ABSTRACT
Natural products have served as a major source of drugs for centuries, and about half of the pharmaceuticals in use today are derived from natural products.
Quinine
,
theophylline
,
penicillin G
,
morphine
,
paclitaxel
,
digoxin
,
vincristine
,
doxorubicin
,
cyclosporin
, and
vitamin A
all share two important characteristics: they are cornerstones of modern pharmaceutical care and they are all natural products. The use of natural substances, particularly plants, to control diseases is a centuries-old practice that has led to the discovery of more than half of all “modern” pharmaceuticals.
