Medical Drugs

Various diseases have been made easier to treat in recent years by the production of medical drugs. Drugs are obtained from the following sources.

Synthetic Drugs

Such drugs do not occur naturally but are synthesized in laboratory. Pharmaceutical companies produce these drugs e.g. aspirin.

Drugs from Plants and fungi

Many important medicines are obtained from plants and fungi. These medicines include antibiotics, cardio tonics and certain analgesics. The antibiotic penicillin comes from fungus. The cardio tonic, known as digitalis, is used to stimulate the heart. It is made from the leaves of purple flowered plant, foxglove. The pain reliever morphine is made from opium, which comes from the juice of opium poppy plant.

Drugs from animals

Drugs obtained from animals are usually their glandular products. Fish liver oils, musk, beeswax, certain hormones and antitoxins are obtained from animal sources.

Drugs from minerals

Several common drugs are produced from minerals. The mineral iodine is used in making tincture of iodine, a liquid that helps prevent infection when applied to cuts and bruises. The powder form of silver nitrate is applied on wounds to stop bleeding and prevent infection.

Drugs from bacteria

Many antibiotics e.g. streptomycin are obtained from bacteria.