Urogenital and Gastrointestinal

Question 1

Yams (Dioscorea spp)
- Secondary product
- Found in which part of the plant
- Used to synthesize _____ by removing :

Answer 1

• Sapogenins (steroidal glycosides): diosgenin
• Tubers
• progesterone by removing side chains, then other hormones

Question 2

Yams (Dioscorea spp)
- Native range

Answer 2

Mexico

Question 3

First birth control pill
- who created
- what compound from what plant

Answer 3

George Rosenkranz
Progesterone mimic norethisterone from yams

Question 4

Saw Palmetto (serenoa repens)
-Native range
Plant type

Answer 4

Southeastern US (florida)
Palm tree

Question 5

Saw Palmetto (serenoa repens)
Indigenous use, which part
Later use

Answer 5

Fruit used to treat bladder/urinary infections. Ate seeds as food
Treat prostate enlargement (extract from fruit) fatty acids and sterols. Unclear results.

Question 6

Senna (S. Angustifolia and S. alexandrina)
- Native range
Plant type

Answer 6

S. Anngustifolia - Arabian Peninsula, west Africa/Asia
S. Alexandrina: Northeastern Africa
Leguminous shrub

Question 7

Senna
- Historic use and parts of plant used

Answer 7

Leaflets and mature pods dried and powdered
Used as laxative and purgative

Question 8

Senna
Active secondary

Answer 8

Sennoside A and B
Gut bacteria hydrolize –> anthroquinones (laxative action)

Question 9

Senna
Synthetic laxative compound
– was it a good alternative?

Answer 9

Created phenolphthalein as synthetic laxative, not enough senna supply.
- Was banned - carcinogenic
Later has senna plantations in Africa/Asia and sell refined senna extracts.

Question 10

Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
Native range
Plant type

Answer 10

Western North America
Tree

Question 11

Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
- Native use and part of plant used
- Use in pharmaceuticles

Answer 11

Bark peeled , Strong laxative
- High demand commercially lead to extirpation of the plant. 1940s began plantations. 2000’s FDA ruled unsafe (carcinogen)

Question 12

Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
- Active compounds
What other plant contains these compounds?

Answer 12

Cascarosde A and B —- hydrolyzed by gut bacteria –> emodin
Also found in Eurasian buckthorns (Rhamanus cathartica/frangula)

Question 13

Ipecac (Psychotria ipecacuanha)
Native Range
Plant type

Answer 13

Brazil and Bolivia
Shrub

Question 14

Ipecac (Psychotria ipecacuanha)
- Native use and part of plant used
- European use

Answer 14

Bark of root and rhizome
Treated intestinal infections (dysentery - blood flux)
Helvetius treated french royal family, was granted sole rights to the use of ipecac. Didnt know what plant it was until Gomez brought to europe. Also Thomas Dover developed Dovers Powder (ipecac, opium, etc)
Small doses used for perspiration, expectorant for bronchitis, digestive stimulant, emetic (vomit)…

Question 15

Ipecac (Psychotria ipecacuanha)
Active principles
Safer alternatives

Answer 15

Alkaloids: emetine and cephaeline
- Effective for ameobic dysentery but there are safer treatments (1960s): diloxanide, metronidazole, dehydroemetine.
- Emergency emetic
- Alcohol aversion therapy