Morphine
Caffeine
Plant: Tea (Camellia sinensis) and others
Plant: Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Use: central nervous system stimulant
Use: analgesic
C8H10N4O2
Molecular weight (g):
Cost per 100mg (£):
Molecular formula:
C17H19NO3
Molecular weight (g):
194.2
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Credit: ykanazawa
Credit: nchenga
Molecular formula:
285.3
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
62
Cost per 100mg (£):
1.25
Did you know?
Plants like tea and coffee produce caffeine
as an insecticide to poison bugs which try to
feed on the leaves.
135
14.77
Did you know?
Laudanum, a potent painkilling medicine
made from opium poppies, is documented
as far back as 1522
Cocaine
Nicotine
Plant: Coca plant (Erythroxylum coca)
Plant: Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
Use: local anaesthetic, stimulant
Use: stimulant, insecticide
Credit: moche
Credit: iheartpandas
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C17H21NO4
303.4
16
4.39
Did you know?
The original 1886 recipe for Coca-Cola
included “a pinch of coca leaves” meaning,
until 1906, it contained some cocaine!
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
C8H14N2
162.2
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
0.3
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.73
Did you know?
Nicotine is more toxic than cocaine or heroin
and smoking 40 cigarettes could be deadly
(not to mention silly!) for a non-smoker
Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012)
Codeine
Taxol
Plant: Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia)
Plant: Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Use: chemotherapy (breast cancer)
Use: analgaesic
C47H51NO14
Molecular weight (g):
Cost per 100mg (£):
Molecular formula:
C18H21NO3
Molecular weight (g):
853.9
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Credit: ykanazawa
Credit:: pellaea
Molecular formula:
299.4
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
12
54
Cost per 100mg (£):
75.03
Did you know?
Taxol is also made by a fungus which lives
in the tree bark. It is produced commercially
in mixed plant/fungal cell cultures.
0.53
Did you know?
Codeine is the world’s most widely used
opiate drug. It is made by methylating the
more abundant drug, morphine.
Quinine
Digoxin
Plant: Cinchona tree (Cinchona ledgeriana)
Plant: Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Use: anti-malaria
Use: treating heart arrhythmia
Credit:: freefotouk
Credit:: USGS
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C20H24N2O2
324.4
68
1.66
Did you know?
Quinine was the first effective treatment for
malaria. Tonic water glows under UV light as
it contains quinine – go on, try it!
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C41H64O14
780.9
7.7
28.91
Did you know?
In 2006 an American nurse was convicted of
killing 40 patients with overdoses of digoxin
and given 18 life sentences
This resource was created by Dr Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012)
Aspirin
Ephedrine
Plant: ma huang (Ephedra sinica)
Plant: Willow tree (Salix alba)
Use: stimulant, decongestant
Use: analgaesic, blood thinner
Molecular formula:
C10H15NO
Molecular weight (g):
Credit: jimvanmeggelen
Credit: alexlomas
Molecular formula:
C7H6O3
Molecular weight (g):
165.2
138.1
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
74
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
184
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.03
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.03
Did you know?
Ephedrine is closely related to drugs like
speed. Ma huang has been used in
traditional Chinese medicine for 5000 years.
Did you know?
Hippocrates, who lived around 400BC,
recorded using a powder made from willow
bark to treat pain and fever.
Quinidine
Strychnine
Plant: Cinchona tree (Cinchona ledgeriana)
Plant: Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica)
Use: treating heart arrhythmia
Use: rat poison
Credit: lalithamba
Credit:: USGS
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
C20H24N2O2
324.4
Molecular formula:
C21H22N2O2
Molecular weight (g):
334.4
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
53.6
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
0.41
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.10
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.65
Did you know?
Quinidine is an isomer of quinine – they
have the same chemical formula, but
different structures and properties
Did you know?
Strychnine is the poison of choice in
numerous books and films, including the
movie ‘Psycho’ and Agatha Christie novels.
Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012)
Vinblastine
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Plant: Cannabis (Cannabis sativa)
Plant: Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
Use: analgesic, anti-emetic
Use: chemotherapy (leukaemia)
Molecular formula:
C21H30O2
Molecular weight (g):
810.9
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
42
Cost per 100mg (£):
C46H58N4O9
Molecular weight (g):
314.5
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Credit: Kew Gardens
Credit: M. MartinVicente
Molecular formula:
15
Cost per 100mg (£):
123.65
Did you know?
Synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol, known as
dronabinol, is available on prescription in the
USA for treating anorexia and nausea.
Vincristine
119.41
Did you know?
The Madagascar periwinkle was used as a
folk remedy for centuries before the active
chemicals were isolated in the 1950s
Theobromine
Plant: Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
Plant: Cocoa (Theobroma cacao)
Use: chemotherapy (leukaemia)
Use: diuretic, vasodilator
Credit: Steve Linder
Credit: Kew Gardens
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C46H56N4O10
824.9
3
579.73
Did you know?
Extracting this drug from the plant is a slow
process with low yields, but the molecule is
too complicated to make synthetically.
Molecular formula:
C7H8N4O2
Molecular weight (g):
180.2
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
837
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.07
Did you know?
Dogs metabolise theobromine more slowly
than humans and can be poisoned with just
one bar of chocolate.
Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012 )
Topotecan
Reserpine
Plant: Snake root (Rauwolfia serpentina)
Plant: Happy tree (Camptotheca acuminata)
Use: high blood pressure, anti-psychotic
Use: chemotherapy (ovarian & lung cancer)
C33H40N2O9
Molecular weight (g):
Cost per 100mg (£):
Molecular formula:
C23H23N3O5
Molecular weight (g):
608.7
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Credit: scott.zona
Credit: kadavoor
Molecular formula:
421.4
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
21
Cost per 100mg (£):
390.34
Did you know?
In India, home of the Snake Root plant, this
drug has been has been popular for
centuries – even Mahatma Gandhi used it!
7.5
23,042.66
Did you know?
Topotecan inhibits the enzyme DNA
topoisomerase and stops cancerous cells
replicating.
Irinotecan
Capsaicin
Plant: Happy tree (Camptotheca acuminata)
Plant: Chilli peppers (Capsicum sp.)
Use: chemotherapy (colorectal cancer)
Use: treating nerve pain and arthritis
Credit: Ben Geach
Credit: scott.zona
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C33H38N4O6
586.7
132
1336.00
Did you know?
Irinotecan and topotecan are derivatives of
naturally occurring camptothecin which is
used in Chinese herbal medicine.
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C18H27NO3
305.4
0.4
62.40
Did you know?
Capsaicin creates a burning sensation on
the skin which blocks pain signals – you
might have experienced it eating chillies!
This resource was created by Dr Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012)
Theophylline
Diosgenin
Plant: Yams (Dioscorea sp.)
Plant: Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Use: contraceptive
Use: muscle relaxant and bronchodilator
Credit: nchenga
Credit: IITA
Molecular formula:
Molecular formula:
C27H42O3
C7H8N4O2
Molecular weight (g):
414.6
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
>8000
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
136
Cost per 100mg (£):
3.17
Cost per 100mg (£):
0.74
180.2
Did you know?
If you have asthma a cup of tea might help!
Theophylline was developed as an asthma
treatment drug in the 1950s.
Did you know?
Diosgenin is a precursor of the hormone
progesterone and research on this plant in
the 1940s led to the first contraceptive pill
Colchicine
Tubocurarine
Plant: Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Plant: Curare (Chondrodendron tomentosum)
Use: treating gout
Use: muscle relaxant, nicotine withdrawal
Credit: NTBG
Credit: Dietmut
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
C22H25NO6
399.4
1.7
19.68
Did you know?
Once common, this drug is very toxic and
has nasty side effects (like diarrhoea) so is
now only used for short term, acute cases
Molecular formula:
C37H41N2O6
Molecular weight (g):
609.7
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
0.13
Cost per 100mg (£):
7.92
Did you know?
South American natives used this plant
extract to poison their arrow heads and blow
darts when hunting as it paralyses victims.
Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012
Heroin
Plant: Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Plant:
Use: analgaesic
Use:
Credit: ykanazawa
Molecular formula:
C21H23NO5
Molecular formula:
Molecular weight (g):
369.4
Molecular weight (g):
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
21.8
Toxicity (LD50mouse mg/kg):
Cost per 100mg (£):
692.00
Did you know?
Heroin is actually the ‘trade name’ for
diamorphine and from 1898 to 1910 could be
bought freely as a cough suppressant.
Cost per 100mg (£):
Did you know?
This resource was created by Dr Science & Plants for Schools (www.saps.org.uk)
This resource was created by Dr Sarah McLusky, lecturer in biochemistry at Newcastle College (details correct as of 2012