3. 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
4. Alkaloids
bitter tasting organic compounds containing
nitrogen
one of the most important medicinally
active compounds
examples: morphine, caffeine,nicotine
6. Phenolics
compounds with -OH group attached to an
aromatic ring
Examples:
1. flavonoids (purple pigments)
2. tannins (brownish coloration)
3. lignins
4. salicylic acid
7. 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 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
8. 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
9. 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
11. 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
12. 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
15. 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
19. 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
21. 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
23. 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
25. 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
29. 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
36. 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 ?
