Final Exam Study Guide - Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants | HORT 3440, Study notes of Gardening and Horticulture

Download Final Exam Study Guide - Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants | HORT 3440 and more Study notes Gardening and Horticulture in PDF only on Docsity! HERBS, SPICES, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS HORT/PBIO/ANTH 3440, FALL 2009 REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR FINAL EXAM 1. Modern western medicines are usually composed of one highly refined and concentrated "active principle." How does this differ from the typical prescription in traditional Chinese medicine? Chinese medicine (fufang) is typically a mixture of around 50 herb species. 2. Traditional Chinese medicine and conventional Western medicine are based on very different “belief systems”. Give two examples of ways in which traditional Chinese physicians interpret the nature of disease and workings of the human body differently than Western physicians. They look for balance – homeostasis. They look at the flow of energy & their thought is symmetrical. Yin = solid, Yang = hollow. Interested in the function of the organ, rather than how it looks. Meridian system 3. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, what percentage of people in developing countries relies on herbal medicines for their health care? 80% Approximately how many medicinal plants are traded internationally? 2,500 species How many are in cultivation? Probably no more than a few hundred are in formal cultivation for commercial purposes. 4. What part of the bloodroot plant is harvested for medicinal use? Root, sap used as emetic and to treat respiratory problems, warts, and varieties of cancer What is the name of the commercially important alkaloid found in the plant? Sanguinarine What is a “cline”, and what type of cline did researchers discover when they sampled bloodroot populations throughout the range of the species in the eastern United States? cline = discernible graded pattern. Don't know what type of cline. All I know is that the map indicates as you move South, greater % of sanguinarine. 5. We watched a video (“Sastun”) in class about a woman from Chicago who moved to Belize to study Mayan medicine. Why was her Mayan mentor, the elderly herbalist, initially unwilling to be her teacher? Don Elijio was concerned that she was too “white” and had been tainted too much by American culture. She was also going to return back to America after her study in Belize 6. Bringing medicinal plant species into cultivation so that they no longer need to be collected from the wild seems like the obvious solution to protecting wild populations. What are the benefits of doing this? More reliable supply, more consistent quality, opportunities for selection and breeding, less pressure on wild populations, economic opportunities Why is this not always a practical solution? May not be cost-competitive with wild harvest or technically feasible; requires greater financial investment; danger of boom and bust markets; human population may lose interest in conserving wild populations; may remove a source of - Page 1 - cash for local harvesters 7. Many plant species, not just medicinal plants, are becoming rare or endangered. What are the factors that are reducing plant biodiversity worldwide? Habitat destruction, invasive species, exotic diseases, pollution, absence of natural disturbances (e.g. fire), over-exploitation 8. Silphium is a medicinal plant that was driven to extinction by over-collection. What was it used for? What plant family did it belong to? Potions made from silphium were supposedly among the most effective birth-control methods known at the time. The family Asteraceae known as the aster, daisy, or sunflower 9. What are the four general strategies for medicinal plant conservation that Dr. Affolter discussed? Give an example of each strategy. 1. Establishment of protected areas, including extractive reserves (Use or lose it: Area where local people can extract small products on a small scale) 2. Regulation of collection for sustainability 3) Reintroduction- propagating a plant off-site and then returning them to the wild ex: Echinacea project 4) Domestication ex: domesticating bloodroot in GA What are the regulations that govern ginseng collection in Georgia? 1. From wild, Aug. 15 – Dec. 31, 2. 3 prongs or greater 3. Must scatter seeds on site 10. Define the following terms, names, or phrases: Extractive reserve- “use or lose it” area where local people can extract small products on a small scale Tommie Bass- Appalachian herbalist Ethnobotany- scientific study of the relationships between cultures and plants Plant reintroductions (for conservation)- propagating a plant off-site and then returning them to the wild ex Moxibustion- tightly rolled cigar-shaped rod made of mugwort (genus Artemesia) leaves, smoldering end held on or over acupuncture points Tonic- a substance with a nourishing or restorative effect on the body, a “revitalizer,” promote longevity, convalescence, and a general sense of well being Adaptogens- helps the body respond to physical and emotional stress, a performance enhancer 11. Which of the following hallucinogenic plants are native to the New World and which are native to the Old World: Peyote- New World - Page 2 - Personalistic (nonvisible) reality is where illness requires intervention by healers with supernatural powers. What are some examples of personalistic illnesses? Fright, evil eye, God-given illness, spirit or soul problems 2. What were the two main goals of the Maya ICBG research project that was based at UGA? To determine the efficacy of the most important plants employed in Maya herbal medicine and to develop an alternative income generation opportunities for highland Maya communities 3. What familiar alkaloid does Yerba Mate contain that makes it a popular stimulant beverage? caffeine 4. What cactus species has been used in Central America for thousands of years as both food and medicine, including diabetes treatment? Prickly Pear Answer the following questions based on the lecture by Dr. Gooding, the medical school professor from Emory University (Nov. 12): • What are the top five causes of death in the United States, and the approximate death rates associated with each one? - 652,000 heart disease; 559,000 Cancer; 144,000 Stroke; 131,000 Pulmonary; 106,000 Adverse drug reactions • Why do the public & the medical profession tolerate the high # of deaths that result from adverse drug reactions? - Because the benefits outweigh the hazards • Did the clinical trial on eczema in children indicate that the traditional Chinese medicine was an effective cure for this problem? How did the short-term results differ from the results after one year? - No. 37/37 children offered continued treatment elected to continue. After yr, 18 90% reduction, 5 lesser improvement, 14 withdrew, 2 elevated eczema. • What potential hazards associated with Asian patent medicines were revealed by the study of meds collected from retail herb shops in California? How can an independent testing company like ConsumerLab.com help the public avoid unsafe herbal products? - 7% contained undeclared pharmaceuticals & ~ 30% contained significant levels of lead, mercury, & arsenic. - test them and post the reports of what is actually in meds and whether or not they’re safe Answer the following questions based on the Organic Agriculture lecture by Amanda Hershberger and Michael Martin (Nov. 18):  Who is generally considered to be the father of the Green Revolution? Dr. Norman Borlaug  Did he believe that organic agriculture was capable of feeding the world’s expanding population? No, he believed it could feed at most 4 billion people only after expanding cropland and destroying ecosystems.  What synthetic fertilizer played an important early role (mid-1800s) in the wide-spread adoption of what is now known as “conventional” farming? Superphosphates  What are some of the advantages of using synthetic fertilizers? Cheap, potent, easy to - Page 5 - bulk transport, greatly increases yield  Does organic production completely ban the use of conventional fertilizers and pesticides? No, organic ag still uses fertilizers, pesticides, etc. but it is about 1/3 the amount that conventional ag uses.  What are the three levels of organic labeling on agriculture products marketed in the United States? Products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled “100% organic” Products with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the word "organic“ Those containing at least 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled “made with organic ingredients”  Summarize the arguments for and against the organic movement. For: Organic farming does not consume or release synthetic pesticides into the environment; better than conventional farming at sustaining diverse ecosystems; use less energy and produce less waste. Removes issues of negative health side effects of pesticides on farmers and organic products have 1/3 the pesticide residue as conventionally grown goods. Against: Organic farms require more land to produce the same amt. of goods as conventional farms. Organic farming increases the use of fossil fuels and cost 10-40% more than conventionally grown goods. - Page 6 - Herb Cabinet plants that we have covered in the final third of the class: In addition to the material highlighted in the Herb Cabinet lectures, you should be familiar with the following information for each species on the Herb Cabinet list: (1) the part of the plant used medicinally, (2) the main therapeutic uses, and (3) whether the species is native to North America Plant Part Used Main Therapeutic Uses Native to North America Arnica Whole Plant, Flower Sprains, bruises, sports injuries, reduces swelling, antibacterial (poisonous, do not take internally) No Ashwaganda Leaves, roots, & berries Counters effects of long-term stress, strengthens male libido and sexual function No Bearberry Leaf Mild urinary tract infections, antiseptic and astringent Yes Ginseng Root Fatigue, tonic, athletic performance Yes Black Cohosh Root Snake bite, colds, menopause, PMS Yes Cat’s Claw Bark from root & stem Intestinal disorders, arthritis, wounds, cancer, anti HIV, anti-inflammatory No Chasteberry Fruit Dampen sexual urges (discredited), reduces symptoms of PMS No Cranberry Fruit Prevent and treat UTIs Yes Feverfew Leaf Migraines, fever, arthritis, PMS No Ginkgo Leaf Improves circulation, memory, cognitive function No Gotu Kola Whole plant Improves memory, reduces stress, wound healing, cellulite No Hawthorn Fruit, leaf, & flower Angina, high blood pressure, improving heart function, antioxidant Yes Milk Thistle Seeds Active ingredient silymarin prompts new, healthy liver cells No Saw Palmetto Fruit Treats benign enlargement of the prostate gland Yes Siberian Ginseng Root Fatigue, stress, increasing stamina, tonic, memory No Witch Hazel Leaf & bark Hemorrhoids, sunburn, bruises, and varicose veins, tannins have astringent effect Yes - Page 7 -