Plants that Heal

What makes plants medicinal or therapeutic?

Primary metabolites: needed for the life of a plant; includes sugars, amino acids, proteins, fats and nucleic acids

Secondary metabolites: chemicals that are needed for specific stages of development; have various metabolic activities

3 major classes of secondary metabolites: alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolics

Alkaloids

bitter tasting organic compounds containing nitrogen

one of the most important medicinally active compounds

examples: morphine, caffeine,nicotine

Terpenoids

unsaturated hydrocarbons of plant resins and oils

examples: 1. isoprene 2. essential oils 3. taxol 4. rubber

Phenolics

compounds with -OH group attached to an aromatic ring

Examples: 1. flavonoids (purple pigments) 2. tannins (brownish coloration) 3. lignins 4. salicylic acid

How are medicinal plants used?

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decoction

essential oils

extracts

herbal vinegars

cloth soaked in warm or cool herbal solution and applied directly to injured areas

tea made from bark, root, seed and simmered for 20-30 minutes

derived from plants through steam distillation or cold pressing

made by pressing plants and soaking in alcohol or water

plants put into vinegar and left to stand for 2 or more weeks

infusion

ointments

poultices

powder syrup tincture

leaves, flowers and other parts of the plants are steeped, not boiled for 5-10 min. in hot water

an extract,tea, pressed juice or powdered from a herb is added to a salve

hot, soft mass of herbs spread on cloth and applied for up to 24 hours on areas of the body

Ethnobotanical Approach

1. A cosmological view of the universe is incorporated

2. A cultural context within which health care is given

3. A repertoire of pharmaceutical substances is utilized

Comparison of diseases Indigenous GI 15% Derma 15% Inflam 12% Renal-blood11% Nervous 10% Antimicro 9% Ob/gyn 7% Cardivas 2% Cancer 1% Others 16%

Western Nervous 29% Renal-blood 17% Ob/gyn 14% Antimi 12% Cardiovas 10% Inflam 7% Cancer 4% GI 2% Derma 1% others 4%

Comparison bet. herbal medicines and conventional drugs

Conventional based on isolated

chemicals many made

synthetically not part of the

natural energy cycle and so are deficient in energy

Herbal medicine based on whole

plant

all are natural are energy rich as

they use the sun's energy

use unnaturally high concentrations of chemicals

more dramatic in their action

lower the vitality of the body

use natural substances

are slower to work

enhance vitality of the body

Selected medicinal plants developed from Ethnobotanical

sources

Cinchona sp. (Rubiaceae)

source of quinine

bark used against malaria

malaria is the world's greatest killer

Cinchona was discovered by the Jesuits in South America used by the Indians

Filipendula ulmaria (Rosaceae)

Source of salicylic acid

bark is boiled but very bitter and can cause stomach ache

no. 1 used for aches and pains and resulted to aspirin

Rauvolfia sp. (Apocynaceae)

used by the Hindu people of Nepal and India

originally used to treat snakebites because the root resembled a snake

is now used to treat hypertension due to the chemical reserpine

Atropa belladonna (Solanaceae)

also called deadly nightshade because it is very poisonous

women use drops from the leaves to make their pupils expand and produce wide-eyed, innocent look

used to treat glaucoma

Erythroxylum coca (Erythroxylaceae)

coca leaves

used by Peruvians to control hunger

source of cocaine which act on the central nervous system so that the coca chewer feel invigorated and relatively immune to fatigue and hunger

Papaver somniferum (Papaveraceae)

Opium

called “joy plant” b the Sumerians

Arabs brought the plant to China

no. 1 choice as an analgesic in the form of morphine and codeine(very potent alkaloids)

heroin is the synthetic form

Digitalis purpurea (Scrophulariaceae)

contains digitoxin and digoxin

used for atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeats

Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae)

part used are the stems

contain ephedrine

also called ma huang in China

stimulates the central nervous system and may decrease appetite and elevate mood

Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae)

contains eugenol which cures toothache

very aromatic and can be used as spice

Physostigma venenosum (Fabaceae)

Pilocarpus jaborandi (Rutaceae)

source of physostigmine and pilocarpine respectively

both used for glaucoma

Camellia sinensis (Theaceae)

active ingredient: caffeine stimulant

contain theophylline which is a diuretic and used for asthma

also contain essential oils that are good antibacterial and antifungal agents

anti-oxidants ?

Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae)

important chemicals are vinblastine and vincristine

used in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and pediatric leukemia

Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae)

active ingredient is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)

used as an anti-emetic

Philippine Medicinal Plants (DOH)

Akapulko (Cassia alata)

Ampalaya( Momordica charantia)

Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa)

Bawang, Bauang / Garlic (Allium sativum)

Bayabas (Psidium guajava)

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn)

Lagundi (Vitex negundo)

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia pellucida Linn.)

Sabila or Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Sambong (Blumea balsamifera L.)

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Tsaang Gubat or Wild Tea (Ehretia microphylla Lam.)

Yerba Buena (Mentha spicata)