Plant Sources

• Plant source is the oldest source of drugs
• Most of the drugs in ancient times were derived from plants
• Almost all parts of the plants are used (ex. leaves, stem, bark, fruits and roots)
• The leaves of Digitalis purpurea are the source of Digitoxin and Digoxin, which are cardiac glycosides
• Leaves of Eucalyptus give oil of Eucalyptus, which is important component cough syrup
• Tobacco leaves give nicotine
• Atropa belladonna gives atropine
• Clove gives eugenol
• Digitalis purpurea


  Leaves
• Eucalyptus


  Leaves
• Tobacco


  Leaves
• Atropa Belladonna


  Leaves
• Cloves


  Flowers
• Vinca


  Flowers
• Rose


  Flowers
• Vinca rosea gives vincristine and vinblastine
• Rose gives rose water used as tonic
• Senna pod

  Fruits
• Calabar


  Fruits and Seeds
• Senna pod gives anthracine, which is a purgative (used in constipation)
• Calabar beans give physostigmine, which is cholinomimetic agent
• Nux Vomica


  Seeds
• Castor


  Seeds
• Seeds of Nux Vomica give strychnine, which is a CNS stimulant
• Castor seeds give castor oil
• Ipecacuanha


  Roots
• Rauwolfia


  Roots
• Cinchona

  Bark
• Kalmegh


  Stem
• Ipecacuanha root gives Emetine, used to induce vomiting as in accidental poisoning. It also has amoebicidal properties
• Rauwolfia serpentina gives reserpine, a hypotensive agent; used for hypertension treatment
• Cinchona bark gives quinine and quinidine, which are antimalarial drugs. Quinidine also has antiarrythmic properties
• Kalmegh - Hepatoprotective