Looking for new medicines in

the Panamanian

Tropical Forest

One of the most fascinating tasks for today’s scientists is the

search for new medicines in the tropical jungles.

In this article Tood Capson talks about the importance of

biodiversity as a source of medicines for the humanity.

Now a days the main part of medicines derives from

substances extracted from plans, fungy, animals, bacteria and

marine organisms.

For example:From the hundred anf fifty pharmaceutical products

more prescribed in USA in 1993,57% contained at least a derivate compound directly or

indirectly from biological source.

Vinscristine and Vinblasatine are extract from a plant called Catharantus Roseus, Taxol, proceeding from the Taxus Brevisolius, and is the most

effective remedy against breast and ovaries cancer

To promote the study of medicines proceeding from

tropical forests is urgent necessity to stablish novel inceentives to save forests

Because deforestation means irreplaceable loss of medicines

for the future

The flora of Panama is one of the most diverse of the world. His

enormous wealth takes potential as a source of new medicines. More than 42%of its territory is

covered with forest.

Today more reasonable models are arising in the relationship

between rich and industrialized countries and underdeveloped countries but biologically rich.

The new relationship looks for a narrower collaboration between Scientifics institution of the hosts

tropical countries and the industrialized ones, with benefits

and advantages.

Four years ago scientists began to fix a program for this researching, conecting

Panamanian government institution, the university

community, environmental institutes for scientific research

and non government organizations

This program is known as InternationalCooperative

Biodiversity Groups (ICBG)

• Glossary• Biodiversity:All the elements and organism

found in nature.

• Anam: Panamenian National Authority of the Environment.

• Ecology: scientific studie of biodiversity and its complex relationship.

• I.C.B.G: International Cooperative Biodiversity goup.

• Medicine: Pharmaceutical product for illness treatment.

• N.I.H: U.S.A National Health Institute.

• Raw Materia: Product directly obtain from nature.

• S.T.R.I:Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute,established in Panama since 1923

Difficulties

In my personal opinion I think the most difficult part in the traslation of

this article were the scientific terms and initials which are

difined in the gossary of this presentation.