BIOL1010 MEDICINAL PLANTAE

"Nature’s Pharmacy: Understanding the Science, History, and Benefits of Medicinal Plants" By: Dallin-James C. Ballard

BIO1010 Presentation

Medicinal Plants

Herbal Traditionalism

Modern Medicine

1800s-Present

Medieval & Islamic Golden Age

500 CE -1500 CE

Renaissance/ Early Modern Medicine

1500 CE-1700 CE

Classical Medicine

500 BCE- 500CE

c. 3000 BCE- 500 CE

Medicinal plants and their role in history of medicine

(aloe barbadensis miller)

Aloe Vera

Where is it found?

Aloe vera is essentially able to be located on all continents excluding Antarctica. The plant does however especially thrive in the arid/tropical regions of the continents indicated.

Aloe vera

• Aloe vera has historically been used in particular to treat skin conditions
• Was previously believed to improve baldness (later debunked showing no direct correlation to hair growth stimulation)

Topical Treatment Applications:

• burns
• acne
• lichen planus (rash on skin or mouth)

Oral Alternatives can provide benefits such as:

• weight loss
• diabetes

About Aloe vera

1I

(cannabis sativa)

Cannabis

Where is it found?

The plant has been historically native to Central and South Asia, with its earliest applications being documented in China and Japan, used for fabric and rope. Cannabis is now cultivated on all continents, excluding Antarctica.

Cannabis

• Cannabis sativa is estimated to have been medicinal used historically for over 2 millenia.
• California was the first to pass medicinal use of cannabis, along with Arizona, back in 1996. Arizona, however, later rescinds their approval of its use.

Therapeutic Applications of Cannabis:

• Oral cannabinoids were proven to be effective antiemetics (medication that reduces/prevents nausea/vomiting for adults who having undergone chemotherapy treatments
• Cannabis and cannabinoid usage by adults suffering chronic pain, "are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symtoms," according to the NIH.
• Cannabinoids exhibit radioprotective effects for cancer patients undergoing radiation treatments

About Cannabis

1II

(Avicennia germinans, see image) -black mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)- red mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)- white mangrove

Mangrove Plants

Where is it found?

All continents, excluding Europe and Antarctica, have documented wild growth of mangrove plants, exclusively in the more tropical climate regions of each continent. An abundance of mangrove plants can be found in the country of Indonesia and surrounding Southeast Asian island countries such as the Philippines.

Mangrove plants

• Mangrove plants have been historically used for centuries for medicinal and non-medicinal uses, with their earliest uses being documented as a constructive material for infrastructure of past civilizations.

Medicinal Applications of Mangrove Plants:

• Proven to possess anticancer properties where in one instance, extracts from mangrove were proven effective in blocking carcinogensis in the buccal pouch of a hamster
• Exhibit antitumor/anti-inflammatory properties: Rhizophora apiculata mangrove extracts showed ability to be passed down to essentially serve as an anti-inflammatory agent and inhibit the growth of a tumor
• Additionally exhibit anti-diarrhetic properties

Mangrove plants

1V

(piper methysticum)

Ginseng

Where is it found?

Ginseng is native to the continent of Asia. The earliest widespread uses of ginseng however would specify to China historically.

ginseng

• Studies suggest the ability to reduce risks of cancer. Shown to also assist in inhibiting cancerous tumor growths

• Provide antioxidant benefits by reinforcing the human immune system, boosting the performance of immunity cells
• Shown to have also lowered blood sugar levels in various human studies on people with Stage 2 Diabetes

Available forms for usage of Ginseng:

• dried root
• fresh root
• fluid extract (such as that is found in Ginseng tea)

About Ginseng

• Helps to honor cultural heritage and assist in facilitating more respectful dialogue between traditional and modern forms of medicine. Medicinal plants are deeply sown into the practices of indigenous/local communities across the world. Acknowledging the value of medicinal plants means to also respect the traditional practices of the past that ultimately have led to current discoveries in world of healthcare today.

• Millions of people in the world today do not have the privilege of seeing medicinal plants as an alternative form of medicine, but rather all that they have, making them a necessity. Accept the fact that this directly results from the global socio-economic wealth gap which forces these people to rely on the nature around them for lack of better healthcare. Take this time to address the need of less developed countries for more modern and affordable healthcare and encourage ways to give these people access to the resources they require.

• Medicinal plants can be seen as the major cornerstone of modern-day pharmacology and by understanding these plants, we can better appreciate the progress that we see today in modern medicine and never excuse the potential of other medicinal plants that may not have been as thoroughly researched yet which could lead to future progress.

Why learn about medicinal plants?

Thank you!

Andreu, M. G., Friedman, M. H., Hudson, M. M., & Quintana, H. V. (2022, February 18). FOR 259/FR321: Avicennia germinans, Black Mangrove. Edis.ifas.ufl.edu. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR321 Baral, A., Diggs, B.-N. A., Marrakchi El Fellah, R., McCarley, C., Penedo, F., Vidot, D. C., Martinez, C., & Bognor, R. (2024, November 1). Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI‐Designated Cancer Center. Proquest.com. https://www.proquest.com/central/docview/3127425374/9B9E71618ADC4C73PQ/10?accountid=28671&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals Chowdhury, R., Bhuia, S., Al Hasan, S., Afrin, S., Busselberg, D., Habtemariam, S., Sonmez Gurer, E., Sharifi-Rad, J., Ahmed Aldahish, A., Akhtayeva, N., & Islam, T. M. (2024). Anticancer potential of phytochemicals derived from mangrove plants: Comprehensive mechanistic insights. Proquest.com. https://www.proquest.com/central/docview/3128149055/363E5BBD44C8420FPQ/18?accountid=28671&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals Genilar, L. A., Evi Kurniawaty, Ruzaidi Azli, Mokhtar, M., & Audah, K. A. (2021). Mangroves and Their Medicinal Benefit: A Mini Review. Annals of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 25(4), 695–709. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352778183_Mangroves_and_Their_Medicinal_Benefit_A_Mini_Review Mayorga, A. (2019, May 13). 10 Surprising Things about American Ginseng. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/10-surprising-things-about-american-ginseng

References

Mount Sinai. (n.d.). American ginseng Information | Mount Sinai - New York. Mount Sinai Health System. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/american-ginseng Moutouama, J. K., & Gaoue, O. G. (2024, February). A phylogenetic evaluation of non-random medicinal plants selection around an African biosphere reserve. Proquest.com. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2922692430/9BCEB66AB06D46D7PQ/1?accountid=28671&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2017). Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/ National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2020, August). Aloe Vera. Nccih.nih.gov. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera Petrovska, B. B. (2012). Historical review of medicinal plants′ usage. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(11), 1. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849

References

Medieval & Islamic Golden Age:

During this period, continued significant advancement on the study of medicinal plants was foreword moving. Much of the advancements made would integrate historical knowledge and knowledge obtained through further studies during this time. Early methods of distillation, typically done for extrating essential oils from plants, would develop in this period of time also.

Modern Medicine:

This era brings about a number of subsectors in medicine including pharmacology, brought about by the pharmacological revolution. The advancement of biotechnology also enabled the mass production of plant-derived compounds needed for modern day pharmaceuticals. Plant-based alternatives in modern medicine continue to be researched such as plant-based vaccines and numerous plant-based treatments.

Interesting Fact:

• Mangroves possess the ability to live up to approximately 100 years old.

• The maturation period for a mangrove plant species is 10-20 years.

Classical Medicine:

A key milestone made in this era can be credited to Hippocrates and Dioscorides, who achieved the cataloging of hundreds of medicinal plants and the uses for each in texts such as "De Materia Medica," (circa. 50-70 CE.) These catalogs would ultimately impact medical practices for centuries to come. Medicinal Plant mention: Dioscorides was able to document the use of the poppy plant and its opiate properties used to elleviate pain.

Renaissance & Early Modern Medicine

In this period, systematic studying of medicinal plants became more mainstream. Botantists and physicians pioneered early forms of scientific inquiry. People of the time in the study of medicine became more keen on studying chemistry to discover better treatments for ailments. One of the earliest instances of this was the extraction and use of quinine from a cinchona tree to treat cases of malaria.

Interesting Facts:

There are an approxmiated 1,200 slang words for cannabis sativa including:

• dank
• doobi
• da-kine (Hawaiian-derived slang)

The country of Morocco is the single largest producer of cannabis in the world.

Interesting Fact:

Traditional medicine practioners in China had the widespread belief that a plant has the ability to cure whatever human body element its shape resembled. With respect to Ginseng, it was believed to be a cure-all plant as its roots/fibers resembled the circulatory system that runs through the whole human body!

Herbal Traditionalism:

What was herbal traditionalism? The habitual use of plants, herbs, and flowers for wellness was the most common form of medicinal practice. Earliest medicinal plant usage would date around this time where ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Chinese depended heavily on herbal remedies as medical treatments, also becoming integral to each one's culture.