Rainforest Plants Used for Medicine

Many of the most important drugs to public health come from plants found in rainforests around the world. There is a major push to eliminate rainforest destruction as the realization grows that many potentially useful plants are becoming extinct. Some plants have been used as herbal remedies by indigenous peoples for centuries, while others have newly discovered chemicals that could fight newer diseases.

Cacao

• The cacao tree is where cocoa and chocolate come from. It is a tree less than 20 feet tall with bright green leaves and bright yellow fruits. All the parts of the tree have been used medicinally, but the seeds are the main part that is used consistently. They have a chemical in them called theobromine, which is a similar chemical to caffeine. It has been found to have beneficial effects against heart disease, because it is a vasodilator and a diuretic. Polyphenols have also been found in cocoa seeds, which are powerful antioxidants that can theoretically protect against heart disease and cancer, according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Other uses for cocoa includes healthy digestion and antidepressant abilities.

Calophyllum Genus

• This group of trees are related to the mangosteen, and there are several that have exhibited anti-HIV effects in laboratories. There was originally some trouble getting a hold of the trees to study, since so much rainforest habitat has been destroyed. The main species of tree being studied is called Calophyllum lanigerum var austrocoriaceum, and the compound in it is called Calanolide A. It is supposedly effective against strains of HIV that are not responsive to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs that are the most effective so far. Another tree within this genus has a compound called Calanolide B that may also be promising against HIV.

Solanaceae Family

• There are a list of plants from this family that are deadly if eaten. Many come from the rainforest originally, but also now live in many peoples' yards. Some of these plants include Angel's Trumpet, Deadly Nightshade and Mandrake. The chemical atropine comes from these plants as well, though, and is used around the world to treat a variety of medical conditions. It lowers the amount of bronchial mucus during an asthma attack, helping the asthmatic breathe easier. During anesthesia, occasionally the patient's heart rate will drop dangerously, and atropine has been used to bring it back to a normal level. It is also commonly used as an antidote to muscarine poisoning, which comes from eating certain mushrooms. The drug is in the World Health Organization's Essential Medicine's Library due to its effectiveness and long list of uses.