Healing touch: 7 plants that could hold the key to the future of medicine

Yahoo

10-02-2025

Humans have utilized plants in medicine for thousands of years. As a matter of fact, the Sumerians were the first to record their use of medicinal plants on a clay slab about 5,000 years ago. This ancient artifact even includes 12 recipes for drug preparation involving over 250 different plants.
But they were not the only ones. The Egyptians also explored the benefits of medicinal plants, using them extensively in their treatments and rituals. They carefully wrote down nearly 850 of these remedies in what is today considered one of the oldest surviving medical texts—the Ebers Papyrus. The document, which dates back to 1550 BC, even offered treatments for everyday ailments like aches and pains by using willow bark, the precursor to aspirin.
As medicine evolved over centuries, scientists experimented with active compounds of various plants, leading to their incorporation into many widely used drugs today. For instance, quinine—an alkaloid derived from the bark of the cinchona tree—became a crucial treatment for malaria. The opium poppy, in turn, provided morphine, a powerful narcotic analgesic. Even metformin, a widely used type 2 diabetes medication, traces its origins to the French lilac plant.
Yet, with nearly 400,000 plant species on Earth, and around 31,000 of them known to have at least one recorded use, it's impossible to predict which species will aid the next major medical breakthrough. Could it lie hidden in the Amazonian rainforest? Or is it perhaps growing in someone's backyard? From the Madagascar periwinkle to South America's dragon's blood, here are seven plants that could revolutionize the future of medicine.
The Madagascar periwinkle, also known as the rosy periwinkle, is a small flowering plant that grows as a herb or compact shrub. Native to the island of Madagascar, this plant has long been valued for its medicinal properties. Historically, local fishermen and sailors chewed its leaves to suppress hunger and combat fatigue during long journeys. It was also used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes and infections.
However, its true pharmaceutical potential was revealed in the 1950s when researchers discovered its powerful cancer combating properties. They then developed two key drugs from the periwinkle extract, vinblastine and vincristine, which are now used in chemotherapy for leukemia and in the treatment of Hodgkin'ss disease.
As research progresses, scientists remain hopeful that more of the Madagascar periwinkle's active compounds could unlock future, more potent medical advancements. A study identified new indole alkaloids from this plant including catharoseumine, 14′,15′-didehydrocyclovinblastine, 17-deacetoxycyclovinblastine, and 17-deacetoxyvinamidine, which have successfully stopped the growth of human cancer cells in vitro.
Hailing from the Amazonian rainforest and spread all across Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, And Peru, Croton lechleri is an evergreen tree that grows up to 39 feet tall. Commonly referred to as 'dragon's blood' this tree is best known for its distinctive deep red latex, which seeps out when the bark is cut.
The blood-like sap, which is rich in bioactive compounds such as taspine and proanthocyanidins, has been valued for centuries in traditional medicine. Indigenous peoples of South America traditionally used it to treat various forms of diarrhea, including cholera, as well as insect bites, viral infections, inflammation, and wounds.
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A study from the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology shows that Croton lechleri possesses significant therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disorders, by promoting the healing of gastric ulcers and diarrhea. According to a different research, its leaves, bark, and sap are also of pharmaceutical interest for their potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor traits.
Ginkgo, also known as the maidenhair tree, is a unique gymnosperm species endemic to China. It is regarded as a 'living fossil' because it has remained nearly unchanged for over 290 million years, dating back to the Permian period. Its nuts and leaves have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly to treat heart and lung conditions, but also for depression and low sexual function.
In recent years, Ginkgo has widely been studied for its potential cognitive benefits, as its leaves contain powerful compounds such as terpene lactones—ginkgolides and diterpenes—and ginkgo flavone glycosides ginkgetin, bilobetin, and sciadopitysin. These are believed to prevent memory loss, improve circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing blood viscosity, and alleviate symptoms of asthma and other inflammatory respiratory conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology shows that Ginkgo seed extracts also have antibacterial properties, helping fight pathogens that cause skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the antibacterial activity of ginkgo seeds on skin pathogens," Cassandra Quave, PhD, a dermatology expert and senior author of the study, revealed in a statement.
Native to Central Asia, Cannabis has been utilized for medicinal, recreational, and industrial purposes for thousands of years. Some of its historical uses include treating rheumatism, epilepsy and even managing sexually transmitted diseases.
The reason for its diverse application is that it contains cannabinoids—tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)—a group of active compounds that interact with the system and regulate pain, inflammation, and mood. Ongoing research suggests CBD may help lower blood pressure, treat anxiety and gastrointestinal disorders, prevent seizures, and fight cancer.
A recent study published in Pain, has revealed that Cannabis sativa terpenes—small hydrocarbon compounds that give plants their aroma and taste—proved as effective as morphine in alleviating chronic neuropathic pain. When combined, the two analgesics provided even greater pain relief without any adverse effects. "What we found is that terpenes are really good at relieving a specific type of chronic pain with side effects that are low and manageable," said John Streicher, PhD, a professor of pharmacology at the College of Medicine-Tucson and lead researcher in a statement.
Originating from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, turmeric was valued as a bitter digestive and a carminative, aiding digestion and reducing bloating, in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.
Known for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective properties, turmeric contains the active compound curcumin, which has been studied for its potential to manage chronic conditions like arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and even several types of cancer.
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A 2023 study has shown that a natural compound in turmeric may be just as effective as omeprazole, a common acid-reducing drug, in relieving indigestion symptoms. In addition, using photodynamic therapy alongside curcumin has proven effective in reducing parasite load and even eliminating Leishmania parasites, which are spread by the bite of infected sandflies.
Commonly known as green chiretta or creat, Andrographis is a bitter-tasting annual plant native to South Asian countries, predominantly India and Sri Lanka. A significant medicinal plant in the Indian Ayurvedic system, it is utilized to treat many health conditions, including common colds, osteoarthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Its main components are flavonoids, polyphenols, and diterpenoids, with andrographolide being the most abundant and bioactive compound.
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In addition to its primary uses, it is also valued in the treatment of various ailments, including liver disorders, fever, jaundice, and digestive issues. Experts suggest it may have the potential to be used as a supplementary therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
Research published in the journal Carcinogenesis shows that when used alongside chemotherapy, Andrographis—also referred to as the 'King of Bitters'—has the potential to transform the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant colorectal cancer.
Boswellia is a resin-producing tree known for providing Indian frankincense. It's native to India, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Aside from being commonly used in aromatherapy and religious ceremonies, it's also an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine. Due to their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immune-boosting properties, gum-resin extracts from Boswellia have been used to treat various chronic inflammatory conditions.
Its extracts have been shown to effectively alleviate symptoms of asthma and irritable bowel syndrome, while also proving highly beneficial in treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and other inflammatory diseases. This is due to the presence of boswellic acids in the tree's resin, which are known to block inflammatory pathways, making it a promising natural remedy. "The resin from the trunk of Boswellia trees contains anti-inflammatory substances," Oliver Werz, PhD, a professor at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany explains in a statement.
Research also suggests that Boswellia can enhance clinical cognitive scores, reduce systemic inflammation, and significantly improve learning and memory deficits in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.