Today there are at least 120 important drugs derived from plants in use in one or more countries in the world. Discover some of the common drugs and medications which are derived from plants.
Which common drugs are derived from plants?
1. Caffeine
Used to treat fatigue and migraines, find caffeine in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao pods, kola nuts and garana.
Many medicinal and everyday products incorporate caffeine. According to Chinese legend, Emperor Shennong discovered it in 3000 BCE when he dropped tea leaves into boiling water and the result was a restorative drink. Kola nuts were traditionally chewed in West African cultures to reduce hunger pangs and increase energy levels. Meanwhile, cacao pod residue was discovered in an ancient Mayan pot.
It was the Ethiopian ancestors of the Oromo people who first harvested coffee beans for energy. Caffeine, however, wasn’t isolated from coffee beans until 1819. Today, caffeine relieves migraine symptoms but is most commonly used for its energizing properties. Who doesn’t need a cuppa on a Monday morning?
2. Aspirin
Used for pain relief and anti-clotting, Salix is found in willow bark.
Salicylic acid, which is a key component of aspirin, was first identified by Hippocrates. The father of medicine realized that the white powder derived from willow bark could alleviate aches, pains, and fevers.
In 1763, Edward Stone first isolated the active ingredient and it has since been used in medicine for its analgesic and anti-clotting properties. There are many different varieties of willow tree and the bark of each carries a different potency of salicylic acid. This acid chemically reacts with acetic acid to form aspirin.
3. Cocaine
Used for anesthesia and as a recreational drug. Cocaine is derived from the Coca plant (Erythroxylon coca).
Cocaine was discovered by the ancient Incas in South America, who chewed the Coca leaves for energy. Then the Spanish colonized the Americas and declared chewing the leaves to be the work of the Devil. Needless to say, they quickly changed their minds! The Spanish legalized chewing Coca leaves as well as taking a 10% tax cut from each crop.
Cocaine was first isolated from the Coca leaf by German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke. The purification process gradually improved over the years until cocaine became a suitable anesthetic. The drug is still used medicinally but is more commonly known as a recreational drug.
4. Digitalis
Used to treat arrhythmia, Digitals is derived from Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).
Digitalis, or digoxin, was discovered in 1775 by Scottish doctor William Withering when his dying patient recovered after seeking alternative treatment from a local gypsy. Withering realized the gypsy had used a herbal remedy containing a variety of components, including foxglove, and extracted the active ingredient digitalis.
The drug works by slowing the heart rate but it also increases the intensity of muscle contractions. In order for it to be effective, only small doses (0.3mg) are required, and overdosing is easy.
Cut open the fleshy seed pod of opium poppy to collect its active ingredients. When dried, this mixture is usually around 16% morphine alkaloid, though some plants have been specially bred to produce up to 26% morphine.
The earliest images of opium poppies can be seen on ancient Sumerian artifacts dating back to 4000BC. The plant was later named ‘opion’ by the ancient Greeks. Opium was originally thought to alleviate asthma, poor sight, and stomach problems. In the UK, Opiates are used as strong painkillers. They’re prescribed with care due to their highly addictive nature.
