There are hundreds of pharmaceutical products made from plants/herbal sources. The following list includes some of pharmaceutical products derived from plants and herbal sources.
| Drug/Chemical | Action | Plant Source |
| Acetyldigoxin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove, woolly foxglove) |
| Adoniside | Cardiotonic | Adonis vernalis (pheasant’s eye, red chamomile) |
| Aescin | Antiinflammatory | Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) |
| Aesculetin | Antidysentery | Frazinus rhychophylla |
| Agrimophol | Anthelmintic | Agrimonia supatoria |
| Ajmalicine | Treatment for circulatory disorders | Rauvolfia sepentina |
| Allantoin | Vulnerary | Several plants |
| Allyl isothiocyanate | Rubefacient | Brassica nigra (black mustard) |
| Anabesine | Skeletal muscle relaxant | Anabasis sphylla |
| Andrographolide | Treatment for baccillary dysentery | Andrographis paniculata |
| Anisodamine | Anticholinergic | Anisodus tanguticus |
| Anisodine | Anticholinergic | Anisodus tanguticus |
| Arecoline | Anthelmintic | Areca catechu (betel nut palm) |
| Asiaticoside | Vulnerary | Centella asiatica (gotu cola) |
| Atropine | Anticholinergic | Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) |
| Benzyl benzoate | Scabicide | Several plants |
| Berberine | Treatment for bacillary dysentery | Berberis vulgaris (common barberry) |
| Bergenin | Antitussive | Ardisia japonica (marlberry) |
| Betulinic acid | Anticancerous | Betula alba (common birch) |
| Borneol | Antipyretic, analgesic, antiinflammatory | Several plants |
| Bromelain | Antiinflammatory, proteolytic | Ananas comosus (pineapple) |
| Caffeine | CNS stimulant | Camellia sinensis (tea, also coffee, cocoa and other plants) |
| Camphor | Rubefacient | Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) |
| Camptothecin | Anticancerous | Camptotheca acuminata |
| (+)-Catechin | Hemostatic | Potentilla fragarioides |
| Chymopapain | Proteolytic, mucolytic | Carica papaya (papaya) |
| Cissampeline | Skeletal muscle relaxant | Cissampelos pareira (velvet leaf) |
| Cocaine | Local anaesthetic | Erythroxylum coca (coca plant) |
| Codeine | Analgesic, antitussive | Papaver somniferum (poppy) |
| Colchiceine amide | Antitumor agent | Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) |
| Colchicine | Antitumor, antigout | Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) |
| Convallatoxin | Cardiotonic | Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley) |
| Curcumin | Choleretic | Curcuma longa (turmeric) |
| Cynarin | Choleretic | Cynara scolymus (artichoke) |
| Danthron | Laxative | Cassia species |
| Demecolcine | Antitumor agent | Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) |
| Deserpidine | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rauvolfia canescens |
| Deslanoside | Cardiotonic | Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove, woolly foxglove) |
| L-Dopa | Anti-parkinsonism | Mucuna species (nescafe, cowage, velvetbean) |
| Digitalin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple foxglove) |
| Digitoxin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple foxglove) |
| Digoxin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple or common foxglove) |
| Emetine | Amoebicide, emetic | Cephaelis ipecacuanha |
| Ephedrine | Sympathomimetic, antihistamine | Ephedra sinica (ephedra, ma huang) |
| Etoposide | Antitumor agent | Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) |
| Galanthamine | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Lycoris squamigera (magic lily, resurrection lily, naked lady) |
| Gitalin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple or common foxglove) |
| Glaucarubin | Amoebicide | Simarouba glauca (paradise tree) |
| Glaucine | Antitussive | Glaucium flavum (yellow hornpoppy, horned poppy, sea poppy) |
| Glasiovine | Antidepressant | Octea glaziovii |
| Glycyrrhizin | Sweetener, treatment for Addison’s disease | Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) |
| Gossypol | Male contraceptive | Gossypium species (cotton) |
| Hemsleyadin | Treatment for bacillary dysentery | Hemsleya amabilis |
| Hesperidin | Treatment for capillary fragility | Citrus species (e.g., oranges) |
| Hydrastine | Hemostatic, astringent | Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) |
| Hyoscyamine | Anticholinergic | Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane, stinking nightshade, henpin) |
| Irinotecan | Anticancer, antitumor agent | Camptotheca acuminata |
| Kaibic acud | Ascaricide | Digenea simplex (wireweed) |
| Kawain | Tranquilizer | Piper methysticum (kava kava) |
| Kheltin | Bronchodilator | Ammi visaga |
| Lanatosides A, B, C | Cardiotonic | Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove, woolly foxglove) |
| Lapachol | Anticancer, antitumor | Tabebuia species (trumpet tree) |
| a-Lobeline | Smoking deterrant, respiratory stimulant | Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) |
| Menthol | Rubefacient | Mentha species (mint) |
| Methyl salicylate | Rubefacient | Gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen) |
| Monocrotaline | Topical antitumor agent | Crotalaria sessiliflora |
| Morphine | Analgesic | Papaver somniferum (poppy) |
| Neoandrographolide | Treatment of dysentery | Andrographis paniculata |
| Nicotine | Insecticide | Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) |
| Nordihydroguaiaretic acid | Antioxidant | Larrea divaricata (creosote bush) |
| Noscapine | Antitussive | Papaver somniferum (poppy) |
| Ouabain | Cardiotonic | Strophanthus gratus (ouabain tree) |
| Pachycarpine | Oxytocic | Sophora pschycarpa |
| Palmatine | Antipyretic, detoxicant | Coptis japonica (Chinese goldenthread, goldthread, Huang-Lia) |
| Papain | Proteolytic, mucolytic | Carica papaya (papaya) |
| Papavarine | Smooth muscle relaxant | Papaver somniferum (opium poppy, common poppy) |
| Phyllodulcin | Sweetener | Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea, French hydrangea) |
| Physostigmine | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Physostigma venenosum (Calabar bean) |
| Picrotoxin | Analeptic | Anamirta cocculus (fish berry) |
| Pilocarpine | Parasympathomimetic | Pilocarpus jaborandi (jaborandi, Indian hemp) |
| Pinitol | Expectorant | Several plants (e.g., bougainvillea) |
| Podophyllotoxin | Antitumor, anticancer agent | Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) |
| Protoveratrines A, B | Antihypertensives | Veratrum album (white false hellebore) |
| Pseudoephredrine | Sympathomimetic | Ephedra sinica (ephedra, ma huang) |
| nor-pseudoephedrine | Sympathomimetic | Ephedra sinica (ephedra, ma huang) |
| Quinidine | Antiarrhythmic | Cinchona ledgeriana (quinine tree) |
| Quinine | Antimalarial, antipyretic | Cinchona ledgeriana (quinine tree) |
| Qulsqualic acid | Anthelmintic | Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper, drunken sailor) |
| Rescinnamine | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rauvolfia serpentina |
| Reserpine | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rauvolfia serpentina |
| Rhomitoxin | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rhododendron molle (rhododendron) |
| Rorifone | Antitussive | Rorippa indica |
| Rotenone | Piscicide, Insecticide | Lonchocarpus nicou |
| Rotundine | Analagesic, sedative, traquilizer | Stephania sinica |
| Rutin | Treatment for capillary fragility | Citrus species (e.g., orange, grapefruit) |
| Salicin | Analgesic | Salix alba (white willow) |
| Sanguinarine | Dental plaque inhibitor | Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) |
| Santonin | Ascaricide | Artemisia maritma (wormwood) |
| Scillarin A | Cardiotonic | Urginea maritima (squill) |
| Scopolamine | Sedative | Datura species (e.g., Jimsonweed) |
| Sennosides A, B | Laxative | Cassia species (cinnamon) |
| Silymarin | Antihepatotoxic | Silybum marianum (milk thistle) |
| Sparteine | Oxytocic | Cytisus scoparius (scotch broom) |
| Stevioside | Sweetener | Stevia rebaudiana (stevia) |
| Strychnine | CNS stimulant | Strychnos nux-vomica (poison nut tree) |
| Taxol | Antitumor agent | Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew) |
| Teniposide | Antitumor agent | Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple or mandrake) |
| a-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) | Antiemetic, decreases occular tension | Cannabis sativa (marijuana) |
| Tetrahydropalmatine | Analgesic, sedative, tranquilizer | Corydalis ambigua |
| Tetrandrine | Antihypertensive | Stephania tetrandra |
| Theobromine | Diuretic, vasodilator | Theobroma cacao (cocoa) |
| Theophylline | Diuretic, bronchodilator | Theobroma cacao and others (cocoa, tea) |
| Thymol | Topical antifungal | Thymus vulgaris (thyme) |
| Topotecan | Antitumor, anticancer agent | Camptotheca acuminata |
| Trichosanthin | Abortifacient | Trichosanthes kirilowii (snake gourd) |
| Tubocurarine | Skeletal muscle relaxant | Chondodendron tomentosum (curare vine) |
| Valapotriates | Sedative | Valeriana officinalis (valerian) |
| Vasicine | Cerebral stimulant | Vinca minor (periwinkle) |
| Vinblastine | Antitumor, Antileukemic agent | Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) |
| Vincristine | Antitumor, Antileukemic agent | Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) |
| Yohimbine | Aphrodisiac | Pausinystalia yohimbe (yohimbe) |
| Yuanhuacine | Abortifacient | Daphne genkwa (lilac) |
| Yuanhuadine | Abortifacient | Daphne genkwa (lilac) |
Reference
Taylor, L (2000). Plant Based Drugs and Medicines. Retrieved from http://chemistry.about com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.rain-tree.com/plantdrugs.htm.
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