BOT 3850: Medical Botany

Biographical information about Christian Eijkman and his research on nutrition, metabolism, and the role of vitamins in preventing the medical condition known as "Beriberi".

Article written about Christiaan Eijkman, describing his life and work.

German-language research article regarding the medical condition "Beriberi".

Biographical information about Albert Szent-Györgyi and his research on cell respiration, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), and muscle function.

Research article about the chemical nature of Vitamin C.

Information about the 1943 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Henrik Dam and Edward A. Doisy for their work and research on Vitamin K leading to applications for the treatment of bleeding in small children.

Biographical information about Henrik Dam and his research on Vitamin K leading to applications for the treatment of bleeding in small children.

Biographical information about Edward A. Doisy and his research on Vitamin K leading to applications for the treatment of bleeding in small children.

Research article regarding Vitamin K in plants.

Research article regarding Vitamin K, including investigations of its biochemistry and properties.

Biographical information about Tadeus Reichstein and his research on the hormones of the adrenal cortex, their structure and biological effects, including the isolation of cortisone and discovery of its ability to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Research article regarding compounds called "cardenolides" (steroids that have cardiac effects on humans) found in the common milkweed plant (Asclepias syriaca).

Research article regarding compounds known as "Cardiac Glycosides" which have effects upon the cardiovascular system. The article discusses the polka-dot wasp moth (Syntomeida epilais) which stores Cardiac Glycosides in its body tissues that it gains by feeding upon oleander plants (Nerium oleander), a poisonous plant in the Apocynaceae family.

Biographical information about John R. Vane and his research on prostaglandins and related biologically active substances. Vane's research included work on the mechanism of action for acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), which he showed works by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins.

Information about the 1982 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine which was awarded jointly to John R. Vane, Sune K. Bergström, and Bengt I. Samuelsson for their discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related biologically active substances.

Research article regarding prostaglandins and aspirin-like drugs.

Research regarding prostacyclin and its effects on the cardiovascular system.

Biographical information about Barbara McClintock and her research on genetics, including her studies of maize (also known as corn) genetics which led to the discovery of mobile genetic elements that can change position on chromosomes.

Research article regarding plant genetics and the movement of genes in maize, also known as corn, (Zea Mays).

Research article regarding research on plant genetics and the movement of genes in maize, also known as corn, (Zea Mays).

Biographical information about Tu Youyou and her research on artemisinin, a chemical compound extracted from the Sweet Wormwood plant (Artemisia annua), and its use as a novel medical treatment for malaria.

Article regarding the research work which led to the discovery of "artemisinin" (an anti-malaria drug) and how the research drew upon traditional Chinese herbal medicine.

Research article regarding possible solutions for the problem of resistance to the anti-malarial drug "artemisinin".

Article about Ge Hong, a traditional Chinese medicinal herbalist who lived between 283-363 A.D., and his book "A Handbook of Formulas for Emergencies". This book played an important role in Tu Youyou's research on anti-malarial drugs which led to the discovery of "artemisinin" as an effective anti-malarial drug.