Allopathy, also known as conventional or Western medicine, primarily relies on pharmaceutical drugs and surgical interventions to treat medical conditions. However, some medications in allopathic medicine have their origins in plant-based sources. Plants have long been a valuable source of medicinal compounds in allopathic medicine or conventional Western medicine. Many drugs and pharmaceuticals have their origins in plant-based sources. Here are some notable examples of plants that serve as sources for allopathic medicines and examples of drugs or compounds in allopathic medicine derived from plants.

 

Drugs: Aspirin, Morphine, Quinine, Atropine, Digoxin, Paclitaxel, Vinblastine and Vincristine, Artemisinin, Vardenafil. Some of the plants that are used for medicine extracts are: Vinca, Cinchona, Atropa belladonna, willow tree, Papaver somniferum, Digitalis purpurea etc.

 

A rough estimate suggests that 25% to 30% of prescription drugs in the United States have their origins in plant-based compounds. This includes medications like aspirin (originating from willow bark), morphine (derived from the opium poppy), and many anti-cancer drugs that have plant-derived precursors or inspiration.

 

It is important to note that while many medications have botanical origins, modern pharmaceutical processes often involve the synthesis and modification of these compounds to produce standardized and controlled pharmaceuticals. Additionally, the use of these medications is regulated and should be supervised by healthcare professionals. Plant-derived medicines continue to be an area of interest in drug discovery and development, as they may offer potential new treatments for various medical conditions.

 

Image credit: Image by FinjaM from Pixabay ( Free for commercial use)

 

References:

·         https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3560124/

·         https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/essential-medicines-powered-by-plants.html

·         https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/medicinal/index.shtml

·         https://www.scielo.br/j/ramb/a/Gy77vYy9CkwJbgL7kKGTkcw/?lang=en

·         https://www.pharmatutor.org/articles/herbs-interaction-allopathic-drugs-review

Aspirin For Pain and Fever from Willow Tree

Morphine For Pain Relief from Poppy

Atropine For Poisoning from Nightshade Plant

Digoxin For Heart Condition from Foxglove Plant

Paclitaxel for chemotherapy From Yew Tree

Vinblastine and Vincristine for Cancer from Vinca

Artemisinin for Malaria from Wormwood Plant

Quinine Antimalarial Drug from Cinchona

Yohimbine for Erectile Disfunction from Corynanthe yohimbe