Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to ethnobotany and the study of medicinal plants and their applications.

Medicinal Plants

Plants used in herbalism for medicinal purposes.

Phytochemicals

Chemical compounds produced by plants for various functions, including defense and curative properties.

Herb

Derived from the Latin 'herba', it refers to any part of the plant such as fruit, seed, stem, bark, flower, leaf, stigma, or root.

Traditional Medicine

Systems of healing that have been practiced historically and continue to be widely used, especially in rural settings.

Aloe

A medicinal plant known for its healing properties, often used in skincare.

Turmeric

A spice derived from the Curcuma longa plant, used for its anti-inflammatory and curative properties.

Bioactive Compounds

Compounds that exhibit therapeutic, preventive, or immune-stimulating activities.

Primary Metabolites

Compounds essential to all biological systems, like proteins, fats, and sugars.

Secondary Metabolites

Compounds specific to species, developed through evolution; include terpenes, phenolic acids, alkaloids.

Quinine

A medicinal compound derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, historically used to treat malaria.

Artemisinin

A compound discovered by Tu Youyou, derived from the herb Qing-Hao, effective in treating malaria.

Efficacy

The ability to produce a desired or intended result, particularly referred to in medicinal contexts.

Documentation

The act of providing systematic records and information about medicinal plants and their uses.

Ethnobotany

The study of how different cultures use plants for medicinal and other purposes.

Bicyclol

A synthetic therapeutic agent for hepatitis, derived from traditional herbal medicine.