Forests and medicine

Medicinal plants from the forest

In addition to playing a major role in balancing the global ecosystem, many forest plants also have huge medicinal value. Twenty-five percent of all current western medicines are derived from plants found in forests. It is estimated that medical researchers have tested just 1% of the flora and fauna of forests for medically active compounds. The following are just a few of the many medicinal plants found in forests:

CURARE
Found in the canopy of the South American forest, curare is a poisonous plant that grows as a large vine. Measuring about four inches at its base, this woody vine is capable of climbing a considerable height of about 30 metres high into the tree canopy.…