The Source of Drugs
Ask a child where milk comes from and you might be surprised by his answer
that it comes from the grocery store. The same might be true if you ask an adult
where drugs come from and he answers from the drug store. Both are correct
answers, but neither identifies the true source.
Drugs can be purchased from a drug store, but the origins are from one of
four sources.PLANTS
A number of plants have medicinal qualities and have been used for centuries as
natural remedies for injuries and illnesses. Pharmaceutical firms harvest these
plants and transform them into drugs that have a specific purity and strength
sufficient to treat diseases.
An example of a drug that comes from a plant is digitalis. Digitalis is made
from leaves of the foxglove plant and is used to treat congestive heart failure
and cardiac arrhythmias. Digitalis also strengthens the force of the contractions
of the heart.ANIMALS
Byproducts of animals, including humans, are a source for drugs because they
contain hormones that can be reclaimed and given to patients who need increased
hormonal levels to maintain homeostasis.
For example, Premarin is a drug that contains estrogen that is recovered from
mare urine. This is used as hormonal therapy to manage menopausal symptoms.
Insulin is another hormonal drug that is used to regulate blood sugar levels in
patients with diabetes mellitus. Insulin can be recovered from humans using
DNA technology.MINERALS
Our body requires trace elements of minerals in order to maintain homeostasis.
Minerals are inorganic crystal substances that are found naturally on earth.
Patients lacking an adequate level of these materials may take specific mineral-
based drugs to raise the level of minerals.(^4) CHAPTER 1 An Inside Look at Pharmacology