5A disease - medicine in nature and pharmaceutical TNC's

Including medicinal plant casestudy, pharmaceutical TNC, and top-down/bottom up strategiespa

Rosy Periwinkles growth conditions

A warm tropical climate for growth without frost, where soils are well drained (yet retain moisture) and are slightly acidic.

RP contains 70 alkaloids. 2 key ones:

• Vincristine

• Vinblastine

Uses for vincristine

Chemotherapy, childhood leukimia. When used, increased survival rates from 10% (1970) to 90%

Uses for vinblastine

Treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Where is RP harvested

India, central Asia and Madagascar

Why is RP so neccesary

Scientists cannot recreate the alkaloids artificially

What is biopiracy

The unethical exploitation of biological resources without providing fair compensation to communities they are from

Who are Eli Lilly

A US pharmaceutical corporation.

How much money does Eli Lilly earn from vincristine and vinblastine

between $90 million and $400 million

Issues with Eli Lilly’s mass harvesting in Madagascar

It derives LIDC’s from valuable international trade, potential exports and value added to their country. It also deprives them from their own natural resources

What % of the world are reliant on natural medicines

80% ( ≈ 5 billion)

What are the conservation issues related to medicinal plants

• Supply and demand

• Survival of wild plant species

How does supply and demand impact plants

Medicinal plants sourced from wild populations (uncultivated; naturally occuring). Mass harvests by pharmaceuticals + trade, high demand from natives put species under pressure.

How does the survival of wild medicinal plants cause conservation issues

• TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) - unsustainable sources of plants

• Overharvesting/mass harvesting is wiping many species out.

• 14 species are endangered, 4000 threatened

What is Prunus Africana

African Cherry Bark. Medicinal plant that can support prostate health and reduce risks of prostate cancer

How much revenue does Prunus Africana bring in annually

$220 million

How does biopiracy and climate change impact prunus africana

It and other plants have to be imported as their climates cannot sustain its growth. It used to cost 5000 rand for locals to buy; now is costing $3000 USD for the same bark

Where is Prunus Africana harvested

Southern africa

How many medicinal plants are est. to be wiped out due to climate change

2/5

Which species is climate change affecting more

Slower growing/more particular or rare plants that cannot thrive in multiple climates.

Who are GlaxoSmithKline

Pharmaceutical TNC

What questionable humanitarian descision have GSK made RE. vaccine production

Gave up development on ebola vaccines as ‘dwindling numbers of cases’ - even though theres an ongoing breakout in DRC

GSK and China incident

GSK fined $489 million by Chinese courts for bribing hospitals/doctors to use their products (2014).

Example of GSK mismarketing drugs for profit

Lamictal - marketed as a bipolar drug (unnaproved). 1 patient near death & patients paid $9,000 hush money

GSK issues in USA

FDA lawsuit in 2012 - the biggest medical lawsuit in history due to mass distributing an unnaproved diabetes drug (fined £1.9 billion)

Medicines in nature - 3 examples:

• Quinine

• Morphine

• Caffeine

Quinine info:

• found in dry barks of Cinchona tree

• Warm humid climates

• Need well drained soils w/ fertile organic matter

USED: Malaria. Kills parasites in red blood cells

Morphine info:

• Made from dried latex from poppy seads

• Very warm climate, humus rich soils w/ neutral pH

USED FOR: Pain relief following medical procedures

• Human rights violations in its harvest as children are forced to harvest

Caffiene info:

• Tropical climate w/ high temperatures & heavy rainfal. Well drained soils w/ organic matter

• Found in coffee beans/seeds/leaves of various plants

USED FOR: stimulant - heart, muscles. Also treats migranes and is in epidurals

What is a grassroots strategy

A bottom-up, community led initiative that relies on the work of people to make it work.