Page 7 - Medicinal Plants_PharmD general

3. Isolation of reserpine from Rauwolfia roots and confirming its
hypotensive and tranquilizing properties.

4. Isolation of vinca alkaloids, especially vincristine and vinblastine.
Vincristine was found useful in the treatment of leukaemia. These
alkaloids also have anticancer properties.

5. Isolation of Taxol alkaloid from Taxus brevifolia bark and its use in
the treatmen of solid cancers.

6. Isolation of digoxin from foxglove plant, Digitalis lanata and its use
to treat various heart conditions.
The discovery of these natural products provides clues for the

synthesis of new therapeutic agents through modelling and modification of
the naturally occurring active constituents to improve efficacy or reduce
side effects.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 80
% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines partially for their primary
health care. In the last few years in the United States, public dissatisfaction
concerning the cost of prescription medication combined with an interest
in returning to natural remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine
use. There is now a consensus regarding the importance of medicinal plants
in solving health care problems and curing several diseases.

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