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The medicinal properties of plants are known since time immemorial from all over the world in general and tropical countries or countries rich in bio-diversity in particular. In countries like Brazil, China and India, the herbal healers are accomplished doctors and great botanists. Ayurvedic (ancient Science of life) and Unani system are well known for the use of herbal medicines. Moreover, in homeopathic system also medicinal herbs are used. With the recent advances in bio-chemical and biotechnological processes, plants have been considered as sources of new therapeutically-active molecules. Some current examples of plant which produce drug include Ochrosia, Rauwolfia serpentina, Digitalis, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus and Artemisia annua. The diversity of medicinal flora and plant-based drugs are still to be explored. We still depend on many chemical compounds of plant-origin, such as, atropine (Atropa belladonna), colchicines (Colchicum autumnale), codeine (Papaver somniferum), Digoxin (Digitalis lanata), Pilocarpine (Pilocarpus sp.), quinine (Cinchona ledgeriana), vincristine and vinblastine (Catharanthus roseus), Artemisin (Artemisia annua) and taxol, etc. The discovery of anticancerous compounds camptothecin, found in the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata and Taxol, found in the Pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia has revolutionized the pharmaceutical world.

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2007-08-17   |   589 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 4 Núm.2. Marzo 2005 Pags. 25 BLACPMA 2005; 4(2)