|
Drug
|
Origin
|
Use
|
|
Quinine
|
cinchona tree (S. America)
|
treat malaria
|
|
Neostigmine
|
Calabar bean (Africa?)
|
used to treat glaucoma and provides a blueprint for
synthetic insecticides
|
|
Novacaine, cocaine
|
coca plant (South America)
|
local anesthetic; cocaine served as a blue print for
less toxic, less addictive anesthetics
|
|
Turbocuarine
|
curare liana (America)
|
Originally used by natives to poison arrow tips. Muscle
relaxant for surgery; to treat muscle disorders like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Cannot be synthesized
in the lab.
|
|
vincristine, vinblastine
|
rosy periwinkle (Madagascar)
|
pediatric leukemia, Hogkin's disease
|
|
Cortisone
|
wild yams (Central America)
|
active ingredient in birth control pills
|
