Conserving Drugs

The development of pharmaceutical drugs from plants is known as Pharmacognosy or ‘a molecular science that explores naturally occurring structure–activity relationships with a drug potential’. This encapsulates fields including plant ecology, ethnobotany, phytochemistry and molecular biology (Bruhn and Bohlin, 1997). The term has only been in use for the past 200 years although treatments from medicinal plants is clearly nothing new (Balunas, M. 2005).

The first records of plants as medicines were found in Mesopotamia dating back to 2500BC. These included oils of cedar and cypress as well as elements of liquorice and myrrh all still used today to treat a range of ailments from coughs and colds to inflammation. The world health organisation estimates that 80% of the global population still rely predominately on traditional medicine such as the above, although plant sources still play a surprising role in the drugs used by the remaining 20% (Newman et al, 2000). For example, in 2001 and 2002 a quarter of the best selling drugs worldwide were derived from natural products (Balunas, M. 2005). This includes Artemesinin  an anti-malarial drug derived from the Chinese herb Qinghao or Sweet Wormwood and Cromoglycate, a compound based on a chemical from the Khella plant used to treat asthma (Shetty, P. 2010). 

Artemesinin

Qinghao / Sweet Wormwood

The link between conservation and the search for new pharmaceuticals is clearly apparent. We never know when the next new drug may arise from so it is vital to preserve high biodiversity regions to preserve potential sources. Furthermore, it can be of great benefit to conservation efforts that may have previously focused on alternate issues if a new plant derived drug is found in an area.  In these cases governments are likely to place higher values on the area as a result of profit potential and future economic impact (Balik, 1994).

The protection of biodiversity for medical and health reasons is one of the most compelling arguments for conservation. However, it requires long term focus and planning considering the length of time between discovery and the large scale production of a drug. 

Sources:

Balik, M. 1994. Ethnobotany, drug development and biodiversity conservation -exploring the linkages. Ciba Foundation Symposium. 185. pp 4-18. 

Balunas, M et al. 2005. Drug Discovery from Medicinal Plants. Life Sciences. 78(5). pp 431-441. 

Bruhn, J. Bohlin, L. 1997. Molecular Pharmacognosy: An explanatory model. Drug Discovery Today. 2(6). pp 243-246.

Newman, D et al. 2000. The Influence of Natural Products Upon Drug Discovery. Natural Products Report. 17. pp 215-234.

Shetty, P. 2010. Integrating Modern and Traditional Medicine: Facts and Figures. SciDevNet. [online]. Available at: http://www.scidev.net/global/disease/feature/integrating-modern-and-traditional-medicine-facts-and-figures.html. [Accessed: 19 November 2014].