Plant Improving Medicine

PLANTS IMPROVING MEDICINE On average, it takes between 11 and 14 years to bring a drug from lab bench through FDA approval Medicines come North America was from various 2011 responsible for 42% of all pharmaceutical sales worldwide. It is estimated by the World sources including plants, synthetics (petroleum), bacteria and fungi. to market. Health Organization that approximately 75-80% of the world's population uses Driven by our aging population, the market for 2010 therapeutic proteins grew plant medicines either in part or entirely. by almost 19%, with 2010 sales of over $90 billion. For the first time, human clinical trials tested a 8 plant-made vaccine directed against lymphoma. 2008 90% The world's first 2006 plant-made injectable vaccine was licensed. 90% of plants are still uninvestigated. Over 25% of medicines Researchers began working to prove the concept of plant-made vaccines. are derived from plants. 1990s There are over R 100 chemical substances that have been derived from plants for use as drugs and medicines. Plants have been a source of drugs for humans for thousands of years. DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER DISCOVER ENLIGHTEN SHARE • NOURISH www.danforthcenter.org