plants and people exam 2!

kim thompson

Define how dietary supplements are defined by the DSHEA

Define how dietary supplements are defined by the DSHEA

“anything that supplements the diet.” Supplements therefore include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, organ tissues, metabolites, extracts, or concentrates. A

Know the symptoms that echinacea is thought to remedy, what claims can be made, and the risks of combining with prescription medications.

-Echinacea may strengthen your body's immune system, helping you fight colds

-chance of interaction with prescription drugs is low

Know the symptoms that gingko is thought to remedy, what claims can be made, and the risks of combining with prescription medications.

-improves blood circulation by opening up blood vessels and making blood less sticky

-if you take it with an anticoagulant or a blood thinner it can amplify anti-clotting activity and be dangerous

Know the symptoms that ginseng is thought to remedy, what claims can be made, and the risks of combining with prescription medications.

-believed to increase energy and both physical and cognitive performance but clinical trials show no effect so far

-if combined with certain drugs that affect heart rhythm, arrhythmias may occur.

Know the symptoms that garlic is thought to remedy, what claims can be made, and the risks of combining with prescription medications.

-helps with coughs, fevers, earaches, irregular periods, intestinal worms, digestive issues

-taking garlic and statins together is risky and can lead to bleeding

Know the symptoms that st. john’s wort is thought to remedy, what claims can be made, and the risks of combining with prescription medications.

-helps with kidney and lung ailments, insomnia, and depression, and to aid wound healing.

-can lessen the effectiveness of certain meds

Know the symptoms that peppermint is thought to remedy, what claims can be made, and the risks of combining with prescription medications.

-IBS and other digestive disorders, bad breath, ease headaches, treat colds, clean up throat

-can interact with medicines that decrease stomach acid

Explain whether natural herbal remedies are always safe and effective.

no

they are not well regulated

unregulated imports → containing heavy metals, undeclared drugs

Name the first herbal compound to be banned by the FDA and the reason why it was banned.

ephedra weight loss supplement

900 reports of possible ephedra toxicity with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, psychiatric symptoms, heart attacks, strokes, seizure, and death

Evaluate practices that could or do ensure the safe use of herbal remedies individually and in regulation. 

Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements: Set of requirements and expectations for manufacture, preparation, and storage to ensure consistency in quality

Know which U.S. agency regulates prescription medications, how approvals differ for dietary supplements and who is responsible for safety of supplements. 

FDA regulates prescriptions

dietary supplement manufacturers do NOT need approval from the FDA; cGMP

Describe the uses of these Native American plants: Goldenseal and Witch hazel. Know which parts are used for each.

goldenseal- antiseptic or antibiotic wash for treating wounds mouth sores, and eye inflammation. rhizomes can treat MRSA. hydrastine lowers blood pressure

witch hazel- twigs, bark, leaves used in infusion for relief from aches and pains. treatment for sunburn, skin irritations, acne, eczema, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and promotes wound healing.

Explain how the protection of tropical rain forests will affect access to medicinal resources, including knowledge

Tropical rainforests have undergone widespread destruction with losses thousands of species that have not yet been investigated. Loss of oral traditions and dissemination of knowledge for indigenous people

Describe the origin of aspirin, including the plants from which it is derived and their uses by ancient cultures

asprin comes from willow bark

used by ancient greeks and native americans for gout, rheumatism, fever, pain

Know the three properties of aspirin and the risks associated with its use.

risks—Reye’s Syndrome, GI distress/bleeding, Gender differences related to heart health

properties— Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (fever reduction), analgesic (pain relieving)

Describe how salicylic acid protects plants.

• Hormones that signals the plant to become more resistant to herbivores and pathogens – activates genes for:

  • Stronger cell wall at site of infection or wound

  • Synthesis of enzymes that attack pathogens 

  • Antimicrobial compounds

Describe how Aloe vera is used to treat a variety of symptoms

treats minor burns, wounds, and cuts, poison ivy, eczema, psoriasis, other rashes, skin and mouth ulcers, constipation, athlete’s foot. can be applied topically or ingested orally

Name the three types of psychoactive drugs and their overall effects on humans.

hallucinogens— Affect perception through production or mimicking or serotonin

stimulants— Stimulants activate the limbic system (pleasure, motivation, reinforcement); overtime can impair self-regulation processes; increase stress responses 

depressants— Calming, reduces mental awareness and physical performance, pain perception 

Describe the history of use of Papaver somniferum (opium poppy). Know examples discussed in class.

Used medicinally by ancient cultures (Egypt, Greece, Rome) for analgesic and sleep-inducing properties.

Used as a teething syrup for young children, cough remedy, cure for diarrhea, soothing medicines for neuralgia and rheumatism in the middle ages

1527 Laudanum (opium in alcohol) introduced as a painkiller and reached its peak in the 1800s 

In China, opium use increased in the 1600s as tobacco use was discouraged

Describe the conflicts and history over the opium trade in the 19th and 20th centuries.

1893— First Opium War

• British East India Company smuggled opium into China via Canton

• Opium shipments destroyed by Chinese government in 1839, Canton harbor

• Next decade, another opium war with Chinese losing concessions to British and US

• 1913 moral pressure → end to trade 

Know the first active chemical isolated from a plant and its main importance in medicine.

morphine

depresses pain perception in brain and reduces anxiety that accompanies pain.

today it is still used for post-op care, terminal cancer, kidney stones; sometimes in patients suffering from heart failure 

Name the variety of drugs derived from the opium poppy and benefits and risks of each.

morphine— depresses pain perception in brain and reduces anxiety that accompanies pain. highly addictive.

heroin— feelings of wellbeing and relief from pain. not used in the US for any medical purposes. 6 more times addictive than morphine.

codeine—  suppresses cough; ⅕ as strong as morphine. painkiller. addictive

Name the source of the active ingredient in Tylenol and related medications.

Acetaminophen is synthesized from molecules that are derived from coal tar 

Describe how lignin is being used and its potential as an alternative for acetaminophen

Useful for providing a starting molecule in the synthesis of biological compounds— Drug carriers i.e. capsules

Explain the importance of the Fertile Crescent in agriculture. Name the earliest domesticated crop from that region.

earliest agricultural sites located here

earliest crop was barley

Explain what forms of evidence are used to determine: (a) whether farming practices were in place during ancient times, (b) what types of foods were being eaten and cultivated, and (c) the types of methods used in growing or harvesting plants for food

a) archaeological, animal, and plant remains, soil analysis, written records & artifacts

b) cooking preparation tools, remains of food, written records. isotopic analysis can also show info on humans’ dietary patterns

c) archaeological remains, written record, soil analysis, botanical & animal remains

Name early cultivated foods from the Americas.

corn or maize, beans, squash, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes, yams, peanuts, wild rice, chocolate, pineapples, avocados, papayas, pecans, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, maple

Describe how domesticated plants differ from wild plants and what type of selection is responsible for these differences.

artificial selection

over the years, domesticated plants have been changed to fit the needs of humans.

example— for corn, early growers only replanted seeds of plants with bigger kernels and larger cobs.

Compare Brandt’s soil quality with the neighbor’s.

his neighbors soil was not “alive”

he did not see any reason to plant anything but corn and soybeans

Explain how farming practices such as monocultures, tilling and agrochemicals impact our water and soil resources.

monocultures: soil degradation, erosion, soil nutrient depletion

tilling: soil compaction, loss of soil organic matter, erosion risk

agrochemicals: water contamination, soil degradation, biodiversity loss

Name governmental organizations involved in food safety, agricultural production and invasive species and what role they play.

FDA— oversees the safety of domestic and imported foods, in part through: monitoring programs for pathogens, natural toxins, pesticides, and other contaminants.
USDA— agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues on public policy.
EPA— to protect human health and the environment.

Explain the labeling regulations for foods made from genetically engineered crops, identifying the reasoning behind current regulations and listing some of the pros and cons of labeling.

no labelling requirements federally, but some states have enacted them. FDA requires labelling if nutritional value is much different than normal crop.
Pros: health and religious concerns
Cons: negative connotation, cost

Describe organic agriculture and explain how it is regulated. List the types of products, derived from plants, which may be labeled as organic.

Organic agriculture products must meet these criteria:
- at least 70% of the product must be certified organic ingredients
- remaining products must exclude certain methods
- products categorized as organic must be specifically allowed on the National List
- labels must state the name of the certifying agent

Describe an invasive species and know whether they are regulated. 

Invasive species: species whose introduction into a habitat causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm; regulated