| Compound Name | Family/Species | Local Name | Therapeutic Category in Medical Science |
| Ajmalicine | APOCYNACEAE Rauvolia serpentina |
Indian snakeroot | Circulatory stimulant |
| Andrographolide | ACANTHACEAE Andrographis paniculata |
Karyat | Antibacterial |
| Arecoline | PALMAE Areca catechu |
Betek-nut palm | Anthelmintic |
| Asiaticoside | UMBELLIFERAE Centella asiatica |
Indian Pennywort | Vulnerary |
| *Atropine | SOLANACEAE Duboisia myoporoides |
Australian cork tree | Anticholinergic |
| *Bromelain | BROMELLIACEAE Ananas comosus |
Pineapple | Antiinflammatory, proteolytic |
| *camphor | LAURACEAE Cinnamomun camphora |
Camphor tree | rubefacient |
| *Chymopapain | CARICACEAE Carica papaya |
Papaya | Proteclytic, mucolytic |
| *Cocaine | ERYTHROXYLACEAE Erythoxylum coca |
Coca | Local anesthesis |
| Curcumin | ZINGIBERACEAE Curcuma longa |
Tumeric | Choleretic |
| *deserpidine | APOCYNACEAE Rauvolfia tetraphylla |
Snakeroot | Antihypertensive, Tranquilizer |
| *L-Dopaa | LEGU,INOSAE Mucuna deeringiana |
Velvet bean | Antiparkinsonism |
| *Emetine | RUBIACEAE Cephaelis ipecacuanha |
Ipecac | Amebicide, Emetic |
| Glaucarubin | SIMAROUBACEAE Simarouba glauca |
Paradise tree | Amebicide |
| Glaziovine | LAURACEAE | Yellow cinnamon | Antidepressant |
| Ocotea glaziovii | |||
| Gossypol | MALVACEAE Gossypium spp. |
Cotton | Male contraceptive |
| *Hyoscymine | PIPERACEAE Duboisia myoporoides |
Australian cork tree | Anticholinergia |
| Kawaina | PIPERACEAE Piper methysticum |
Kava-kava | Tranquilizer |
| Monocrotaline | LEGUMINOSAE Crotalaria spectabilis |
Rattlebox | Antitumor agent (topical) |
| Neondrographolide | ACANTHACEAE Andrographis paniculata |
Dysentery | |
| Nicotine | SOLANACEAE Nicotiana tabacum |
Tabacco | Insecticide |
| *Quabain | APOCYNASEAE Striphanthus gratus |
Twisted flower | Cardiotonic |
| *Papain | CARICACEAE Carica papaya |
Papaya | Proteclytic, Mucolytic |
| *Physostigmine | Physostigma venenosum | Ordeal bean | Anticholinesterase |
| Picrotoxin | Anamirta cocculus | Fish berry | Analeptic |
| *Pilocarpine | RUTACEAE | Jaborandi | Parasympathomimetic |
| Pilocarpus jaborandi | |||
| *Quinidine | RUBIACEAE | Yellow cinchona | Antiarrhytmic |
| Cinchona ledgeriana | |||
| *Quinine | RUBIACEAE Cinchona ledgeriana |
Yellow cinchona | Antimalarial, antipyretic |
| Quisqualic acid | COMBRETACEAE Quisqualis indica |
Rangoon creeper | Anthelmintic |
| *Rescinnami | APOCYNACEAE Rauvolfia serpentina |
Indian snakeroot | Antihypertensive, Tranquilizer |
| *Reserpine | APOCYNACEAE Rauvolfia serpentina |
Indian Snakeroot | Antihypertensive,
Tranquilizer |
| Rorifone | CRICUFERAE Rorippa indica |
Nasturtium | Antitussive |
| Retenone | LEGUMINOSAE Lonchocarpus nicou |
Cube root | Piscicide |
| *Scopolamine | SOLANACEAE | Recurved thorapple | Sedative |
| Datura metel | |||
| Stevioside | Stevia rebaudiana | Sweet herb, Ka’a He’e | Sweetener |
| Strychnine | Strychnos nux-vomica | Nux vomica | CNS stimulant |
| Theobromine | STERCULIACEAE | Cocoa, cacao | Diuretic, Vasidilator |
| *Tubocurarine | MENISPERMACEAE Chondrodendron tomentosum |
Curare | Skeletal muscle |
| Vasicine (Peganine) | ACANTHACEAE Adhatoda vasica |
Malabar nut | Oxytocic |
| *Vinblastine | APOCYNASEAE Catharanthus roseus |
Madagascan periwinkle | Antitumor agent |
| Yohimbine | RUBIACEAE Pausinystalia yohimba |
Adrenergic blocker, Aphrodisiac |
Source:
(1). Farnsworth, N.R. Screening Plants for New Medicines. In Biodiversity; Wilson, E.O., ed.; National academy Press: Washington, D.C., 1988; pp83-97.
(2). Soejarto, D.D.; Farnsworth, N.R. Perspect. Biol. Med., 1989, 32, 244-256.
*Currently used in the United States.
a Now also synthesised commercially
Note: This is an extraction from IDS Project Report: Biotechnology Application in Sabah, April 1998