Medical Compounds From Botanical Sources
HERB 531
Medicinal Compounds in Plants
Carbohydrates
- fatty acids
- oils (triacylglycerols)
- waxes
- alkylamides (including isobutylamides)
- monosaccharides
- oligosaccharides
- polysaccharides
Lipids
Amino acids & derivatives
- sulfur compounds (Garlic)
- glucosinolates
- cyanogenic glycosides
- 5-HTP
- Amines (including aromatic amines)
- enzymes
Polyphenols
- simple phenols
- phenolic acids
- phenylpropanoids
- coumarins
- lignans
- stilbenoids
- xanthones
- styrylpyrones
- flavonoids
- isoflavonoids
- benzofurans
- chromones
- quinones
- phloroglucinols
Terpenoids
- monoterpenes
- sesquiterpenes
- essential oils
- diterpenes
- triterpenes & saponins
- tetraterpenes (carotenoids)
Steroids
- steroidal saponins
- phytosterols
- cardiac glycosides
Alkaloids
- betalain alkaloids
- diterpenoid alkaloids
- indole alkaloids
- isoquinoline alkaloids
- methylxanthines
- monoterpenoid alkaloids
- peptide alkaloids
- pyrrolidine alkaloids
- piperidine alkaloids
- pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- quinoline alkaloids
- quinolizidine alkaloids
- tropane alkaloids
- plus more!
Phylum Equisetophyta- Horsetail
- A seedless vascular plant (produces spores in strobili)
- Class Equisetopsida, Order Equisetales, Family Equisetaceae, Genus Equisetum
- Range: N. temperate zones
- Contains soluble silica in the form of silicic acid
- Traditionally used in small amounts for kidney & urinary tract infections & to strengthen bones, hair, & nails
- E. arvense used in medicine; E. palustre can be toxic (contains thiaminase which destroys vitamin B1)
Gymnosperms
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo = Silver Apricot biloba = two-lobed
- Gymnosperm
- Phylum Ginkgophyta
- Order Ginkgoales
- Family Ginkgoaceae
- Ginkgo biloba is the only species in its phylum
- Reproductive habit: dioecious
- Range: cultivated in Northern temperate climates
- Neuroprotective
- Enhances memory
- Antioxidant
- Aids circulation in extremities
- Used for cerebral insufficiency, intermittent claudication
- Main constituents: flavonoids, diterpene lactones called ginkgolides
- Flavonoids are common; only Ginkgo makes ginkgolides
Ephedra Species
Female strobilus
Ephedrine
Male strobilus
- Ephedra > Greek term for a plant (Mare’s Tail) with a vaguely similar appearance.
- E. nevadensis is a common U.S. Southwestern species; Chinese E. sinica is “Ma Huang”
- Gymnosperm; bears strobili; dioecious
- Phylum Gnetophyta; Order Ephedrales; Family Ephedraceae; only one genus
- Chinese E. sinica produces the aromatic amine ephedrine; Southwestern species do not
- Ephedrine mimics adrenaline: stimulant, bronchodilator, decongestant
The Conifers
- Phylum Pinophyta
- Gymnosperms; bear strobili (cones)
- Pines
- Cedars
- Spruces
- Firs
- Hemlocks
- Yews
Pines
- Phylum Pinophyta
- Class Pinopsida
- Order Pinales
- Family Pinaceae
- Genus Pinus
- Reproductive habit: monoecious, female and male strobili on same tree Distribution: temperate, arid & boreal zones, mainly in Northern Hemisphere
Pine: Oleoresin
- Pines produce an oleoresin (mixture of essential oils & resins): antiseptic, decongestant
- Volatile components are monoterpenes
- Resin is a complex mixture of diterpenes
- Oil of turpentine was used by the Eclectics: ‘irritant, stimulant, cathartic, diuretic, vermifuge, and, in relation to chronic mucous discharges, astringent.’ – King’s American Dispensatory
Fir
- Phylum Pinophyta
- Class Pinopsida, Order Pinales, Family Pinaceae, Genus Abies
- Reproductive habit: monoecious
- Distribution: boreal (taiga) & subalpine zones, N. hemisphere Balsam, a mixture of terpenes, is a fragrant antiseptic used in remedies for the respiratory system and for skin healing
Angiosperms
- All angiosperms (flowering plants) belong to the Phylum Magnoliophyta
- There are two classes in the phylum:
- Magnoliopsida, the dicotyledons (dicots)
- Liliopsida, the monocotyledons (monocots)
- Most medicinal plants are dicots, but quite a few are monocots: Onion, Garlic, Lily-of-the-Valley, Asparagus, American Wild Yam, Ginger, Turmeric, Calamus …
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