Drugs With Plant Origins
Ethnobotanical research led to the discovery of at least 50 drugs.
Here's a sampling.
Drug
Medicinal Use
Aspirin
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
analgesic, inflammation
Atropine
Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)
ophthalmology
Caffeine
Tea (Camellia sinensis)
stimulant
Colchicine
Autumn crocus (Aolchicum autumnale)
gout
Dicoumarol
Melilot, Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)
thrombosis
Digitoxin
Digitalis (Digitalis purpurea)
atrial fibrillation
Ephedrine
Ephedra (Ephedra sinica)
bronchodilator
Eugenol
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
toothache
Gallotanins
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
hemorrhoid suppository
Morphine
Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
analgesic
Proscillaridin
Squill (Drimia maritima)
cardiac malfunction
Quinine
Cinchona bark (Cinchona pubescens)
malaria prophylaxis
Sennoside A,B
Senna (Cassia senna)
laxative
Scopolamine
Stramonium leaf (Datura stramonium)
motion sickness
THC
Hemp (Cannabis sativa)
antiemetic
Vincristine
Rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
pediatric leukemia