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  • Catharanthus roseus (L.)G.Don Apocynaceae. Madagascar Periwinkle Distribution: Madagascar. It is the source of vincristine and vinblastine, which impair cell multiplication by interfering with microtubule assembly, causing metaphase arrest and are effective medications for leukaemias, lymphomas and some solid tumours. The mortality from childhood leukaemia fell from 100% to 30% once it was introduced - not a drug that could ethically be tested by double-blind trials. These chemicals were initially discovered by investigators in 1958 who were looking for cures for diabetes so tested this plant which was being used in the West Indies to reduce blood sugar levels. There are 70 different alkaloids present in this plant, and some - catharanthine, leurosine sulphate, lochnerine, tetrahydroalstonine, vindoline and vindolinine - lower blood sugar levels. However, the toxicity of this plant is such that this is not a plant to try at home for diabetic management. The vincristine content of the plant is 0.0003%, so two kilograms of leaf are required to produce sufficient vincristine for a single course of treatment for a child (6gm). Fortunately it is a vigorous weed and easy to grow in the tropics. Artificial synthesis has now been achieved. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Zantedeschia aethiopica (L)Spreng. Calla lily, Arum lily. Half hardy annual. Distribution: South Africa. The genus name commemorates Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773-1846) an Italian physician and botanist. Born in Molina he studied medicine in Verona and Padua. He corresponded with the German botanist, Kurt Sprengel, who named the genus Zantedeschia in his honour in 1826, separating it from Calla, where, as C. aethiopica, it had been previously described by Linnaeus. He had broad interests, including the effect of different parts of the spectrum of light on plant growth, reporting in 1843, that red, orange and yellow light are heliotropically inactive. The botanic museum in Molina is dedicated to his memory. Aethiopica, merely means 'African'. The leaves are used as a warm poultice for headaches in ‘muthi’ medicine. It has become an invasive weed in parts of Australia. It was introduced, as a greenhouse plant, to Europe in the mid-17th century, where the long lasting flowers are popular in flower arranging and for weddings and funerals – a curious combination (Oakeley, 2012). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Senna corymbosa (Lam.)H.S.Irwin&Barneby Caesalpinaceae. Argentine Senna. Distribution: Argentine (other species from Europe). This beautiful shrub that flowers from midsummer until the frosts of winter, is the source of one of the best known of all herbal medicines – Senokot (and senna pods and senna tea), introduced to European medicine (as Senna alexandrina from Egypt) by the Arabians. Every part of the plant contains anthraquinones which, if taken internally, act as a powerful laxative to treat constipation by stimulating the nerve cells of the large bowel. Gerard (1633) notes ‘it is a singular purging medicine’ with over a page on its uses. When used regularly the nerves to the large bowel may be destroyed, leaving a permanently dilated large bowel that never functions properly again. This is a plant which causes the condition it treats to become permanent. Additionally, with prolonged use, the lining of the bowel turns black, serum potassium levels may fall, resulting in cardiac irregularities and sometimes death. Coma, neuropathy and hepatitis have also been reported. It is advertised on television (the actor involved is seen to be depressed and bloated until she takes Senokot, after which she is happy - Hippocrates would have attributed this antidepressant effect to the plant's ability to purge her of the black melancholic humour present in her bowel motions). It is available without prescription or health warning against long-term use. What do you think? Lyte (1578) recommends it strongly for depression, but one might claim to be cured rather than take it again. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Senna corymbosa (Lam.)H.S.Irwin&Barneby Caesalpinaceae. Argentine Senna. Distribution: Argentine (other species from Europe). This beautiful shrub that flowers from midsummer until the frosts of winter, is the source of one of the best known of all herbal medicines – Senokot (and senna pods and senna tea), introduced to European medicine (as Senna alexandrina from Egypt) by the Arabians. Every part of the plant contains anthraquinones which, if taken internally, act as a powerful laxative to treat constipation by stimulating the nerve cells of the large bowel. Gerard (1633) notes ‘it is a singular purging medicine’ with over a page on its uses. When used regularly the nerves to the large bowel may be destroyed, leaving a permanently dilated large bowel that never functions properly again. This is a plant which causes the condition it treats to become permanent. Additionally, with prolonged use, the lining of the bowel turns black, serum potassium levels may fall, resulting in cardiac irregularities and sometimes death. Coma, neuropathy and hepatitis have also been reported. It is advertised on television (the actor involved is seen to be depressed and bloated until she takes Senokot, after which she is happy - Hippocrates would have attributed this antidepressant effect to the plant's ability to purge her of the black melancholic humour present in her bowel motions). It is available without prescription or health warning against long-term use. What do you think? Lyte (1578) recommends it strongly for depression, but one might claim to be cured rather than take it again. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Colchicum autumnale L., Colchicaceae. Autumn crocus, meadow saffron, naked ladies. Distribution: Europe. Extremely toxic, containing colchicine which is effective in small doses in treating gout. It inhibits mitosis so is of interest in cancer treatment. It is used to treat Familial Mediterranean fever. It induces polyploidy in plant protocorms for the production of tetraploid forms which have bigger flowers and seeds. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Camellia sasanqua Thunb. Theaceae. Christmas camellia. Camellia commemorates Georg Josef Kamel (1661-1706), Jesuit pharmacist from Moravia (Czech Republic) who worked in the Philippines and sent plants to John Ray in England (Oakeley, 2012) Evergreen shrub. Distribution: Japan and China. Leaves are used in Japan to make tea (normally made from C. sinensis) and the seeds to make the edible tea seed oil. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Prostanthera ovalifolia R.Br. Lamiaceae Alpine anise bush, Oval leaf Mintbush, Purple mintbush. Woody shrub. Distribution: Australia. Minty flavoured leaves used in jams and jellies. Various essential oils are produced from commercially grown P. ovalifolia (cis-dihydroagarofuran, kessane, 1,8-cineole which is also known as eucalyptol, p-cymene,) and P. cuneata also contains eucalyptol. Concentrations of essential oils in the plants vary according to the clonal variety, growing conditions and time of year. Aboriginal peoples used Prostanthera leaves in medicinal ointments and washes, but one species, P. striatiflora, was used to poison waterholes to kill visiting emu (Hegarty, 2001). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Fuchsia magellanica Lam. Onagraceae. Hardy fuchsia. Semi-hardy shrub. Distribution: Mountainous regions of Chile and Argentina where they are called 'Chilco' by the indigenous people, the Mapuche. The genus was discovered by Charles Plumier in Hispaniola in 1696/7, and named by him for Leonhart Fuchs (1501-1566), German Professor of Medicine, whose illustrated herbal, De Historia Stirpium (1542) attempted the identification of the plants in the Classical herbals. It also contained the first accounts of maize, Zea mays, and chilli peppers, Capsicum annuum, then recently introduced from Latin America. He was also the first person to publish an account and woodcuts of foxgloves, Digitalis purpurea and D. lutea. The book contains 500 descriptions and woodcuts of medicinal plants, arranged in alphabetical order, and relied heavily on the De Materia Medica (c. AD 70) of Dioscorides. He was a powerful influence on the herbals of Dodoens, and thence to Gerard, L’Escluse and Henry Lyte. A small quarto edition appeared in 1551, and a two volume facsimile of the 1542 edition with commentary and selected translations from the Latin was published by Stanford Press in 1999. The original woodcuts were passed from printer to printer and continued in use for 232 years (Schinz, 1774). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Reseda lutea L. Resedaceae Wild Mignonette. Dyers Rocket. Herbaceous plant. Distribution: Eurasia and North Africa. This plant, and in particular R. luteola, is the source of 'weld' a yellow dye from luteolin a flavonoid in the sap. It is said to have been used since the first millennium BC, but curiously Dioscorides, Lyte, Gerard, Lobel, Fuchs, Coles, Quincy, Linnaeus (1782) either do not mention it or make it synonymous with Eruca, Rocket, and make no reference to it as a dye source. The name Resedo means 'I sit up' in Latin, which Stearn (1994) interprets as 'I heal' which makes its absence even more strange. It is noted as the dye source by Bentley (1861). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Danae racemosa (L.) Moench Asparagaceae. Alexandrian or Poet's laurel. Distribution: Turkey to Iran. A monotypic genus with supreme adaptation to dry conditions, bearing its flowers and fruits on phylloclades, leaf like expanded stems. The phylloclades are too thick for sunlight to pass through so have chlorophyll containing cells on both sides (the cells in the middle do not) and stomata on both sides to facilitate CO2 diffusion into the plant. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Joyfull newes out of the new-found worlde. Wherein are declared, the rare and singuler vertues of divers herbs, trees, plantes, oyles and stones, with their applications, as well to the use of phisicke, as of chirurgery ... Also the portrature of the said hearbs / ... Englished by John Frampton ... Newley corrected ... Whereunto are added three other bookes treating of the bezaar stone, the herb escuerconera, the properties of iron and steele, in medicine, and the benefit of snow.
  • Acinos alpinus (L.) Moench. Lamiaceae. Rock thyme. Small herbaceous perennial. Distribution: C. and S. Europe. This is Mountain wild Basill, Clinopodium alpinum, of Parkinson (1640), the Teucrium Alpinum and Clinopodium Alpinum hirsutum of Bauhin. Then as now, when it has the synonyms Thymus alpinus, Satureja alpina and Calamintha alpina, its nomenclature has been confused. It is unlikely to be the Acinos or Clinopodium of Theophrastus or Disocorides. Dioscorides gives opposing medicinal uses to the plants he knows by these two names, and Parkinson (1640) makes no judgement as to its uses. Reportedly drunk as a tea in Greece, but evidence for it being used historically for fevers is lacking. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Silphium perfoliatum L. Asteraceae Indian Cup. Distribution: North America. Austin (2004) records that another species, S. compositum, was used by Native Americans to produce a chewing gum from the dried sap of the roots, and Native American medicinal uses for 'Indian Cup' are probably referrable to S. compositum and not S. perfoliatum. Silphium perfoliatum contains enzymes that inhibit trypsin and chymotrypsin which gives it resistance to fungal, bacterial and insect attacks. Male gall wasps (Antisotrophus rufus) alter the chemistry of the plant to enable them to locate females, making it a 'signpost' plant. The gall wasp lays its eggs in the stem of Silphium laciniatum, to provide food for the larva on emergence, and the galls containing a male or a female wasp will cause the plant to give off a different chemical odour. Emerging male wasps can search for female wasps, which emerge later, by locating this chemical fragrance which acts as a sex pheromone proxy (Tooker et al Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Nov 26
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation, directing the way to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines. Also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets ... relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural, or such which come from sorcery or witchcraft ... directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed with sundry examples thereof / [Joseph Blagrave].
  • Ornithogalum umbellatum L. Hyacinthaceae Star of Bethlehem, Grass lily. Distribution: Central Europe, SW Asia, NW Africa. All parts are poisonous, especially the bulbs. The toxin is a cardiac glycoside with effects similar to digoxin, vomiting, cardiac irregularities and death in humans and livestock. Only used for decoration by Native Americans (it is a non-native plant that has escaped into the wild from cultivation) and called Sleepydick (Moerman, 1998). One of its toxins is Convallotoxin, also present in Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Cynoglossum officinale L. Boraginaceae. Houndstongue. Distribution: Europe. Culpeper (1650) writes: “... being roasted and laid to the fundament, helps the haemorrhoids. It is also good against burnings and scaldings.” It contains hepatocarcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and while people are known to eat the young leaves as a vegetable, this is inadvisable. The whole plant is hairy and may cause contact dermatitis. The use of herbal remedies, which contain these alkaloids, by the Bantu of southern Africa correlates with their high incidence of tumours of the liver and pancreas. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.