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Here we expand on some areas mentioned in the radio talks

Identification of plants is important to scientists and herbalist. Correct identification can prevent dangerous accidents! Parsley and Hemlock look very similar, but are very different in toxicity. (Socrates is said to have died from drinking green hemlock, this is unlikely in terms of toxicology, but a stern warning, nonetheless.)

Safety

As mentioned on the radio indiscriminant use of plants for medicines is unwise. (“He who is his own doctor, has a fool for a patient” wrote one wise man.). It is unwise to use any plants as medicines until you receive expert advice.

In Horsham we have two naturopaths Kerrie Nichols and Emily Taylor trained in the use of herbs. Emily Taylor works at Des Lardner Pharmacy in the Horsham Plaza, several days a week. In some cases a grandparent or senior citizen, particularly if your family comes from Europe, China or is of ethnic origin it is likely someone in your family may have a good background in sensible use of old plant remedies. Plants must be carefully identified however, never guess as mentioned above, or consequences can be serious.

The official identification of plants starts from their flowers.

Female parts (Gynoecium) sigma , style, and ovary = carpel

Male parts (Androecium) anther & filament = stamen

Floral parts= corolla/petals and calyx/sepals = perianth.

Stem = receptacle & pedicel

Subdivision of plants

Plant cells are very similar to animal cells hence animals can often consume plant material safely and gain benefits in some way. However this is not always the case.

Plants contain ergastic substances such as crystals, anthocyanins, starch grains, tannins, fats, oils, waxes and protein bodies that are often useful as medicines. These substances are found in cell walls, ground substance or the organelles of plants. These ergastic substances often give the plant a survival advantage over competing species. Sometimes there is no explanation for there presence.

How new drugs are discovered at the University of Sydney and in western medicine

In western medicine there are currently 119 chemical substances isolated from plants that are important drugs, they were obtained from 90 species of plants. Most plants contain up to 80 active ingredients that we can readily find. Thus some plants may contain several “wonder drugs”.

For example, the Egyptian plant “Ammi visnaga”, related to parsley, yielded 4 modern drugs, which have earned millions of dollars for pharmaceutical companies. Viz. Amiodarone (®Cordarone X), cromoglycate ( ®Intal), nedocromil (®Tilade), and nifedipine (®Adalat).

The plant is painted on the tomb of several of the pharaohs suggesting use dating back to 1300 BC at least.[Chelsea Physic Gardens 2001]

Many ingredients are so weak such as in raspberry leaves, that the ingredients are not obvious, to scientist searching for quick miracle drug answers. The active “oxytocic” ingredient in raspberry leaves is so weak that it takes several months to build up in the human system. It took 20 years for modern scientists to find the actives.

Raspberry leaves (Rubus ideus) have been trialed by doctors and reported in Lancet [1948] for use in pregnancy to ease childbirth. The treatment should be taken for the last 2 trimesters with increasing dose in the last trimester of pregnancy. The study reported a marked reduction in labour pains and reduction in delivery time. However this remedy cannot be patented and makes no money for drug companies.

Many nurses seem to have heard of the trial, but doctors and pharmacists never hear or read of the benefits of this wonderful, cheap 2000 year old remedy, used it is believed, by American Red Indians, Australian aboriginals and by Europeans, all many thousands of miles apart, and using slightly different species of raspberry leaves.

The herb was used historically for the whole of pregnancy as it eases morning sickness dramatically as well. However we cannot recommend herbs such as this, in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The modern view is that they need more testing (which no drug companies will fund,2000 years of use is apparently not a long enough test?).How did our ancestors know about these herbs and understand the potential properties?

How modern scientists and researchers discover drugs:

Five methods for finding new drugs

1. Investigate plants used for medicine by indigenous peoples: plant resource-based knowledge. This is called ethnobotany or ethnopharmacology. Indigenous people have a vast knowledge and plant-resource based knowledge.

2. Investigate plants from families that are already known to contain useful members, the cladistic approach, based of systematics and taxonomy. Plant families often contain similar-acting compounds for a variety of debatable reasons. For example most poppies (Papilliaceae) seem to have sedative properties even though the ingredients are different. California poppy and Opium poppy. Most flowers (Asteraceae) seem to have antibiotic properties even though the ingredients vary e.g. marigolds and echinacea.

3. Investigate plants used for medicines by animals: zoopharmacognosy.

Scientists are particularly keen to work with primates, who use many herbs and dietary manipulations in the wild. Most animals seem to have a keen sense of what is good for them. Sheep for example always seek out and eat high protein grasses during pregnancy.

4. The evolutionary/ecological approach-examine the relationship between organisms. In this method we look at the relationship between the plant and the environment and each other.

Two approaches can be looked at.

a) What adaptations give the organism a survival advantage.

b) Determine what product you are looking for and ask “where might the desired product have evolved? For example plants are noticeably free of insect animal damage-why do other organisms avoid eating them?

a) Physical defences such as rough skin, tough skin or thorns.

b) Chemical defences such as tannins. Old leaves are less likely to be eaten as tough and unpalatable due to cellulose lignins and tannins, However what substances are in young shoots and leaves to act as defences?

The protease inhibitors for cancer and AIDS treatment were found this way. Where might natural chemicals that suppress the immune system have evolved? If we look at internal parasites, we ask how do they survive attack from the stomach immune system?

Recently we found they produce chemicals that suppress it. It is a case of asking the right questions then having the resources and skill to follow up the questions. Plants are very complex creatures, so they hold many answers, for example the Autumn Crocus Lily, produces a drug/ergastic compound called colchicine , which blocks cell division, and stops growth. How does the plant keep growing?

Perhaps there is yet another wonder drug in the Crocus that blocks colchicine or encourages growth (a future growth hormone perhaps).

5. Further investigation of current plants used by western herbalists: the “do it again approach.” This has not yielded many new compounds but it has certainly led to a few surprises, some that modern medicine is embarrassed about.

In 1912 for example, it was found the active ingredient in tea was not caffeine, as it was thought in 1800’s, it was the anti-oxidants. (Has your pharmacist sent you an apology yet?) Recent research suggests the active ingredient in the Aspirin tree (Salix alba-white willow bark) is not aspirin! A genuine surprise for everyone, that is yet to be confirmed.

We welcome any comments or feedback by email. Also tell us what you would like to talk about on the radio, or in our newsletters. You can have our newsletter emailed to you each month, just send us a request. Our Dimboola Store keeps a wide range of herbs, just ring or mail-order hotline 1300 788 991