23
Production of Phytomedicinal Chemicals by Plants
Donald P. Briskin
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
485I. INTRODUCTION
Throughout history, plants have provided a rich source for the development of human medicines. Through
empirical discovery, humans have continually identified plants yielding beneficial health effects. This
practice appears universal, for no human cultures have been found that lack the use of plants in their health
practices [1]. Indeed, plant-based medicines remain the most widely used pharmaceutical materials in
most third world countries, where they are considered to be as efficacious for many ailments and more af-
fordable than those of “Western medicine” [2]. Up through the early 20th century, plant medicinal prod-
ucts represented a significant component in conventional medicine, but their use declined with the devel-
opment of modern pharmaceuticals containing pure chemical compounds. Many of these modern
pharmaceuticals may have been based upon active chemicals isolated from plants, and the development
of synthetic or semisynthetic derivatives led to drugs with even higher levels of potency. Unlike the ear-
lier traditional plant remedies, these modern pharmaceuticals could also be patented, which represented
a clear advantage to the pharmaceutical industry. However, the enhanced potency of one or a few active
chemicals in these modern pharmaceuticals frequently resulted in problematic side effects. Moreover,
these drugs were often expensive [3].
Over the past decade there has been a strong resurgence in the interest in and use of medicinal plants
and phytomedicines, especially in North America. Surveys of phytomedicinal use by the American pub-
lic have shown an increase from about 3% of the population in 1991 to over 37% in 1998 [4,5]. At pre-
sent, the North American market for plant medicinal products has reached about $3 billion a year [5].
Once the domain of health food and specialty stores, phytomedicinals have reemerged into the main-
stream as evidenced by their availability for sale at a wide range of retail outlets, the extent of their ad-
vertisement in the popular media, and the entrance of several major pharmaceutical companies into the
business of producing phytomedicinal products [4,5]. No doubt a major contributing factor to this great
increase in phytomedicinal use in the United States has been the passing of federal legislation in 1994 (Di-
etary Supplement Health and Education Act or DSHEA) that facilitated the production and marketing of
phytomedicinal products [4].
Given the current and future demand for phytomedicines, production of medicinal plants as “alter-
native crops” could provide important new opportunities in agriculture. However, in comparison with
studies of most food crops, very little fundamental research has been conducted on the physiology and