Urogenital and Gastrointestinal System

Question 1

What are sapogenins?

Answer 1

Steroidal glycosides (made up of steroid like terpenoids with a sugar side chain)

Question 2

What can progesterone be converted into?

Answer 2

Testosterone, oestrogen, and other steroidal hormones

Question 3

What do yams contain?

Answer 3

the sapogenin diosgenin, which yields progesterone

Question 4

What companies did Russel Marker found?

Answer 4

Syntex Corporation, and Botanica-Mex

Question 5

What did Syntex do?

Answer 5

developed an efficient method for producing cortisone and norethindrone, which aided in creating the first birth control pill

Question 6

What was produced from soybeans?

Answer 6

Stigmasterol

Question 7

What does progesterone do?

Answer 7

Prevents ovulation and is used in birth control

Question 8

What are cortisones used for?

Answer 8

Treating skin rashes, contact dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and asthma

Question 9

Where is saw palmetto native to?

Answer 9

South US, especially Florida

Question 10

What was saw palmetto fruit used for by indigenous?

Answer 10

Treating bladder and urinary infections, and edible seeds harvested as food

Question 11

What did saw palmetto treaT?

Answer 11

Prostate enlargement, less side effects than synthetic drugs

Question 12

What did saw palmetto treatment consist of?

Answer 12

A fat soluble extract of the fruit containing 90% fatty acids and sterols

Question 13

What are symptoms of prostate enlargement?

Answer 13

Obstruction of the bladder neck and urethra, which results in excessive urination and general discomfort

Question 14

What did a recent clinical trial conclude about saw palmetto?

Answer 14

It’s no more effective than a placebo in treating prostate enlargement

Question 15

What are the two types of senna?

Answer 15

S. angusifolia: native to Arabian peninsula, west Africa and Asia
S. alexandrina: native to northeastern Africa

Question 16

What did Serapion the Younger recommend?

Answer 16

senna as an effective purgative and laxative

Question 17

How is the senna laxative made?

Answer 17

Leaflets and mature pods are dried and powdered

Question 18

How was senna introduced?

Answer 18

To Europe by Arab traders because demand exceeded supply coming from Africa and Arabia

Question 19

What are the active principles in senna?

Answer 19

sennoside A and B, which are enzymatically hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form laxative-affecting anthroquinones

Question 20

What dominated as a laxative before the FDA banned it as a potential carcinogen?

Answer 20

Phenolphthalein

Question 21

Where is cascara native to?

Answer 21

North America, deciduous tree

Question 22

How was cascara used by indigenous?

Answer 22

Inner bark was used as a strong laxative-purgative

Question 23

What are the active compounds in cascara?

Answer 23

cascaroside A and B, enzamatically hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form the purgative emodin

Question 24

What does ipecac mean?

Answer 24

Roadside sick-making plant

Question 25

Where is ipecac native to?

Answer 25

South America

Question 26

How was ipecac used by indigenous?

Answer 26

Bark of roots to treat intestinal infections (dysentery)

Question 27

Who cured the heir to the throne of dysentery and what was his reward?

Answer 27

Helvetius; granted sole rights to use ipecac by King Louis and sold rights to French government later for lots of money

Question 28

What did Thomas Dover do?

Answer 28

Developed “Dover’s Powder” which was a mixture of ipecac, opium, and other substances which treated fever, gout, and dysentery

Question 29

What was ipecac used for?

Answer 29

Inducing vomiting and was commonly given to children as a purgative

Question 30

What were moderate doses of ipecac used for?

Answer 30

To induce perspiration and treat bronchitis

Question 31

What were small doses of ipecac used for?

Answer 31

A digestive stimulant

Question 32

What are the active principles in ipecac?

Answer 32

alkaloids emetine and cephaeline

Question 33

What do emetine and cephaeline do?

Answer 33

may cause inflammation of peripheral nerves, irregular heartbeat, lowering of blood pressure, and sometimes death

Question 34

What has been used in aversion therapy, especially for chronic alcoholism?

Answer 34

ipecac