6. Plants: The Foundation Stones of Civilization
Plants provide us with shelter, clothing, medicine and food, among many other things. Yet, how often do we consider how we interact with the plant world and how we successfully exploit plants to provide the basic requirements and luxuries of life? A visit to your local botanical garden can prove of great interest, enhancing your understanding of the plant world.
The following are some examples of the importance of plant life to maintaining human health.
Heart Disease
Digitalis purpurea is a plant that helps the heart. It was first used in the 18th century by the Hutton family as part of a cocktail of different plant species giving relief from heart pains. William Withering later identified the foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) as a source of active ingredient, digitalin. Today digitalin is at the center of a major drug industry.
Contraception
Over 4,000 different plant species have been found to contain
human anti-fertility compounds used for contraception. One of the most widely used forms of contraception was first derived from plants. The hormone diosgenin was first discovered in the yam (Dioscorea tokoro).
Condoms are made from a base of natural rubber, extracted from trees of Hevea brasiliensis. After production the surface of the condom is coated with maize and potato starch to counter the oily feel of the rubber.
A Cancer Cure
The bark and leaves of the Yew Trees (Taxus sp.) contain
compounds known as taxols, which are being trialed as a
treatment for breast and ovarian cancer.
(Source: Silverglen Education Center)
