Science Researcher Update

Nature's marvellous medicine - part of the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2013

Written by BCI Staff | Jun 30, 2013 1:18:00 PM

Nature's marvellous medicine

Public talk - London, United Kingdom

Panel discussion as part of the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2013

For hundreds of years we have used plants and their extracts for their healing properties. Ancient Egyptians chewed white willow bark to relieve fevers and reduce inflammation, and many years later scientists discovered that the bark contains salicylic acid, the active ingredient used to make aspirin. Today we continue to turn to plants for medicinal uses, such as harvesting the bark of Yew trees to produce Taxol, a chemotherapy drug for treating cancer. In this panel discussion we investigate how sustainable it is to derive our medicines from natural resources, exploring the medical, economical and social benefits in comparison to drugs synthesised in the lab.

(Courtesy of The Royal Society, London, UK, via thenakedscientists.com)

Nature's marvellous medicine

Fri, Jul 05, 2013 - Fri, Jul 05, 2013

The Royal Society

6 - 9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG, United Kingdom

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