Ethnobotany
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Ethnobotany, the study of how native peoples use plants, is a complex mixture of sociology, anthropology, botany, economics, ecology, and medicine (9). Most modern medicines are derivatives of, or synthetic forms of, chemical compounds found naturally in plants. Twenty-five to 40 percent of prescriptions in the U. S. use compounds which are derived from plants, and the World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the earth's population use plants for primary medical care (1,9). Of the more than 250,000 known plant species, only about 5,000 have been examined chemically for medicinal properties. This paper will look at some of the work being done by researchers to prove the effectiveness of natural remedies for bacterial and fungal infections, and on diseases such as cancer. In the early 16th century, European explorers brought the dried bark of the cinchona tree back from South America, reporting its use by natives to cure fever (4). This resulted in the discovery of quinine, once of the most potent drugs against malaria. Viskin, which is used to treat a heart condition, was synthesized based on extracts from hallucinogenic mushrooms, and in many places in South East Asia, a certain caterpillar is used to treat a variety of diseases, and it has been shown to be particularly potent against malaria (4). Penicillin was derived from bread mold, morphine and opium (strong pain killers) come from the poppy flower, aspirin is related to a chemical from the bark o
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edge to synthesize these compounds so they can be made commercially without destroying natural resources.
A patented pharmaceutical version of mistletoe is being used to treat cancer and HIV patients (5). PharmaPrint, Inc., a California company, has patented a process known as PharmaPrinting which is a sophisticated technology recently developed capable of standardizing the active components of multi-molecule herbal medicines. The company is also currently investigating saw palmetto to treat benign prostate enlargement, ginger, to address motion sickness, and St. John's Wort, to address mild to moderate depression.
Researchers at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center's Experimental Station have discovered that a compound from the Camptotheca acuminata tree has cancer-halting properties (6:35). This fast-growing tree is a native of northern China, where it is known as the "tree of joy." A compound known as camptothecia, contained mainly in the bark, was shown by the Houston Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research to have cancer- halting properties. Trials have shown that the compound caused the regression of 32 types of human cancer. It is hoped that the trees can be grown successfully in Louisiana, which
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2451
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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