There are over a hundred chemical substances that have been derived from plants for use as drugs and medicines. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the plants, names of chemicals, or uses for those chemicals, but it should serve as a useful starting point for further research. For your convenience, I have listed the common name of a plant next to its scientific name. Be advised that common names are very imprecise and often assigned to completely different plants, so use the scientific name when looking for additional information concerning a plant.
| Drug/Chemical | Action | Plant Source |
| Acetyldigoxin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove, woolly foxglove) |
| Adoniside | Cardiotonic | Adonis vernalis (pheasant's eye, red chamomile) |
| Aescin | Antiinflammatory | Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) |
| Aesculetin | Antidysentery | Frazinus rhychophylla |
| Agrimophol | Anthelmintic | Agrimonia supatoria |
| Ajmalicine | Treatment for circulatory disorders | Rauvolfia sepentina |
| Allantoin | Vulnerary | Several plants |
| Allyl isothiocyanate | Rubefacient | Brassica nigra (black mustard) |
| Anabesine | Skeletal muscle relaxant | Anabasis sphylla |
| Andrographolide | Treatment for baccillary dysentery | Andrographis paniculata |
| Anisodamine | Anticholinergic | Anisodus tanguticus |
| Anisodine | Anticholinergic | Anisodus tanguticus |
| Arecoline | Anthelmintic | Areca catechu (betel nut palm) |
| Asiaticoside | Vulnerary | Centella asiatica (gotu cola) |
| Atropine | Anticholinergic | Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) |
| Benzyl benzoate | Scabicide | Several plants |
| Berberine | Treatment for bacillary dysentery | Berberis vulgaris (common barberry) |
| Bergenin | Antitussive | Ardisia japonica (marlberry) |
| Betulinic acid | Anticancerous | Betula alba (common birch) |
| Borneol | Antipyretic, analgesic, antiinflammatory | Several plants |
| Bromelain | Antiinflammatory, proteolytic | Ananas comosus (pineapple) |
| Caffeine | CNS stimulant | Camellia sinensis (tea, also coffee, cocoa and other plants) |
| Camphor | Rubefacient | Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) |
| Camptothecin | Anticancerous | Camptotheca acuminata |
| (+)-Catechin | Hemostatic | Potentilla fragarioides |
| Chymopapain | Proteolytic, mucolytic | Carica papaya (papaya) |
| Cissampeline | Skeletal muscle relaxant | Cissampelos pareira (velvet leaf) |
| Cocaine | Local anaesthetic | Erythroxylum coca (coca plant) |
| Codeine | Analgesic, antitussive | Papaver somniferum (poppy) |
| Colchiceine amide | Antitumor agent | Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) |
| Colchicine | Antitumor, antigout | Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) |
| Convallatoxin | Cardiotonic | Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley) |
| Curcumin | Choleretic | Curcuma longa (turmeric) |
| Cynarin | Choleretic | Cynara scolymus (artichoke) |
| Danthron | Laxative | Cassia species |
| Demecolcine | Antitumor agent | Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) |
| Deserpidine | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rauvolfia canescens |
| Deslanoside | Cardiotonic | Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove, woolly foxglove) |
| L-Dopa | Anti-parkinsonism | Mucuna species (nescafe, cowage, velvetbean) |
| Digitalin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple foxglove) |
| Digitoxin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple foxglove) |
| Digoxin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple or common foxglove) |
| Emetine | Amoebicide, emetic | Cephaelis ipecacuanha |
| Ephedrine | Sympathomimetic, antihistamine | Ephedra sinica (ephedra, ma huang) |
| Etoposide | Antitumor agent | Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) |
| Galanthamine | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Lycoris squamigera (magic lily, resurrection lily, naked lady) |
| Gitalin | Cardiotonic | Digitalis purpurea (purple or common foxglove) |
| Glaucarubin | Amoebicide | Simarouba glauca (paradise tree) |
| Glaucine | Antitussive | Glaucium flavum (yellow hornpoppy, horned poppy, sea poppy) |
| Glasiovine | Antidepressant | Octea glaziovii |
| Glycyrrhizin | Sweetener, treatment for Addison's disease | Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) |
| Gossypol | Male contraceptive | Gossypium species (cotton) |
| Hemsleyadin | Treatment for bacillary dysentery | Hemsleya amabilis |
| Hesperidin | Treatment for capillary fragility | Citrus species (e.g., oranges) |
| Hydrastine | Hemostatic, astringent | Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) |
| Hyoscyamine | Anticholinergic | Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane, stinking nightshade, henpin) |
| Irinotecan | Anticancer, antitumor agent | Camptotheca acuminata |
| Kaibic acud | Ascaricide | Digenea simplex (wireweed) |
| Kawain | Tranquilizer | Piper methysticum (kava kava) |
| Kheltin | Bronchodilator | Ammi visaga |
| Lanatosides A, B, C | Cardiotonic | Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove, woolly foxglove) |
| Lapachol | Anticancer, antitumor | Tabebuia species (trumpet tree) |
| a-Lobeline | Smoking deterrant, respiratory stimulant | Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) |
| Menthol | Rubefacient | Mentha species (mint) |
| Methyl salicylate | Rubefacient | Gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen) |
| Monocrotaline | Topical antitumor agent | Crotalaria sessiliflora |
| Morphine | Analgesic | Papaver somniferum (poppy) |
| Neoandrographolide | Treatment of dysentery | Andrographis paniculata |
| Nicotine | Insecticide | Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) |
| Nordihydroguaiaretic acid | Antioxidant | Larrea divaricata (creosote bush) |
| Noscapine | Antitussive | Papaver somniferum (poppy) |
| Ouabain | Cardiotonic | Strophanthus gratus (ouabain tree) |
| Pachycarpine | Oxytocic | Sophora pschycarpa |
| Palmatine | Antipyretic, detoxicant | Coptis japonica (Chinese goldenthread, goldthread, Huang-Lia) |
| Papain | Proteolytic, mucolytic | Carica papaya (papaya) |
| Papavarine | Smooth muscle relaxant | Papaver somniferum (opium poppy, common poppy) |
| Phyllodulcin | Sweetener | Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea, French hydrangea) |
| Physostigmine | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Physostigma venenosum (Calabar bean) |
| Picrotoxin | Analeptic | Anamirta cocculus (fish berry) |
| Pilocarpine | Parasympathomimetic | Pilocarpus jaborandi (jaborandi, Indian hemp) |
| Pinitol | Expectorant | Several plants (e.g., bougainvillea) |
| Podophyllotoxin | Antitumor, anticancer agent | Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) |
| Protoveratrines A, B | Antihypertensives | Veratrum album (white false hellebore) |
| Pseudoephredrine | Sympathomimetic | Ephedra sinica (ephedra, ma huang) |
| nor-pseudoephedrine | Sympathomimetic | Ephedra sinica (ephedra, ma huang) |
| Quinidine | Antiarrhythmic | Cinchona ledgeriana (quinine tree) |
| Quinine | Antimalarial, antipyretic | Cinchona ledgeriana (quinine tree) |
| Qulsqualic acid | Anthelmintic | Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper, drunken sailor) |
| Rescinnamine | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rauvolfia serpentina |
| Reserpine | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rauvolfia serpentina |
| Rhomitoxin | Antihypertensive, tranquilizer | Rhododendron molle (rhododendron) |
| Rorifone | Antitussive | Rorippa indica |
| Rotenone | Piscicide, Insecticide | Lonchocarpus nicou |
| Rotundine | Analagesic, sedative, traquilizer | Stephania sinica |
| Rutin | Treatment for capillary fragility | Citrus species (e.g., orange, grapefruit) |
| Salicin | Analgesic | Salix alba (white willow) |
| Sanguinarine | Dental plaque inhibitor | Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) |
| Santonin | Ascaricide | Artemisia maritma (wormwood) |
| Scillarin A | Cardiotonic | Urginea maritima (squill) |
| Scopolamine | Sedative | Datura species (e.g., Jimsonweed) |
| Sennosides A, B | Laxative | Cassia species (cinnamon) |
| Silymarin | Antihepatotoxic | Silybum marianum (milk thistle) |
| Sparteine | Oxytocic | Cytisus scoparius (scotch broom) |
| Stevioside | Sweetener | Stevia rebaudiana (stevia) |
| Strychnine | CNS stimulant | Strychnos nux-vomica (poison nut tree) |
| Taxol | Antitumor agent | Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew) |
| Teniposide | Antitumor agent | Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple or mandrake) |
| a-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) | Antiemetic, decreases occular tension | Cannabis sativa (marijuana) |
| Tetrahydropalmatine | Analgesic, sedative, tranquilizer | Corydalis ambigua |
| Tetrandrine | Antihypertensive | Stephania tetrandra |
| Theobromine | Diuretic, vasodilator | Theobroma cacao (cocoa) |
| Theophylline | Diuretic, bronchodilator | Theobroma cacao and others (cocoa, tea) |
| Thymol | Topical antifungal | Thymus vulgaris (thyme) |
| Topotecan | Antitumor, anticancer agent | Camptotheca acuminata |
| Trichosanthin | Abortifacient | Trichosanthes kirilowii (snake gourd) |
| Tubocurarine | Skeletal muscle relaxant | Chondodendron tomentosum (curare vine) |
| Valapotriates | Sedative | Valeriana officinalis (valerian) |
| Vasicine | Cerebral stimulant | Vinca minor (periwinkle) |
| Vinblastine | Antitumor, Antileukemic agent | Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) |
| Vincristine | Antitumor, Antileukemic agent | Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) |
| Yohimbine | Aphrodisiac | Pausinystalia yohimbe (yohimbe) |
| Yuanhuacine | Abortifacient | Daphne genkwa (lilac) |
| Yuanhuadine | Abortifacient | Daphne genkwa (lilac) |
Much of the material contained in this table is from Leslie Taylor's Plant Based Drugs and Medicines article, from RainTree Nutrition (2000). The RainTree site contains additional information and links for further research.
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