Medical Botany Final Exam

Cardiac glycosides bind to and inhibit which of the following?

-Acetylcholine (ACh)

- Na+/K+ ATPase

- ribosome

- BNA bases

- Na+/K+ ATPase

Which one continent or region is the place of origin of all of the following staple foods: millet, sorghum, teff, wheat and yam?

South America

North America

Australia

Africa

Africa

Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 main groups of secondary metabolites?

Carbonics

Nitrogen containing

Terpenoids

Phenolics

Carbonics

Vincristine is an alkaloid derived from the plant Catharanthus roseus (Rosy Periwinkle). It is used as treatment for which of the following diseases/conditions.

Malaria

Cardiac failure

Asthma

Leukemia

Leukemia

Plant knowledge was extensively known by which of the following groups of individuals during during the 19th century according the reading #3 (Medical Botany) ?

all choices are correct

medical students

pharmacists

botanists

by children living in the countryside

All of the above

What do yarrow, boneset, and wormwood have in common?

all are correct

they have floral characteristics of the Asteraceae

they were commonly recognized by country folk

they were often used medicinally

All are correct

"...but what is a good description today may be a very poor description five years from now, owing to the discovery of new material influencing the limitation of species."

Which of the statement/statements discussed below are consistent with the above passage?

no choice is correct

this could certainly be said today because of the use of biotechnology including DNA sequencing

this was certainly understood in 1897

both choices are correct

both choices are correct

An important skill for students described in the "Medical botany" (reading #3) from 1897 (that may have value even today!) is to observe, as well as to record one's observation both in writing and by means of sketches.

True

False

True

Based on Reading # 3 Medical Botany (1897), which of the following two statements are true or may be inferred?

1) The American Medical Association existed in the 19th century.

2) Mix-up between "tansy" and "pansy" illustrates one of the dangers of using common names.

Both statements are not true

Both statements are true

Only the first statement is true

Only the second statement is true

...

Major Indole acetic acid (IAA) pathways are all tryptophan-dependent.

True

False

False

in axenic conditions, the macroalga Ulva mutabilis (a eukaryote) develops into an undifferentiated callus with atypical cell wall formation, slow growth and absence of cell differentiation. Creating a tripartite community in the laboratory with Roseovarius and Maribacter species of bacteria (both prokaryotes) similar to what is found naturally in the aquatic environments leads to the restoration of the Ulva morphogenesis.

-The successful tripartite community includes only eukaryotic species

-The bacterial species utilize macroalgal-derived glycerol and/or other metabolites as a carbon source

-The bacterial species make thallusin and and/ or other morphogens that help the macroalga with its differentiation

-The macro alga, Ulva depends upon morphogens secreted from bacteria for its normal development

-The successful tripartite community includes both eukaryotic and prokaryotic species

-The successful tripartite commu

Some examples of bacterial mediators are:

-bacterial lipid based molecules

-two are correct

-quorum-sensing molecules

-phytohormones

-morphogens

-vitamins

-all are correct

How can traditional herbal knowledge be lost?

-Assimilations of a culture

-loss of language

-Pandemics

-loss of habitat for special plants

-Wars

-More than one of these

-Populations of humans migrate to new areas

-More than one of these

Nutritional supplement advertising

-NIH

-FTC

-FDA

FTC

The clinical trial processes

-NIH

-FTC

-FDA

NIH

The evaluation of food and drug safety

-NIH

-FTC

-FDA

FDA

Bishop's flower used to treat this skin condition

-vitiligo

-ginkgo

-wormwood

-iceman

-lind

vitiligo

Source of extract EGb761

-vitiligo

-ginkgo

-wormwood

-iceman

-lind

Ginkgo

Functions better than a placebo in certain treatments

-vitiligo

-ginkgo

-wormwood

-iceman

-lind

wormwood

A fungus is found and may be able to curtail some nematodes

-vitiligo

-ginkgo

-wormwood

-iceman

-lind

iceman

Scurvy

-vitiligo

-ginkgo

-wormwood

-iceman

-lind

Janet Lind

Certain types of riverbank clay may detoxify poison in the fruit of sandbox trees for a type of bird.

True

False

True

Its reputation rests on use and history for hundreds or thousands of years

traditional medicine

orthodox medicine

traditional

it rests on carefully controlled clinical trials

traditional medicine

orthodox medicine

orthodox

it involves placebo controlled studies

traditional medicine

orthodox medicine

orthodox

it involves double blind study where neither physician or patients know what they are receiving till the end of the study

traditional medicine

orthodox medicine

orthodox medicine

A widely used contemporary therapy for several skin disorders traces its origin to ancient use of bavachee and Bishop's flower.

True

False

true

Although Dong quai (Angelica sinensis, Family Apiaceae ) is well known in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating menopausal disorders, which of the following reasons best explain why it failed in clinical trials in the United States?

-the strains of Dong quai used in United states produce more of harmful secondary metabolites

-this is due to lack of the placebo effect due to lack of belief of the clinical trial participants

-in Traditional Chinese medicine, Dong quai is used in combination with several other herbs

-the strains of Dong quai used in United states produce less of useful secondary metabolites

-in Traditional Chinese medicine, Dong quai is used in combination with several other herbs

The author of Ape's perspective, Dr. Huffman, proposed (on page 84 of current ProCopy) that prehistoric humans and our hominin ancestors possessed self-medicative behavior. What best describes this statement?

this is a thesis statement (hypothesis) for introducing the paper

this is one of the three aims of the paper

this is an observation

none of these

As discussed in reading #7, plants may produce a variety of toxic secondary compounds such as sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, glucosides and saponins to reduce predation.

True

False

true

What was the significance of changing sleeping grove sites by primates?

contributes to access to new food sources

insures a dry place to rest

none of these

strategy for avoiding contact with nematodes

strategy for avoiding contact with nematodes

Trema orientalis (italics) belonging to the Cannabaceae family

-used for whole leafe swallowing by apes to rid of parasites

-animals go into a wild frenzy on consuming these plant parts due to stimulants

-used for bitter pith chewing by sick apes

-used for whole leafe swallowing by apes to rid of parasites

Tabernanthe iboga (italics) belonging to the Apocynaceae family

-used for whole leafe swallowing by apes to rid of parasites

-animals go into a wild frenzy on consuming these plant parts due to stimulants

-used for bitter pith chewing by sick apes

-animals go into a wild frenzy on consuming these plant parts due to stimulants

Vernonia amygdalina (italics) belonging to the Asteraceae family

-used for whole leafe swallowing by apes to rid of parasites

-animals go into a wild frenzy on consuming these plant parts due to stimulants

-used for bitter pith chewing by sick apes

-used for bitter pith chewing by sick apes

Hybrid diploid breeding is exciting to potato breeders due to:

All are correct

It may save time

May result in being able to plant with seeds

Makes it easier to combine traits in one variety

All are correct

Better varieties of potatoes can be created using a radical new way and this is very exciting to potato breeders. To achieve this success, what are various considerations that needed to be addressed?

potatoes have too many chromosomes

potatoes cannot self-fertilize

the world's gene banks are not well stocked with valuable genes

more than one is correct

Undesirable traits in plants can be removed using crosses.

True

False

True

Where do you expect to find wild potatoes adapted to extremes of weather?

transition zone where climate shifts from temperate to tropical in Brazil

in the elevated altitudes in Andes

none is correct

in the heart of tropical regions in Brazil

in the heart of temperate regions in Brazil

transition zone where climate shifts from temperate to tropical in Brazil

Why did the Irish potato famine occur due to Phytophtora infestans infection of potatoes? Pick the most plausible reason.

-Due to civil disobedience movement that the farmers initiated

-Due to the population explosion of farm animals that scattered the seeds far and wide

-Due to absence of genetic diversity since all the potatoes grown were clones due to propagation of the tuber eyes and they were not resistant to this pathogen

-Due to the susceptibility of the potato hybrids created by pollen transfer to infection by this pathogen

-Due to absence of genetic diversity since all the potatoes grown were clones due to propagation of the tuber eyes and they were not resistant to this pathogen

Which of the following are toxins produced by HABs (harmful algal blooms) and affect the liver?

(many choice, select two that apply)

Microcystins

Nodularins

Cycasin

BMAA

Essential nutrients for "encephalization" (brain development and growth) in modern humans became possible due to year around availability of which of the following nutrients and micronutrients: _______, ________, omega-three fatty acids, iron, zinc, copper, etc from sources such as sea foods?

(select two that apply)

Iodine

mercury

arsenic

DHA

Iodine and DHA

Evidence for the ancient use of plants was supported by:

The use of Carbon-14 dating

Finding starch granules on very old grinding stones

Identifying microscopic granules of plant pieces from calculus of human teeth found in very old graves and caves

Finding plant genetic material in the various microfossils on ancient utensils

Finding plant material in coprolites or fossilized feces

All of these

All of these

Underlying basis of the ability of cyanobacteria to float in ponds or lakes:

Is the formation of intracellular gas vesicles

The synthesis of extracellular material containing sulfated polysaccharides that traps gas bubbles and enables the mats of cyanobacteria to float

The production of CO2 and H2

all of these

The production of O2 from photosynthesis

none of these

Which of the following are genera in the cyanobacteria?

(many choice, select all that apply)

Cylindrospermopsis

Nodularia

Nostoc

Microcystis

Arthrospira

Lyngbya

Karenia

All but karenia

Which of the following strategies might be useful in preventing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms?

-Maintain sewage systems so that the fecal contaminated water is not released to the outside

-all are correct

-Finding solutions to climate change associated with global warming and increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere

-Use fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus cautiously and within recommended amounts only and not in excess (i.e. avoid unnecessary eutrophication)

-Maintain buffer of vegetation around water bodies to filter runoff waters that might be rich in nutrients

All of these

Analysis of the dental plaques of Neanderthals who lived more than 24,000 years ago suggested that they routinely consumed medicinal plants like yarrow and chamomile. Which family or families do these plants belong to?

none of the choices is correct

both belong to the Asteraceae

both belong to Theaceae

one belongs to the Asteraceae and the other to Theaceae

one belongs to the Rubiaceae and the other belongs to Asteraceae

both belong to the Asteraceae

A 2020 study published in the British Medical Journal was able to find that after 1 year of being on a "Mediterranean diet" elderly participants microbiomes were altered such that there was an increase in short/branch chained fatty acids and a decrease of secondary bile acids, p-cresols, ethanol and carbon dioxide thereby conferring a health benefit. Markers of inflammation and frailty were reduced as well after the introduction of the Mediterranean diet in the elderly.

Overall the above passage is:

True

False

true

Poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum) belongs to the same family as:

none is correct

Daucus carota

Allium cepa

Solanum tuberosum

Cucurbita pepo

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

The child and his father presumptively ate 'wild carrot tops'

the primary symptom of a poisoning was that the child became hyperactive

The little boy had his stomach pumped

the toxins involved were piperidine alkaloids

the primary symptom of a poisoning was that the child became hyperactive

Select the answer that correctly fills in all of the missing words in the blank areas of the following statement

_______ is a tropane alkaloid, which is a ________ of _______ ____________ receptors and which can lead to a ______ in the average number of heart beats.

Atropine, agonist, muscarinic acetylcholine, decreasing

Atropine, antagonist, muscarinic acetylcholine, increasing

Atropine, agonist, nicotinic acetylcholine, decreasing

Atropine, antagonist, nicotinic acetylcholine, increasing

Atropine, antagonist, muscarinic acetylcholine, increasing

Solanum glycoalkaloids interact with mitochondrial membranes, opening the ______ channels of mitochondria, leading to its depolarization, that causes ______ to be transported to ______, and that triggers apoptosis.

potassium, calcium, cytoplasm

calcium, potassium, mitochondria

potassium, calcium, mitochondria

calcium, potassium, cytoplasm

potassium, calcium, cytoplasm

Galantamine is an FDA approved medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It was derived from plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. Plants in this family are also known to produce what toxic alkaloid?

Atropine

Lycorine

Mycotoxins

Alflatoxin B

Lycorine

Dieffenbachia plant contains ______________, whose evolutionary benefits are to _____________ herbivores and is a member of the ____________ family.

Raphide oxalates, attract, Euphorbiaceae

Spines, repel, Cactaceae

Stinging Hairs, repel, Araceae

Stinging Hairs, repel, Brassicaceae

Raphide oxalates, repel, Araceae

Raphide oxalates, repel, Araceae

There is no specific antidote for coniine poisoning and only general measures such as gastric lavage and supportive care can be provided.

True

False

True

Cucurbitacin A is a steroid based secondary metabolite and toxin that acts as which of the following?

Antifungal

Antifeedant

DNA disruptor

Protein disruptor

Antifeedant

The amount of glycoalkaloids in potatoes increases with exposure to light and injury of the plant.

True

False

true

Coniine and Coniceine are antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

True

False

True

Piperidine alkaloids were implicated in induction of cleft palate in goats in a journal publication described in the hemlock poisoning reading.

True

False

True

Which plant is likely to benefit greatest from cooking methods that discard the water for eliminating soluble oxalates?

Solanum tuberosum

Rheum rhubarbum

Allium cepa

Vitis vinifera

Rheum rhubarbum

What plant family produces stinging hairs containing acetylcholine, histamine, and serotonin?

Ranunculaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Urticaceae

Cactaceae

None of the Above

Urticaceae

Why was the plant submitted to the Itermountain Herbarium for taxonomic identification?

There may be other examples of the same species in the collection to used for comparison

This is a place like an arboretum

This is an inappropriate site to validate a plant identification

none of the choices

There may be other examples of the same species in the collection to used for comparison

What plant has been associated with episodic events of Cyclopia in sheep, goats and cattle?

Corydalis caseana

Verbena occidentalis

Vaccinium arboreum

Veratrum californicum

Allium validium

Veratrum californicum

What distinguished genetic from environmental factors as cause of Cyclopic lambs?

-malformations appeared in the first few weeks of the lambing season

-none of the statements support the conclusions

-typically affected herd grazed at 6000-10000 ft elevations post breeding in alpine meadows

-two or more statements help in distinguishing the two possibilities

-potential carrier ewes when bred with normal looking rams from such ewes with 50% chance of being a carrier, were bred (avoiding inbreeding), gave birth only to normal lambs.

-two or more statements help in distinguishing the two possibilities

Which one of the following secondary metabolites, is not derived from the plant Veratrum californicum but instead derived from a fungus?

cyclosporine

all four are derived from Veratrum californicum

cyclopamine

jervine

cycloposine

cyclosporine

The phenotype of cyclopic lambs reminded scientists studying the loss of function mutants of the _________________ signaling pathway which showed craniofacial abnormalities including cyclopia that they may both be caused due to a similar molecular mechanism. The phenocopy of teratogenic action of Veratrum californicum alkaloids with the above genetic mutant phenotype eventually led scientists to pinpoint the role of cyclopamine albeit with integration of multiple fields.

Sonic hedgehog

Wnt

Notch

TGFb

Sonic hedgehog

PTC protein is a negative regulator of the SMO protein. Loss of PTC protein leads to overactivation of SMO that leads to excess Hedgehog signaling responsible for many cancers. Cyclopamine inhibits SMO protein and has been shown to be useful in some pre-clinical cancer models, however it is not been useful for clinical purposes on its own due to various reasons. Therefore scientists have developed other SMO ______________ to derive clinically useful compounds to target such cancers.

Antagonists

Agonists

Hormones

Receptors

Ontogeny and Oncogenesis are intimately related, since signaling pathways that regulate normal development, are often misregulated in cancers.

True

False

True

It took both genetic and chemical approaches to establish Smoothened protein (component of the Hedgehog pathway) as the direct target of Cyclopamine action.

True

False

true

The polysaccharide known as acemannan, produced by Aloe vera decreases the activity of both cytokines and nitric oxide, thereby activating the immune response.

True

False

False

Daucus carota common name

carrot

Heracleum mantegazzianum common name

giant hogweed

Angelica sinensis common name

dong quai

Nicotiana tabacum common name

tobacco

Veratrum californicum common name

poison hemlock

Treating anaphylactic shock with adrenaline can save lives because it dilates bronchioles and enhances heart output.

True

False

true

beta-glucans orgamism

ganoderma

acemannan organism

aloe

angelan organism

angelica

cichoric acid organism

echinaceae

Both nitric oxide and phenylpropanoids are generated from phenylalanine as the starting amino acid.

True

False

false

A mother in the sixth month of pregnancy wants to consume products from a garden to maintain health. Which of the following products can have bad effects on the fetus?

Cucumis melo

Pisum sativum

Cannabis sativa

Cucumis sativus

Cannabis sativa

Wasabi was mentioned in the reading. What is the plant family previously discussed in class?

Apocynaceae

Rutaceae

Salicaceae

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

The various stimuli that activate the TRPV1 receptor are:

(many choice, select all that apply)

purines

heat

capsaicin

nicotine

scorpion venom

wasabi

inflammatory chemicals

Where are the TRPV1 receptors mainly located?

digestive system

none of these

peripheral nervous system

skeletal system

peripheral nervous system

What inspired Dr. Julius's interest in pain?

curiosity of the function of neurotransmitters

all are correct

supermarket visit

use of peyote

folk medicine and use of natural products

all

Hansen's disease patients and some individuals with complications from diabetes lack the ability to perceive pain.

True

False

ture

Capsaicin is a/an _________ that binds to the TRPV1 receptor.

gene

agonist

protein

antagonist

none is correct

You feel the hot chili pepper on your lips when the primary afferent sensory neuron and nociceptors send a signal to a second neuron in the spinal cord eventually gets taken to the brain centers where you sense something noxious and painful. This particular receptor also responds to __________ and ______________ agents.

(choose the best answer)

heat, inflammatory

menthol, mutagenic

methanol, cardiotonic

cold, excretory

none is correct

heat, inflammatory

Digoxin has been used as drug for systolic failure because: (choose specific)

Are effective anti-emetics

cause rapid, irregular heartbeat

cause cardiac arrest

increase cardiac output

increase cardiac output

In the 'Unearthed' podcast Lakhvinder Cheema was murdered on 27 January 2009 in Southall, West London, by his former lover, Lakhvir Kaur Singh through the use of poison derived from the __________ plant, which contains the highly toxic alkaloid ___________.

Digitalis, digoxin

Taxus, taxine

Triticum, prolamin

Veratrum, cyclopamine

Aconitum, pseudoaconitine

Which of the following plant families produces the secondary metabolite digoxin, a compound that is used to treat systolic heart failure?

Poaceae

Solanaceae

Apocynaceae

Ranunculaceae

Plantaginaceae

Plantaginaceae

Which of the following are used in traditional Chinese medicine?

(many choice, select two that apply)

Nerium oleander

Spirea japonica

Taxus baccata

Cicuta maculata

Angelica sinensis

Spirea japonica, Angelica sinensis

Strophanthus kombe produces the toxin ouabain, its extracts known as kombe has famously been used as an arrow poison to kill which of the following animals?

Dinosaurs

Flying foxes

Wolves

Foxes

Elephants

elephants

Docetaxel is a semi-synthetic version of the toxin paclitaxel and is used as a cancer treatment. Which of the following is its correct mechanism of action?

Binds tubulin, preventing its breakdown

Binds surface receptors and triggers apoptosis

None of the above

Binds DNA and prevents replication

Binds tubulin, preventing its breakdown

You made a fire and threw in the plants that sprouted on the path near your country house. As soon as the fire flared up, you recognized one of the plants as Nerium oleander. Should you be concerned and what could you do?

-No, there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about

-Yes, and you should extinguish the fire but after roasting marshmallows since the fumes are non-toxic

-No, and you should add more Nerium oleander because it is used in Traditional medicine and can help improve overall health

-Yes, and you should immediately extinguish the fire only if safely possible or seek immediate help to do so

-Yes, and you should immediately extinguish the fire only if safely possible or seek immediate help to do so