Development and use of drugs

Accidental discovery

Penicillin

How common is the use of traditional medicines?

Very common.

Describe examples of aspirin

  • Ibuprofen
  • Codeine
  • Hydrocodone

Observation of wildlife

  • Bears and monkeys use citrus oils and insecticides
  • Birds line their nests with medicinal leaves to keep blood-sucking mites away

Further plant research

  • Observing how a plant behaves or influences something that is harmful to humans
  • Isolate an active ingredient
  • Optimise a dose of the active ingredient and a delivery method to use as treatment

Research into disease-causing mechanisms

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