Some important plants - class-V

Rauwolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) belongs to the family Apocynaceae. The spelling in option D has a minor typo (Apocyanaceae instead of Apocynaceae) but is clearly the intended answer. This plant is the source of reserpine, an important alkaloid used for hypertension.

Quinine, a drug used to treat malaria, is extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree.

Scopolamine is an alkaloid found in plants of the Solanaceae family, most notably Datura stramonium.

Santonin is an anthelmintic drug obtained from the flower heads of Artemisia cina.

Born in 300 BC Acharya Charak  was one of the principal contributors to the ancient art and science of Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in Ancient India. Acharya Charak  has been crowned as the Father of Medicine. His renowned work, the “Charak Samhita“, is considered as an encyclopedia of Ayurveda. Also tried to list the names of all animals and plants are 380 number. So, the correct option is"C" (380).

The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) is a premier drug research organization located in Lucknow, India.

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, which is extracted from the latex of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).

Opium is obtained by collecting the milky latex that exudes from incisions made in the unripe seed capsules of the poppy plant.

Belladonna (deadly nightshade) is obtained from Atropa belladonna (note the spelling correction from 'belladona'). The plant contains tropane alkaloids like atropine and scopolamine. The name 'belladonna' means 'beautiful lady' in Italian, referencing its historical cosmetic use.

• Rauvolfia vomitoria is a medicinal shrub which is also known as the devil's poison pepper and are found in the Himalayan ranges.

• It is mainly used to treat convulsions, fever, weakness, insomnia, mental disorders, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and for issues related to stomach, intestines and liver.

• The extracts from the plant are also applied to the skin for snake bites, skin infections and swelling.

• These plants show genetic variation as it is very important for the survival of the species adaptability and to cope with drastic environmental changes and to develop disease resistance.

• So, the correct answer is 'Himalayan ranges'.

The flowers of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) are occasionally used in cooking as a cheaper substitute for saffron. It is sometimes referred to as bastard saffron. The dried safflower petals are also used as a herbal tea variety. Dried safflowers are also used as a natural dye source for orange-red pigment carthamin (natural red pigment). It is also known as Carthamus red or natural red. So, the correct answer is 'Reddish dye'.

Santonin was a drug which was widely used in the past as an antihelmintic, a drug which expels parasitic worms by paralyzing them and allowing them to be passed outside the body. Santonin was developed by German chemists by extracting the chemical from Artemisia cina. Previously Artemisia was used as an antihelmintic remedy. So, the correct answer is 'Artemesia'.

Belladonna is a medicinal plant derived from the genus Atropa, specifically Atropa belladonna. It is well known for its alkaloid content, such as atropine.

Agave Americana, commonly known as sentry plant, century plant or American Aloe is the species of flowering plants belonging to family Asparagaceae. It is native to Mexico, the United States in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Agave americana is cultivated as an ornamental plant for drought tolerant and desert style cactus gardens. So, the correct answer is 'Agave'.

Colchicum luteum, commonly known as meadow saffron, autumn crocus is a species of flowering plant belonging to family Colchicaceae. The species is cultivated as an ornamental in temperate areas, in spite of its toxicity. It is a perennial herb native to Great Britain and Ireland. It contains colchicine which is used as a drug and it is also used in plant breeding. So, the correct answer is 'Colchicum luteum'.

Concanavalin A (ConA) is a type of lectin extracted from the bean Canavalia ensiformis.  So the correct option is D.

Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as Autumn crocus, meadow saffron is toxic autumn-blooming flowering plant belonging to family Colchicaceae. It is a perennial herb and native to Great Britain and Ireland. The bulb-like corms of Colchicum autumnale contain colchicine, a useful drug and it is also used in plant breeding. So, the correct answer is 'Corm of Autumn Crocus'.

Soluble fiber attaches to cholesterol and takes them out of the body from our system that helps in reducing blood cholesterol and also reducing the risk of heart disease. These are found in the food like oats, apples, nuts etc.

Aloe vera is an evergreen perennial plant belonging to the family Asphodelaceae. It originates from Arabian Peninsula but grown wildly in tropical climates around the world. It is widely cultivated for agricultural and medicinal purposes. The leaves of Aloe are fleshy which are used for medicinal purposes in the treatment of skin.

Dracaena draco, the Canary Island Dragon tree or Drago is a subtropical tree-like plant native to Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde. It is a monocot and it belongs to family Asparagaceae. It is available as an ornamental tree in parks, gardens and drought tolerant water-conserving projects. So, the correct answer is 'Dracaena draco'.

Ephedrine is an alkaloid with a phenethylamine skeleton found in various plants in the genus Ephedra.

Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as Autumn crocus, meadow saffron is a toxic autumn-blooming flowering plant belonging to family Colchicaceae. It is a perennial herb and native to Great Britain and Ireland. Colchicum plants are deadly poisonous due to colchicine content. The leaf juice of Colchicum autumnale can be used to kill lice. So, the correct answer is 'Colchicum'. 

While in Peru, the botanist Carl Linnaeus had a fever and it was cured by the bark of a cinchona tree.

 Reserpine is an alkaloid obtained from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina (sarpgandha) family Apocynaceae. It is used in treatment of blood pressure,
snake bite and mental disorders.

Reserpine that is obtained from the dried roots of Rauwolfia serpentina has been used by Indians so long as a cure for epilepsy, high blood pressure, insanity, intestinal disorders, cardiac diseases, snake bite and as an antihelminthic. Reserpine is widely employed today for hypertension.

Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).
Opium latex contains approximately 12% of the analgesic alkaloid
morphine, which is processed chemically to produce heroin and other
synthetic opioids for medicinal use and for the illegal drug trade. The
latex also contains the closely related opiates 'codeine' and 'thebaine'
and non-analgesic alkaloids, such as 'papaverine' and 'noscapine'. The
traditional, labour-intensive, method of obtaining the latex is to
scratch the immature seed pods (unripe capsule) by hand. The latex leaks
out and dries to a sticky yellowish residue that is later scraped off
and dehydrated. Thus, option C is correct. 

A) Lantana camera is a destructive exotic invasive plant that spreading rapidly in tropical countries destroying natural habitats.

Ephedra is a herb that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 5,000 years. It was used primarily to treat asthma, bronchitis, and high fever.

Calories are used in making floral tassels in some mainland Southeast Asian cultures

Eucalyptus is a fast-growing evergreen tree native and is used to reduce the symptoms of coughs, colds, and congestion.

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug obtained from the Cannabis plant used for recreational purposes.

Thus the correct option is A.

• Ayurveda, an ancient system of Indian medicine has recommended a number of drugs from indigenous plant sources for the treatment of bronchial asthma and allergic disorders. 
• Acalypha Indica has been reported to be useful in treating pneumonia, asthma, rheumatism and several other ailments.
• Thus, correct answer is option C.

(d) Ginseng Panax sch\nseng associated with family Araliaceae, It is a very important drug plant of China. Drug is obtained from the roots of the plant and used to cure a variety of diseases. Panax quinquefolium
(American Ginseng) is used as its substitute.

(b) Atropa belladonna (Solanaceae) is the source of drug atropine. Atropine is an alkaloid obtained from leaves and is used in eye testing and treatment.

The root is the part of  Aconitium nepallus that have medicinal value. Aconite contains some poisonous chemicals. Aconite is used to treat joint pain, gout, cold hands and feet.  The root of Aconitium napallus contain chemicals that help in the improvement of circulation. 

Adhatoda vasica  commonly known as Adosa, is used for bronchitis treatment.  It belongs to the family Acanthaceae. 

Quinine is one of the most important drugs known and it is the only adequate cure for Malaria and quinine is extracted from the hard thick bark of species of Cinchona.

 The alkaloid belladonna is obtained from roots and  is used as a sedative stimulant and antispasmodic.

(b) Atropa belladonna is obtained from root. They contain atropine alkaloid, which is widely used for dilating the pupil of eye during testing It also a analgesic.

 The alkaloid reserpine is used in several patent drugs, as it has a depressant action on central nervous system and produces sedation and fall in blood pressure.

 Stramonium drug is obtained from Datura. The drug stramonium, was known as narcotic as early as 37 A.D. Even today this is one of the favourite sources of "Knockout drops" in the tropical regions.

 Quinine is one of the most important drug. Its used in the treatment of malaria It is also used in the treatment of fever.

Reserpine is an alkaloid obtained from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina, (sarpgandha) family Apocynaceae. Rauwolfia serpentina contains a number of bioactive chemicals, including reserpine, ajmaline, deserpidine, rescinnamine, serpentinine. It was used for millennia to treat insect stings and the bites of venomous reptiles. Reserpine was used as an attempt to treat high blood pressure and mental disorders, including schizophrenia.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.

The stems are the source of drug ephedrine and also contains other alkaloid pseudo -ephedrine.

Aconitum leterophyllum is a medicinal plant The roots of this plant are used as astringent, tonic, diarrhoea, dyspepsia and cough.

The drug commonly known as aconite is obtained from the tuberous roots. It contains the alkaloids, atisine, dihydroatisine, heteratisine and hetisine.

Dalbergia sissoo and D. latifolia are among the most important Indian timber trees.

Poppy is a flowering plant belongs to the family Papaveraceae. Opium and morphine are obtained from the latex of unripe fruit of Papaver somniferum.

 The dried ripe seeds are the source of a drug nux vomica (Strychnos) which is used as a tonic, stimulant and in the treatment of paralysis and nervous disorders.

Elaeis guineensis is the correct botanical name for the African oil palm. Olea europaea is olive, Cocos nucifera is coconut, and Carthamus tinctorius (not 'tintorius') is safflower. Oil palm is a major source of vegetable oil globally.

 Nicotine is a harmful alkaloid of tobacco and the pharmacological activity of tobacco is almost entirely  due to its content nicotine which is consumed in various forms, is absorbed through the lining of the lungs,gut etc it acts upon the nervous system, may cause paralysis, cyanosis etc. It is an irritant and therefore may lead to oral and lung cancer.

Quinine is the drug obtained from the bark of Cinchona tree primarily used for the treatment of malaria that is a disease caused by parasite protozoan Plasmodium.

Some plants are used for sacred and ceremonial purposes and are known as sacred plants. For example, Prosopis cineraria' known as Jammi, Shami, Khejri Tree, or Ghaf, is a species of flowering tree belonging to the pea family, Fabaceae is a sacred plant. The importance lies during the tenth day of the Dasara Festival when it is worshipped in various parts of India. Other examples include Aegle marmelos, Ocimum sanctum, and Ficus religiosa.

Dioscorea is considered an endangered plant due to overexploitation.  This is a medicinal plant from the Himalayan region and it produces bulbil and rhizome and it is rich in streodial compound . 

Commercial scale production of medicinal herbs often relies on vegetative propagation techniques, such as developing efficient rooting and multiplication media for buds, to ensure genetic uniformity and rapid growth.

The matching is: Adhatoda vasica (expectorant), Artemisia maritima (anthelmintic), Digitalis purpurea (cardiac drug), Podophyllum emodi (purgative). This gives the pattern A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4. Adhatoda contains vasicine used for respiratory ailments; Artemisia yields santonin for worms; Digitalis gives digoxin for heart conditions; Podophyllum yields podophyllotoxin with purgative and anticancer properties.

Arbor vitae is known as tree of life. Arbor vitae is a branching tree like arrangement of grey and white matter visible in the cross sectional area of cerebellar hemispheres.

Vinca rosea is an ornamental plant. It produces secondary metabolites Vincristine. This vincristine is used as anti-cancerous drugs. Vinblastine is an alkaloid produced by the same plant. These both compounds are used in treatment of leukemias, lymphomas and childhood cancers,

The spice of clove is obtained from flower buds of  Syzygium aromaticum, plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae. The unopened flower buds are plucked and air-dried to obtain the spice. The plant can continue to flower for up to 80 years. The clove has several therapeutical uses such as diabetes treatment, dental pain reliever preparation of toothpaste etc. other than the culinary uses.

Aquatic plans are covered with mucilage which protects them from epiphytes, pathogens and animals. It also functions as lubricants. 

Turmeric is the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa.

Aloe is a cactus-like plant of Solanaceae family is a native of America. The gel obtained from its leaves is used in various medicines to treat skin related problems.

Quinine in as alkaloid derivative obtained from the bark of cinchona tree. It is used as an anti-malarial drug.