Many of the medications we take have surprising origins. In fact, some elements came directly from unexpected sources in nature. Dr. Dean has been curious about these unusual and surprising origins since he was a child, listening to the stories from his father, who was a pharmaceutical researcher. Now he brings these tales to you.
Captopril: A Snake’s Gift to the Human Heart
For instance… captopril, a drug developed by Bristol Myers Squibb, is used to treat Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, and was the first ACE inhibitor. A key ingredient in this medication is derived from the deadly venom of the Brazilian Pit Viper, or Bothrops Jararaca. That’s yet another example of how life-saving cures can be found in nature.
Check back soon for other Tales from the Medicine Hunter…