Lecture 21: Plants and Medicine: Him and Her

Question 1

_______ secretes a slightly acidic, milky fluid that is the medium and carrier of semen.

Answer 1

Prostate

Question 2

In ancient Greek “prostatēs” meant “______” and was exclusively used in a non-medical sense. It was not until the Renaissance that anatomists discovered the organ naming it “_______.”

Answer 2

president

glandulous body

Question 3

______ is when the prostate enlarges to the point where urination becomes difficult and painful and, in extreme cases, completely impossible.

Answer 3

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Question 4

The plant ______ was used for benign prostatic hyperplasia among the Greeks and Romans

Answer 4

Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle)

Question 5

In stinging nettle, the roots contain _____, _____, and _____.

Answer 5

lignans, polysaccharides, lectins

Question 6

True or False: In stinging nettles, the mechanism of action unknown but probably affecting hormones.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

_____ is also used against benign prostatic hyperplasia and is used by native tribes in SE USA.

Answer 7

Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto)

Question 8

In saw palmetto, the fruits contain over _____ compounds, among which ______ are important.

Answer 8

100, sterols

Question 9

True or False: For saw palmetto, the mechanism of action unknown, probably at multiple levels.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

______ juice interferes with spread of prostate cancer tumors

Answer 10

Pomegranate

Question 11

________ are an effective prostate cancer preventer.

Answer 11

Tomatoes

Question 12

Studies indicate that _______men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime, and another ______ will die because of it.

Answer 12

1 in 7

1 in 27

Question 13

_____ is a chinese traditional medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction

Answer 13

Epimedium spp.(Horny goat weed)

E. sagittatum

Question 14

What is the active ingredient in horny goat weed?

Answer 14

Icariin (a flavonol)

Question 15

What is the mode of action (mechanism) for horny goat weed?

Answer 15

enhance the production of bioactive nitric oxide, and mimics the effects of testosterone.

Question 16

True or False: Horny goat weed and dodder is usually used on its own.

Answer 16

False, Usually used in combination with other herbs (each other)

Question 17

______ is a another chinese traditional medicine to treat erectile dysfunction where the active ingredients and mode of action is unknown.

Answer 17

Cuscuta spp.(Dodder);

Question 18

_______are parasitic plants without a root or leaves. They twine around their hosts from which they extract all the water and nutrients they need.

Answer 18

Dodder

Question 19

True or False: Animistic societies had a rich knowledge and use of male contraceptives

Answer 19

True

Question 20

_____ is a traditional contraceptive in India

oleanolic acid 3-β-d-glucuronide (OAG) from the root 100% effective; affects sperm membrane integrity (spermicide)

Answer 20

Sesbania sesban (no common name)

Question 21

_______ is a tincture sold in Indonesia as a male contraceptive.

Answer 21

Gendarussa

Question 22

What do the active ingredients in gendrusa do?

Answer 22

Active ingredients (Gendarusin A) work by interfering with an enzyme located on the sperm head

Question 23

The seeds in ____ are a spermicide as well.

Answer 23

papaya

Question 24

________are steroidal compounds that mimic reproductive female hormones, and, therefore, they have the ability to cause estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects.

Answer 24

Phytoestrogens

Question 25

Why do plants produce phytoestrogens?

Answer 25

Defensive mechanism to modulate the fertility of herbivores

Question 26

Phytoestrogens exert their effects primarily through binding to ______ receptors.

Answer 26

estrogen (Ers)

Question 27

phytoestrogens may also modulate the concentration of ________ by binding or inactivating some enzymes, and may affect the bioavailability of sex hormones by depressing or stimulating the synthesis of sex hormone-binding globulin.

Answer 27

endogenous estrogens

Question 28

Why are foods rich in phytoestrogens?

Answer 28

ie, beans, asparagus, kiwi, strawberry, blueberry, orange, soy etc...

Question 29

_______ is a steroid sapogenic.

Answer 29

Diosgenin

Question 30

1937 isolation of _______ from roots of wild sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.).

Answer 30

Diosgenin

Question 31

In 1952, synthesis of ______ and _____ based on Diosgenin for the first birth control pilll based on what plant?

Answer 31

Estradiol and Estrone using wild yams – Dioscoraea villosa

Question 32

Who was the person most involved in creating the first female contraceptive?

Answer 32

Russel Maker

Question 33

What 6 genera of plants contain diosgenin?

Answer 33

Costus sp Smilax sp Paris sp Trigonella sp. Dioscoraea Sp Trillium sp

Question 34

True or False: In general all the animistic cultures developed plant contraceptives, abortifacients, uterine stimulants, childbirth and labor aids.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

True or False: It is a misconception that birth control was developed in early 1900s although the term “birth control” was coined at this time

Answer 35

True

Question 36

True or False: Most of these plants used for men and womens have been studied.

Answer 36

False, they have not

Question 37

True or False: y of the plants used in herbal products for premenstrual syndrome, menopause etc., have not been studied properly.

Answer 37

True

Question 38

In Actaea racemosa (Black cohosh), the _____ and ______ are used by Native Americans to treat gynecological disorders

Answer 38

root and rhizomes

Question 39

True or False: Although it Black cohosh contains phytoestrogens, several studies have indicated absence of estrogenic effects in the body.

Answer 39

True

Question 40

What is the physiological effects of Black cohosh?

Answer 40

compounds that bind and activate serotonin receptors.

Question 41

What is the therapeutic use of black cohosh?

Answer 41

menopause, menstrual cramps

Question 42

In ancient GREEK times this plant was used as anaphrodisiac, hence the name _________

Answer 42

chaste tree

Question 43

What are the active ingredients in chaste tree?

Answer 43

Active compounds in dried fruits: flavonoids, alkaloids, diterpenoids, vitexin, casticin and steroidal hormone precursors

Question 44

What are the physiological effects of chaste tree?

Answer 44

dopaminergic effects resulting in changes of prolactin secretion

Question 45

What is chaste tree used for?

Answer 45

Infusion/tincture of fruits for PMS and mastalgia (swollen breasts)

Question 46

______ is a traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese gynecological medicine

Answer 46

Angelica sinensis (Dong Quai)

Question 47

_____ has weak estrogen activity used to treat premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps

Answer 47

Dong quai

Question 48

The _____ of dong quai is used to make tea, tinctures, and capsule.

Answer 48

roots

Question 49

_____ is used to treat UTI's by people of native people of NA

Answer 49

Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry)

Question 50

What is the chemical in cranberry and what is its effect?

Answer 50

proanthocianidins prevent bacteria such as Escherichia coli from adhering to cell lining of bladder and urethra

Question 51

True or False: Cranberry is used to treat a UTD?

Answer 51

False, used to prevent

Question 52

How is cranberry medically consumed?

Answer 52

Fruit juice & extract tablet

Question 53

________is native to E Canada and the E/S USA and grows in bogs

Answer 53

Cranberry

Question 54

Question: The first birth control pill was made from steroidal compounds extracted by the following plants?

Answer 54

Answer: B Wild yams (isolated first in sarsaparilla)

Question 55

Question: Which of the following plants can alleviate menopause and PMS based on serotonin receptors?

Answer 55

Answer: C Black cohosh