News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Sir David Attenborough makes stark warning about species extinction. Parent comment

Re:Sir David Attenborough makes stark warning about species ... by TheSpiceIsLife on Monday September 14, 2020 @01:32PM (#24472765)
A few that spring to mind, all plant blazed:

Aspirin occurs naturally in Willow bark; morphine and codeine from opium poppies; ephedrine and amphetamine is derived from Ephedra sinica (Ma Huang); quinine and it's derivatives from Cinchona calisaya; digoxin from foxglove (Digitalis lanata).

And botox from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species has medical uses primarily for muscle spasticity conditions and migraines.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Sir David Attenborough makes stark warning about species ... by mrob on Monday September 14, 2020 @02:31PM (#24473461)
Salicin occurs naturally in willow, not aspirin. It's a prodrug of salicylic acid, which has some anti-inflammatory effects.

Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. It's also a prodrug of salicylic acid, but it has additional anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects, because unlike salicylic acid itself, it can irreversibly inactivate COX enzymes (enzymes that synthesize compounds needed for inflammation and blood clotting) by acetylating them. It's also less irritating to the digestive system.

[ Parent | on HN ]