Stated in the Cancer Therapy ; Fabricant and Farnsworth (2001), reported that 80% of 122 plant derived drugs were related to their original ethnopharmacological purposes. Dsicussed in the Medicinal plants and the pharmaceutical industry article; Morphine, Atropine, Digoxin/Digitoxin, Quinidine, Artemisin, Taxol, Asprin, Digitalis, Cortisone, Ephedrine, Nicotine, Codeine, Theophylline and so on are some of the common drugs derived …show more content…
Scientists are using this understanding to better the functions and interactions of proteins, leading to more effective strategies in designing molecules to block or enhance the actions of proteins involved in many disease processes. The collaboration of genetics, biochemistry, and organic chemistry has given rise to many new potent targets.
Whereby drug companies that are patenting and selling pharmaceutical agents derived from indigenous plant species do not provide financial compensation for the traditional knowledge or profit earned from the sales of drugs to the source countries of the plants.
The theft of intellectual properly, such as genetic resources or traditional plant medicines, from poor communities by multinational companies.
Many studies have suggested that if the bioprospecting search is based on the information and knowledge from local people, then the value of bioprospecting benefits would be …show more content…
Due to the lack of proper regulation and adequate compensation for countries supplying the medicinal plant species, solutions need to be voiced and the current system needs to be addressed. Efforts should be made to sort out the differences and between the pharmaceutical companies and the indigenous community and there should be a mutual agreement clear and free from ambiguity.
Soultions might include the opportunity to offer training and expertise by the multinational companies, providing jobs which could additionally benefit the community.
Additionally no patenting should be allowed the future. The patent system was designed for machines but not biology.
Personally I believe bioprospecting has immense potential in vastly building and enriching our sources of new therapeutic agents and is important tool for drug discovery. It builds an entirely new revenue source for improvised health education. Bioprospecting endeavours should continue but with a healthy beneficial relationship respecting the traditions, elders and knowledge sacred to the indigenous community and people. Understanding the connection and value towards indigenous land and traditions; recognising and appreciating the combined efforts for medical