Mariano Marcos State University
College of Health Sciences
Pharmacy Department
City of Batac 2906 Ilocos Norte
PHARM 111: Pharmaceutical Botany with Taxonomy
1st Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021
Title
Medicinal Plants and the Scientific Method
Introduction
Medicinal plants are considered as a rich resources of ingredients which can be
used in drug development. Apart from that, these plants play a critical role in the
development of human cultures around the world. Moreover, some plants are
considered as important source of nutrition and as a result, they are recommended
for their therapeutic values.
Learning Outcomes
After going through the module, the student must have:
• Identified the most used medicinal plants, in particular to those of
pharmaceutical, herbal and cosmetic use;
• Explained the importance of plants in pharmacy and medicine;
• Outlined the steps of the scientific method; and
• Integrated the basic features of a scientific hypothesis or investigation on claims
of evidences provided.
Warm-up Activity
Question:
Do you believe in the healing power of plants?
Central Activities
Learning Input 1 (Lecture)
Medicinal Plants
a. DOH approved medicinal plants
The Department of Health of the Philippines circulated a list of “Ten scientifically
validated” Philippine medicinal plants in 1992 (R.A. No. 8423- Philippine Institute of
Traditional and Alternative health Care). These are the following:
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1. Allium sativum (Garlic/Bawang)- used for the treatment of wounds,
hypertension and toothache;
2. Blumea balsamifera (Nagal camphor/sambong)- effective in diuretic
treatment for hypertension;
3. Cassia alata (Ringworm bush/ulasimang bato)- used for the treatment of
scabies, fungal infection, athlete’s foot, tinea flava, ringworm;
4. Clinopodium douglasii (Mint/yerba Buena)- used for the treatment of
muscle pain, arthritis, rheumatism, cough, headache;
5. Ehretia microphylla (Scorpion bush/Tsaang Gubat)- used for the treatment
of diarrhea and stomachache;
6. Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon/Ampalaya)- used for the treatment of
diabetes mellitus;
7. Peperomia pellucida (Silver bush/ulasimang bato)- used for the treatment of
gout and rheumatism;
8. Psidium guajava (Guava/Bayabas)- used for the treatment of wounds and
diarrhea;
9. Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper/niyug-niyogan)- used for anti-helmintic
medicine;
10. Vitex negundo (Five-leaved chaste tree/lagundi)- used for the treatment of
cough, asthma, and fever.
b. Plants used in Pharmacy and Medicine
Common Scientific name Active agents Pharmacological
names action
Red peppers Capsicum capsaicin Local blood
annuum circulation,
rheumatism
Senna Cassia senna Sennoside A Laxative
Sennoside N, rhein
Milk thistle Silybum Silybin, silymarin Liver protections,
marianum antioxidant
Yam Dioscorea spp. diosgenin Source of steroids
Foxglove Digitalis lanata Lanatoside C, Heart muscle
digoxin activity, cardiac
arrhythmias
Wormwood Artemisia annua artemisinin Cerebral malaria
Feverfew Chrysanthemum parthenolide Migraine,
parthenium menstrual
disorders
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba ginkolides Cerebral
circulation, loss of
memory
Thornapple Datura Hyoscyamine, Depressant of
stramonium; atropine, hyoscine nerve endings,
Datura metel control of motion
sickness
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Henbane Hyoscyamus Hyoscyamine, Sedatives,
niger hyoscine secretion
Deadly Atropa Hyoscyamine, Depressant of
nightshade belladona atropine, nerve endings,
scopolamine control of motion
sickness
Duboisia Hyoscyamine, Sedatives,
myoporoides; hyoscine secretion
Duboisia
hopwoodii
Ephedra Ephedra sinica Ephedrine, Relief of asthma
pseudoephedrine and fever, anti-
inflammatory
Opium Papaver Morphine, Pain relief,
poppy somniferum codeine, hypnotics, allaying
narcotine, coughs, narcotic
papaverine antagonists
Ergot Claviceps Ergocristine, Migraine,
purpurea ergocornine, autonomic nervous
ergocryptine, system, adrenaline
ergometrine antagonist, action
on blood vessels
Rauwolfia Reserpine,ajmaline Hypertension,
serpentina neuropsychiatric
disorders, cardiac
arrythmias
Quinine Cinchona Quinine, quinidine Antimalarial,
succirubra; cardiac arrythmias,
Cinchona cardiac depressant
officinalis;
Cinchina
calisaya
Periwinkle Catharanthus Vincristine, Hodgkin’s disease,
roseus vinblastine non Hodgkin’s
lymphosa,
leukemia in
children
Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia Taxol, baccatin Ovarian cancer,
breast cancers,
head and neck
cancers
Rue Ruta graveolens rutin Antihemorrhagic,
emmenagogue,
hypotensive
Ipecac Cephaelis Emetine, cephaline Amoebid
ipecacuanha dysentery,
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expectorant,
antitumor action
The Scientific Method
Scientific method is a process used by scientists to answer questions or solve
problems. It involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.
It entails the following steps:
a. Observation- one should recognize a question or an unexplained occurrence in
the natural world.
b. Research- conduct background research
c. Hypothesis- develop a hypothesis or educated guess, to explain the problem. A
good hypothesis includes three things: explanation for the observations, it is able
to be tested by other scientist, and it will usually predict new outcomes or
conclusions.
d. Experiment- design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis. It could
either challenge or support the hypothesis. The hypothesis will then be true or
false.
• In designing an experiment, one must create a list of materials and
procedure (a step by step explanation on how to conduct the experiment)
• A proper experiment compares two or more things but changes only one
variable (factor that change in an experiment). This type of experiment is
called a controlled experiment. Independent variable is the variable that
is tested and changed (ex. The amount of fertilizer used on your plants).
Dependent variable is the variable that is measured by the scientist and
changes as a result of the independent variable (ex. How many flowers
grow on the plant). Controlled variables are variables that are kept the
same (constant) throughout the experiment (ex: same type of plant, same
amount of light and water). The control is identical to the main experiment
in all respects except that conditions are not altered.
• Keeping detailed, accurate record is an important part of the scientific
method. Before the scientists begin their experiments, they create a table
to record their data. Data are facts, figures, and other evidences gathered
through observations.
• Deductive reasoning starts out with a general statement, or hypothesis,
and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. It
proceeds to generalities to specifics.
• Inductive reasoning makes broad generalizations from specific
observations. Basically, there is data, then conclusions are drawn from the
data. It goes from specific to the general.
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• Theory is a principle set to explain phenomena already supported by data.
e. Conclusion- analyze and interpret the data to reach a conclusion. The conclusion
will either clearly support the hypothesis or it will not. It the results support the
hypothesis, a conclusion can be written. If it does not support the hypothesis, the
scientist may choose to change the hypothesis or write a new one based on what
was learned during the experiment.
f. Communicate the results- share new knowledge with the scientific community.
The scientist does this by publishing articles in scientific journals or books and by
presenting the information at scientific meetings. Sharing new knowledge with the
scientific community permits other scientists to repeat the experiment or design
new experiments that either verify or refute the work.
Activity 1
• You are requested to participate in an online poll posted in the mVLE course page
on September 3, 2020, 9:00 AM.
Activity 2
• Go around your house and explore the medicinal plants available in your place.
Take a picture of the plants and identify their medicinal uses/folkloric uses.
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Learning Input 2 (Laboratory)
Overview
• The scientific method is a way to test problems, to attempt to discover the
reasoning behind a natural occurrence. Scientists do not always follow the “steps”
of the scientific method in order, but there are certain things that need to be done
when attempting to solve a problem. The scientific method helps scientists
navigate the process and helps them explain their process and results with others.
Activity 3
• Prepare a bag of fun size nips (blue variant). Discover how many chocolates of one
color are in a bag of fun size nips. This will allow you to record data and then create
graphs to help draw conclusions; the same way scientists do in the lab. Do not
open the bag until you are instructed to do so. Do not eat any of the colored
chocolates until you are instructed to do so. The instruction will be posted in the
mVLE on September 4, 2020, 9:00 AM.
Wrap-up Activity
Discussion Forum 1
• You are expected to participate in the discussion forum scheduled on September
7, 2020 (unless otherwise rescheduled), Monday via the mVLE BIGBlueButtonBN
or ZOOM.
• An invitation link will be available in the mVLE course site.
• Open-ended questions will be asked randomly among students during the
discussion proper.
• In addition, students are also given opportunity to ask/raise any question or
make clarifications during the discussion.
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Assessment (Post-assessment)
Problem-based Learning Task 2
Assignment
• Identify at least 7 medicinal plants available in your surroundings. Take a
photograph and state the medicinal uses of each plant.
• A detailed instruction will be available in the mVLE course guide page
Assignment portal on September 4, 2020, 1:00 PM.
• Submit your output on or before 11:59 pm, September 6 (Sunday) via the same
portal in mVLE.
Laboratory-based Learning Task 1
Laboratory Activity 2: Scientific Method
• Instructions for the laboratory activity will be available in the mVLE course page
Assignment portal on September 4, 2020, 9:00 AM.
• Submit your laboratory report using the Assignment portal in the mVLE on or
before 11:59, September 6, 2020 (Sunday).
Online Exam 2
• You are required to take the Post-Test after the discussion forum on September
7, 2020.
• The link will be posted on September 7, 2020 (Monday) 5:00 PM in the mVLE
Quiz Portal.
Course Facilitator
Kristian Gay D. Beltran
Assistant Professor II
Pharmacy Department
09175700665
kdbeltran@mmsu.edu.ph
