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?

compress 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 2030 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 Renal-blood Ob/gyn Antimi Cardiovas Inflam Cancer GI Derma others

29% 17% 14% 12% 10% 7% 4% 2% 1% 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)