Lecture 7 - Botanical Descriptions Flashcards
(23 cards)
How many medicinally used plant species did the WHO estimate in the 1970s?
21,000
This number is likely a significant underestimate.
What percentage of native species in China are used in traditional medicine?
Approximately 18.9%
This is based on 4,941 out of 26,092 native species.
What is the global estimate of medicinal plant species?
Closer to 53,000
What was the value of India’s export of medicinal plants in 2020-2021?
$377.63 million
This reflects a 33% increase from the previous year.
Which parts of plants can be used medicinally?
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Roots
- Seeds
- Berries
- Bulbs
- Rhizomes
- Tubers
- Bark
- Wood
What are the above-ground parts of plants used in medicine?
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Seeds
- Wood
- Bark
Examples include horopito for leaves and clove for flowers.
What are examples of below-ground parts of plants used in medicine?
- Roots
- Rhizomes
- Tubers
Examples include ginseng (root), ginger (rhizome), and cassava (tuber).
What are Plant Secondary Metabolites (PSMs)?
Compounds not essential for growth/reproduction but provide defense and ecological benefits.
What roles do Plant Secondary Metabolites (PSMs) play?
- Defend against competitors
- Protect from abiotic stresses
- Attract pollinators
- Serve as intra- and inter-plant signals
List the four main classes of Plant Secondary Metabolites.
- Phenolics
- Terpenoids
- Alkaloids
- Glucosinolates
What are phenolics?
Aromatic ring structures; most abundant class of PSMs.
What are some examples of flavonoids?
- Anthocyanidins
- Tannins
- Lignin
- Salicylic acid
What are the nutraceutical benefits of flavonoids?
- Antioxidant
- Cardiovascular protection
- Anti-inflammatory effects
What are terpenoids?
A large class of oxygenated hydrocarbons (isoprene units).
What therapeutic properties do terpenoids have?
- Antimicrobial
- Antifungal
- Antiparasitic
- Antiviral
- Anti-allergenic
- Antispasmodic
- Antihyperglycemic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immunomodulatory
What is a significant compound produced by Cannabis sativa?
THC (psychoactive) and CBD (medicinal benefits)
What are alkaloids?
Nitrogen-containing, often toxic compounds produced for defense.
List some examples of alkaloids.
- Strychnine
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Cocaine
- Capsaicin
- Morphine
What are glucosinolates?
Sulfur- and nitrogen-containing metabolites mostly in the cabbage family.
What is the role of myrosinase in relation to glucosinolates?
Activates glucoraphanin during plant defense.
What factors influence variation in Plant Secondary Metabolites (PSMs)?
- Plant part
- Species
- Environment
- Time
True or False: Seeds are often more vulnerable and contain a broad spectrum of toxins.
True
What is a significant example of a glucosinolate compound?
Sulforaphane
