Bioprospecting
photo M. Noonan
Bioprospecting is a word
that scientists use to describe the research involved in discovering
natural substances in plants and animals that can be used for a
plethora of practical uses, such as medicine, food crops and
cosmetics.
Although the estimated
one million species of flora and fauna in the tropical rainforests
are just beginning to be explored, they have already yielded many
wonderful new products that are frequently used today. Just a few
examples include Curare (which comes from a South American tropical
vine and which plays a role in anesthesia for surgery), Vinblastine
(which comes from the periwinkle plant and which is used in the
treatment of leukemia), and Quinine (which comes from the cinchona
tree and which is used to treat malaria).
Scientists estimate that
more than 1,400 different species of plants in the rainforest
contain chemicals that can potentially cure cancer. However, the
chances of discovering these cures, along with the thousands of
other herbs beneficial to humans, is diminishing as rainforests
continue to disappear.
To learn more about a
non-profit organization that supports bioprospecting, called the
National Biodiversity Institute (INBio), visit the following
website:
www.inbio.ac.cr