692)

Question 5

When did the Quecha malaria cure begin getting exported to Europe? By who?

Answer 5

The Spanish began exporting quina quina ~1600 from South America back to Europe

Question 6

What succesful “plant hunter” succeeded in growing the chinchona trees (quina quina producers) elsewhere? Where? When?

Answer 6

Clements Markham brought the tree to the British botanical gardens in India ~1800

Question 7

What European power took over production of the quina quina malaria cure? Where did they cultivate this?

Answer 7

The Dutch began cultivation in Java and became the dominant producers

Question 8

To what family do the Chinchona trees belong to? What part is harvested to make the quina quina malaria cure?

Answer 8

Rubiaceae, the coffee family. The bark is used for the medicine

Question 9

What is the active ingredient in quina quina?

Answer 9

Quinine, an alkaloid

Question 10

What new medicine has replaced quinine as a more effective malaria treatment?

Answer 10

artemisinins

Question 11

What family does the Artemesia annua plant (producer of anti-malaria artemisinins) belong to? What other common name does it have?

Answer 11

Part of the sunflower family, often called “sweet wormwood”

Question 12

Who discovered the anti-malaria properties of artemisinins? When? What is the active ingredient?

Answer 12

Chinese chemist Youyou Tu found this effective recipe from long ago and had begun human trials by 1972. Active ingredient is sesquiterpene lactone (not an alkaloid)

Question 13

What percentage of current medicines are derived from plant origin? What percentage still contain plant compounds?

Answer 13

75% derived from plants, 25% still contain plant compounds

Question 14

What is the oldest record of plants being used for medicine? When was it created?

Answer 14

A 4000 year old Sumerian clay tablet with various herbal remedies

Question 15

To what famous figure was the Chinese herbal text “Pun-tsao” attributed?

Answer 15

Emperor Shen Nung (of tea creation fame)

Question 16

What is the significance of the Ebers papyrus? When was it written?

Answer 16

From Egypt, it contains many prescriptions and uses >700 different plants. Written ~3500 years ago

Question 17

From the ancient medicinal texts discussed, how many of the included herbs are still commonly used today?

Answer 17

~250 herbs still used in modern times

Question 18

What 2 major roles do plants play in medicine? What makes a plant most useful for medicine?

Answer 18

1. Herbal medicines
2. Source of pharmaceutical chemicals
   The most useful plants are rich in a unique compound

Question 19

What are the 5 common targets for biological activity when creating medicines?

Answer 19

1. Cancer cells
2. Bacteria
3. Viruses
4. Fungi
5. Parasites

Question 20

How do researchers determine which plants to test for medicinally useful biological activity? What term is used to describe this?

Answer 20

Search cultural knowledge and observe animal use. This is called pharmacognosy

Question 21

What are the 2 main attributes of a good drug chemical?

Answer 21

1. Highly specific to target

2. Low toxicity

Question 22

What percentage of anti-cancer drugs have natural origins?

Answer 22

60%

Question 23

Of the potential compounds sampled for pharmacological use, how many become a useful commercial drug? How long does this take?

Answer 23

1 in 250 000 become a commercial drug. This process takes between 8-15 years

Question 24

Have technology and instrumentation improvements decreased the time it takes to produce a commercially useful drug?

Answer 24

No

Question 25

What is the scientific name for the willow bark species used in medicine? What part of the plant is harvested for medicinal use?

Answer 25

Salix alba of the willow family. The bark is used for medicine

Question 26

What is the active component of willow bark which makes it useful in medicine?

Answer 26

Salacin, a phenolic glycoside

Question 27

What common drug has been derived from the natural compound found in willow bark? What makes it better? What is it used for?

Answer 27

Aspirin = acetylsalicylic acid, irritates the stomach less than salacin found in willow bark. Used to relieve pain and inflammation

Question 28

Where did the opium poppy originate? How many species are there? What do they all produce?

Answer 28

Native to the Middle East. There are >100 species, all of which produce latex

Question 29

What conflict involved the commercial trade of opium? Between which nations? When was this?

Answer 29

The Opium Wars between Britain and China in 1839 and 1856

Question 30

What active components are present in opium? What are two most focused on?

Answer 30

> 20 alkaloids, including morphine and codeine

Question 31

What is noteworthy in regards to morphine?

Answer 31

The first bioactive plant compound isolated (1806). Most active analgesic. Euphoric, but also a depressant and addictive

Question 32

What is the relationship between morphine and heroin?

Answer 32

Heroin is a morphine derivative produced by the Bayer co. (of Aspirin fame), it is more potent and more addictive

Question 33

What are the medicinal properties of the pacific yew tree? What part of the plant is harvested? What is the active compound?

Answer 33

Taxol from the bark of the tree is thought to prevent cell division in some cancers

Question 34

How has curare been used by the people of South America in the past? How can it be used in medicine? What is the active compound?

Answer 34

Originally used as a paralyzing poison for hunting darts. Tubocurarine (an alkaloid) is used in surgery as a muscle relaxant

Question 35

Why was snakeroot originally thought to help treat snake bites?

Answer 35

People observed mongoose chewing on the plant before hunting down snakes for food

Question 36

What is the scientific name for snakeroot? Where did it originate? What medicinal use does it have?

Answer 36

Rauwolfia serpentina, native to India. Reduces blood pressure and has a calming effect (treatment of schizophrenia)

Question 37

What are the active compounds in periwinkle? How has it been used in medicine?

Answer 37

Alkaloids vinblastin and vincristin have had success in treating childhood leukemia