Ethnobotany
Alexey Shipunov
Minot State University
Lecture 25
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Outline
1 PharmacognosyPlant remedies for nervous system; stimulantsOther “teas”SedativesAntidepressantsAnalgesicsMemory enhancement
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
PharmacognosyPlant remedies for nervous system;
stimulants
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Areca nut, Areca catechu, Palmae, Southeast Asia
Nuts are chewed with betle pepper (Piper betle, Piperaceae)leaves and slaked lime (Ca(OH)2)Chemical reaction will free arecoline alkaloid (similar to nicotine),agonist of acetylcholine receptors
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Areca nut vendor (Hainan, China)
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Arecoline
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum, Solanaceae, CentralAmerica
Perennial herb with large glanduliferous leavesContain alkaloid nicotine binding to acetylcholine receptors and(among other effects) increases the level of brain dopamineNicotine is a also a well-known natural insecticide
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Nicotine
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Kava, Piper methysticum, Piperaceae, Pacific
Small shrub, roots are used to prepare sedative drinkActive components are kavactones, stimulate inhibitoryγ-aminobutyric GABA receptors
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Kava
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Pharmacognosy Plant remedies for nervous system; stimulants
Kavactone
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
PharmacognosyOther “teas”
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
Hibiscus tea, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Malvaceae,Mediterranean
Flower calyces (sepals) are dried and boiledContain flavonoids (e.g., anthocyanin deplhinidin) and organicacids with multiple medicinal effects, e.g., lowering blood pressure
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
Hibiscus tea plant
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
Delphinidin anthocyanide
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
Rooibos tea, Aspalathus linearis, Leguminosae, SouthAfrica
Small shrub of Cape provinceLeaves contain high level of antioxidants such as aspalathin andnothofagin, fermented similarly to tea or yerba mate
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
Rooibos
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Pharmacognosy Other “teas”
Boldo, Peumus boldus, Monimiaceae, South America
Andean evergreen shrubContains alkaloid boldine and multipleessential oils (e.g., with anthelminticeffect)Used as a tea in many SouthAmerican countries, typically mixedwith mate
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
PharmacognosySedatives
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Sedatives
Are often calling “hypnotics”, difference is mainly in a dosePlant sedatives are much safer than synthetic
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Valerian, Valeriana officinalis, Caprifoliaceae, Eurasia
Valerianae radixActive components are valerian oils and iridoids valepotriatesInteract with GABA receptors
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Valerian
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Valtrate valepotriate
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Hops, Humulus lupulus, Cannabaceae, Eurasia
Lupuli flosActive components are unusual organic acids humulone andlupulone and their derivativesHelps to normalize sleep, also have antibacterial effects
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Hops (female inflorescences)
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, Labiatae, Eurasia
Melissae foliumActive components are multi-component volatile oils includingaldehydesImprove nervous disorders and also gastrointestinal problems;has antibacterial effects
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Melissa
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Red passion flower, Passiflora incarnata,Passifloraceae, South America
Dried leaves are used pharmaceuticallyActive components suspected to be flavonoidsAs effective as oxazepam (serax) in treating nervous disorders(e.g., hysteria)
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Mandrake, Mandragora officinarum, Solanaceae,Central Asia
Dried root contains atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine andpodophyllin: all alkaloidsPoisonous and hallucinogenic in large doses, hypnotic/sedative insmall doses
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Mandrake, from Tacuinum Sanitatis (1474)
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Mandrake
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Pharmacognosy Sedatives
Mandrake roots
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Pharmacognosy Antidepressants
PharmacognosyAntidepressants
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Pharmacognosy Antidepressants
Antidepressants
“Nerve tonics”Plants with anti-depressant activity are rare
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Pharmacognosy Antidepressants
St. John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum, Hypericaceae,Eurasia
Hyperici herbaHyperforin (derivative of terpenes) is the most active componentInhibition of synaptic uptake of several neurotransmitters:serotonin, dopamin, GABA etc.
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Pharmacognosy Antidepressants
Hyperforin
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Pharmacognosy Antidepressants
Hypericum perforatum
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Pharmacognosy Analgesics
PharmacognosyAnalgesics
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Pharmacognosy Analgesics
Analgesics
Cocaine and morphines are sometimes used as analgesicsAspirin-related anti-inflammatory drugs will be covered later
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Pharmacognosy Analgesics
Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenicum, Compositae,Eurasia
Tanaceti parthenii herbaSesquiterpene lactones like parthenolide are responsible for theactivitySuppress prostaglandine production
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Pharmacognosy Analgesics
Parthenolide
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Pharmacognosy Analgesics
Feverfew
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
PharmacognosyMemory enhancement
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Memory enhancement
Especially important in case of Altzheimer’s disease (dementia)Often are inhibitors of acetylholinesterase
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, Amaryllidaceae,Mediterranean
Contains alkaloid galantamineSlow down the progression of Altzheimer’s disease
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Galanthamine
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Snowdrop
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgoaceae, China
“Living fossil” from China, natural habitats are lostActive components are diterpene lactones ginkgolides andglycosides such as ginkgetinImprove blood circulation in brain, have antioxidant effects,prevent degradation of synaptic receptorsAlso used to heal varicose veins
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Ginkgo biloba
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Ginkgolides and ginkgetins
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
Summary
Most of stimulants / narcotics are analogs of neurotransmittersSedative and hypnotic chemicals are often non-alkaloidsMandrake is real!
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Pharmacognosy Memory enhancement
For Further Reading
A. Shipunov.Ethnobotany [Electronic resource].2011—onwards.Mode of access:http://ashipunov.info/shipunov/school/biol_310
Heinrich et al. 2012 (or 2004).Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy.Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.Mode of access: http://ashipunov.info/shipunov/school/biol_310/heinrich2004_fund_pharm_part.pdf
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