PreAPChemistry: Frontier Chemistry Project

1.It is important to identify a plant or root correctly because failure to do so can be extremely dangerous if it is ingested or applied. Identifying a plant or root correctly could be the difference between life or death

2.It is a good idea to be able to identify a variety of plants/roots from different regions because you don't know when and where you might find yourself or others in an extreme medical emergency. Knowing the medical facts of plants strengthens your odds for living substantially.

3.The time your travel could make a significant difference in the plants you choose. Not all plants bloom year round. It is important to know where plants are at in their life cycle before you try and use them.

4.It would be significant to develop a relationship with the local people as a scientist because you can help them make smart decisions on the plants they are keeping and killing off for their envirornment , and you can help them use their plants as medicines to be the most beneficial.

5. I would trust my knowledge of local flora because i believe it has everything i could possibly need to know in my area for any circumstance i come across.

Chicory:

Genus/Species Name: Chichorium intybus (Aster Family)

Description: Basal leaves, dandelion like, flowers blue or purple (occasionally pink or white)

Habitat: Roadsides in Easter Deciduous Forrest and Tall Grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: roots and leaves

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Inulin (root fiber) - C₆nH₁₀n+2O₅n+1

Beta Carotene -C₄₀H₅₆

Uses:

-Drink 1 ounce of root mixed with a pint of water – typically in form of tea-

-Leaf extracts (weaker than root)-

Diuretic Laxative (promotes urine and bowel movement)
Jaundice
Skin eruptions (Dermatitis)
Fevers
Lowers blood sugar
Slightly sedative (weakens pulse)
Can treat loss of appetite
blisters and rope burn as tea applied externally
Anti-inflammatory (for sprained ankles and wrists) as a poultice of boiled leaves and flowers, a leaf paste, or a tonic

Antibacterial
Antioxidant
Liver protectant
Significant wound healing activity
Poison ivy and sunburn as sap from the stem

Queen Anne’s Lace:

Genus/Species Name: Daucus carota (Parsley Family)

Description: (wild carrot) bristly stemmed biennial, leaves finely dissected, flowers in flat cluster, with 1 small deep purple floret at center

Habitat: wastelands or roadsides in Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall Grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: roots and seeds

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Glutamine- C₅H₁₀N₂0₃

Uses:

-Made into a tea-

Nerve tonic (stress relief)
Diarrhea/Indigestion

WARNING: be sure not to confuse this with one of the poisonous members of the Parsley Family such as Poison Hemlock

Partridge Pea:

Genus/Species Name: Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) (Pea Family)

Description: yellow flowers reddish at base, leaflets 6-15 pairs (fold when touched)

Habitat: sandy soil, MA, NY to FL; TX to SD, MN; MO to OH, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: roots and leaves

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

C₈H₁₀O₂

Uses:

-Made into a tonic-

Keep one from tiring, alert

-Moisten, bruised leaves-

Treat topical sores/ blisters
Astringent (disinfect), (clot smaller cuts)

-Leaves made into a tea-

Keep one from fainting

-Syrup (boiled plant with water) with added honey for improving thickness and flavor-

Treats stomachaches and nausea
Soothe sore throat

Black-Eyed Susan:

Genus/Species Name: Rudbeckia hirta (Aster Family)

Description: yellow oblong flowers, bristly-hairy, daisy like, deep brown center

Habitat: fields, roadsides, wastelands, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: roots

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Sesquiterpene lactones-C₂₂H₃₀O₇

Uses:

-Made into a root tea for external use-

Wash for sores
Wash to clean snakebite then create poultice to draw out venom
Reduce swelling
Root juice for earaches

-Root infusion in form of tea-

To treat colds

Blue Vervain:

Genus/Species Name: Verbena hastata (Vervain Family)

Description: grows 2-5 feet tall, hairy square stems (green or red), purple-blueish flowers grow on stem

Habitat: fields, roadsides, wastelands, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie, prefers moist conditions

Part(s) Used: roots and leaves

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Aucubin-C₁₅H₂₂O₉

Uses:

-Made into tea root and leave extracts-

Treats depression
Helps with coughs/sore throat
Reduces fever
Treats headache
General pain relief

-Applied externally as a thin ointment-

Help blood clot and helps cuts close

Black Cherry Tree:

Genus/Species Name: Prunus serotine (Rose Family)

Description: berry like fruits (black when ripe), grow up to 38m tall, leafy twigs with numerous flowers

Habitat: fields, side of the road, wastelands, Eastern Deciduous Forrest

Part(s) Used: fruit and bark

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Benzaldehyde

C7H6O

Uses:

-Fruit and bark juice-

Diarrhea
Cough/cold
Helps with weak stomach
Strengthens immune system
Soothes sore throat

Purple Coneflower:

Genus/Species Name: Echinacea angustifolia (Aster Family)

Description: leaves lance shaped, stiff-hairy, cone shaped disk, purple spreading ray like flowers

Habitat: open woods, prairies, thickets, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: entire plant

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Dodecatetraenoic acid isobutylamides-C₁₆H₂₅NO

Uses:

-Root/leaves chewed or in tea-

Heals snakebites and spider bites
Tick bite
Helps relieve toothaches
Cures cold and flu symptoms
Treats all types of burns
Closes wounds
Helps throat infections
Helps blood to circulate, cures gangrene (Frostbite)
Cure for malaria
Internal bacterial and fungal infections
General pain relief

-Extracts used topically-

On wounds to clot blood
Small blisters or sores
Cleans out cuts and wounds
Helps with degradation of skin from sunlight (sunburn)
Topical cream for bacterial and fungal infections externally

Phlox:

Genus/Species Name: Phlox paniculata

Description: purple, blue, pink, red, or white flowers, fragrant flowers

Habitat: fields, side of the road, wastelands, diverse- can live virtually anywhere, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: entire plant

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

D-Galacturonic acid

C₆H₁₀O₇

Uses:

-Made into a tea-

Diarrhea (entire plant tea)
Blood purifier (leaf tea)
Helps with weak stomach (entire plant tea)

Swamp Milkweed:

Genus/Species Name: Asclepias incarnate (Milkweed Family)

Description: strongly branched, numerous leaves, flowers clustered

Habitat: wet grassy prairies, green forests, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: root

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

C₁₈H₃₀O₂

Uses:

-Made into a tea-

Large dose = laxative ( helps constipation)
Emetic (cause vomit)

Common Milkweed:

Genus/Species Name: Asclepias syriaca (Milkweed Family)

Description: pink and purple flowers in drooping globe shaped clusters

Habitat: fields, roadsides, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: root and latex

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Linolenic-acid

C₁₈H₃₀O₂

Uses:

Can be drank to cleanse body
Laxative and diuretic
Fresh latex applied to reduce pain from sunburn

False Dandelion (Flatweed):

Genus/Species Name: Hypochaeris radicata (Asteraceae Family)

Description: wild weed, yellow pom pom like flower, looks like dandelion

Habitat: fields, side of the road, wastelands, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: leaves

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Magnesium Citrate

C₆H₅MgO₇

Uses:

-Leaves smashed into oil or juice-

Constipation
Helps with inflammation
Helps with weak stomach

Ironweed:

Genus/Species Name: Vernonia glauca (Aster Family)

Description: grows 2-5 feet tall, seed crowns are yellowish, purple flowers grow on stem

Habitat: thickets, meadows, marshes, plains, and forests, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie, prefers moist conditions

Part(s) Used: roots and leaves

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Linoleic acid-C₁₈H₃₂O₂

Uses:

-Root taken in the form of powder-

Stimulates appetite
Promotes digestion

-Rub on medication-

Dermatitis

-Made into a tonic-

Blood tonic (helps produce blood)

-Decoction made from root-

Cures fever and chills

-Chewing the root-

Cures toothache
Helps swelling

-Tea made from the leaves-

Soothes sore throat

Cardinal Flower:

Genus/Species Name: Lobelia cardinalis (Bellflower Family)

Description: vibrant red flower, oval shaped leaves

Habitat: forest, meadows, prairies, prefers moist soil, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: leaves and roots

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Lobeline-C₂₂H₂₇NO₂

Uses:

-Root tea-

Soothes stomach after eating something unsettling (food poisoning)
(externally) helps hard to heal sores

-Leaf tea-

Cures fevers
Colds

White Oak:

Genus/species :pinus strobus

eastern deciduous forest, tall grass prairie

habitat:forest areas

uses : stitch wounds, stabilize broken bones, bark used as cast and stitching for large wounds.

active chemical ingredient: Chrysin

C15H10O4

English Plantain:

Genus/Species: Plantago lacelota

Eastern Deciduous Forest, Tall Grass Prairie

Habitat: backyards, along tracks, meadows, roadsides, agricultural lands, and dooryards

Uses:

frostbite

(fresh leaves applied externally)

(bleeding suppressant)

decoction of dried leaves

antibacterial

(leaf and seed extracts)

diarrhea, fever, and coughs

(decoction of the roots)

rattlesnake bite

(root)

draws out infection, thorns, splinters, venom, and inflammation

(hot-leaf poultice)

burns, dermatitis, blisters, insect bites

(crushed fresh leaves, poultice, or cream)

Active Chemical Ingredient(s):

Verbascoside

C₂₉H₃₆O₁₅

Sweet Red Clover:

Genus/Species Name: Trifolium pretense (Fabaceace Family)

Description: dark pink flowers with paler base, grow 20-80cm tall

Habitat: fields, roadsides, wastelands, Eastern Deciduous Forrest and Tall grass Prairie

Part(s) Used: flowers

Active Chemical(s) Ingredients:

Beta-caryophyllene

C₁₅H₂₄

Uses:

-Made into an herbal tea-

Anti-dermatosis agent
Deobstruent
Anti-inflammatory
Sedative

Eastern deciduous forest:

Malaria	Purple coneflower Chicory(fever) Partridge pea (nausea) Blue vervain(headache and fever) Ironweed(fever and chills)
Frostbite	Purple coneflower Blue vervain (pain relief) English plantain
Tick Bite	Purple coneflower Chicory (if fever) Partridge pea (disinfect) Black-eyed susan (disinfect) Ironweed(swelling) English plantain
Sore throat	Purple coneflower Partridge pea Blue vervain Ironweed Black cherry tree
Constipation	Chicory Common milkweed Flatweed Swamp milkweed
Diarrhea	Queen annes lace Black cherry (eastern decidous only) Phlox English plantain
Food Poisoning	Cardinal flower Ironweed Flatweed Swamp milkweed Phlox
Sprained ankle/wrist	Chicory (anti inflammatory) Black eyed susan (reduce swelling) Blue vervain ( pain relief) Purple coneflower (pain relief) Ironweed(swelling) Sweet red clover (swelling) Flatweed English plantain
Knife cut	Chicory(antibacterial and wound healing) Partridge pea (disinfect clot and keep alert) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower (cleans, pain relief, blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed(replace lost blood) Cardinal flower White pine (eastern decidous only) English plantain
Axe wound	Chicory(antibacterial and wound healing) Queen annes lace (stress relief) Partridge pea (disinfect and keep alert) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans,pain relief, blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed(replace blood lost) White pine (eastern deciduous forest only) English plantain(suppresses bleeding)
Snake bite	Black –eyes susan (disinfect and draw venom) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower(clean, pain relief and draws venom) English plantain
Dermatitis	Chicory Ironweed Sweet red clover English plantain
Rope burn	Chicory Partridge pea Blue vervain(pain relief) Purple coneflower Cardinal flower English plantain
Poison ivy	Chicory Sweet red clover(relief and rash reduction) English plantain
Blisters	Chicory Partridge pea Blue vervain(pain relief) Purple coneflower Cardinal flower English plantain
Fungus infection	English plantain Purple coneflower
Bear attack	Chicory(antibacterial and wound healing) Queen annes lace (stress relief) Partridge pea(keeps alert and disinfect) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans, pain relief, blood clot, and closes wounds) Ironweed(swelling, and replaces blood lose) White pine (eastern deciduous only) English plantain (blood clotting)
Deep puncture wound	Chicory(antibacterial) Queen annes lace(stress relief) Partridge pea (disinfect,clot and keep alert) Blue vervain (pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans, pain relief, and blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed (replace lost blood) Cardinal flower White pine (eastern deciduous only) English plantain(blood clotting)
Burns from oil	Queen annes lace (stress relief) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower English plantain
Toothache	Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower
Flea bites	Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower
Sunburn	Chicory Blue vervain(pain relief) Purple coneflower Common milkweed English plantain
Gunshot wound	Chicory(disinfect and wound healing) Queen annes lace(stress relief) Partridge pea(disinfect,clot) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans, pain relief, blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed(replaces lost blood) White pine(eastern deciduous forest only) English plantain
Broken bone	Queen annes lace (stress relief) Black eyes susan (reduces swollen) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower(pain relief) White pine (eastern deciduous only)(cast)
Burns from fire	Queen annes lace(stress relief) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower English plantain

Tall grass prairie:

Malaria	Purple coneflower Chicory(fever) Partridge pea (nausea) Blue vervain(headache and fever) Ironweed(fever and chills)
Frostbite	Purple coneflower Blue vervain (pain relief) English plantain
Tick Bite	Purple coneflower Chicory (if fever) Partridge pea (disinfect) Black-eyed susan (disinfect) Ironweed(swelling) English plantain
Sore throat	Purple coneflower Partridge pea Blue vervain Ironweed Black cherry tree
Constipation	Chicory Common milkweed Flatweed Swamp milkweed
Diarrhea	Queen annes lace Black cherry (eastern decidous only) Phlox English plantain
Food Poisoning	Cardinal flower Ironweed Flatweed Swamp milkweed Phlox
Sprained ankle/wrist	Chicory (anti inflammatory) Black eyed susan (reduce swelling) Blue vervain ( pain relief) Purple coneflower (pain relief) Ironweed(swelling) Sweet red clover (swelling) Flatweed English plantain
Knife cut	Chicory(antibacterial and wound healing) Partridge pea (disinfect clot and keep alert) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower (cleans, pain relief, blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed(replace lost blood) Cardinal flower White pine (eastern decidous only) English plantain
Axe wound	Chicory(antibacterial and wound healing) Queen annes lace (stress relief) Partridge pea (disinfect and keep alert) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans,pain relief, blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed(replace blood lost) White pine (eastern deciduous forest only) English plantain(suppresses bleeding)
Snake bite	Black –eyes susan (disinfect and draw venom) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower(clean, pain relief and draws venom) English plantain
Dermatitis	Chicory Ironweed Sweet red clover English plantain
Rope burn	Chicory Partridge pea Blue vervain(pain relief) Purple coneflower Cardinal flower English plantain
Poison ivy	Chicory Sweet red clover(relief and rash reduction) English plantain
Blisters	Chicory Partridge pea Blue vervain(pain relief) Purple coneflower Cardinal flower English plantain
Fungus infection	English plantain Purple coneflower
Bear attack	Chicory(antibacterial and wound healing) Queen annes lace (stress relief) Partridge pea(keeps alert and disinfect) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans, pain relief, blood clot, and closes wounds) Ironweed(swelling, and replaces blood lose) White pine (eastern deciduous only) English plantain (blood clotting)
Deep puncture wound	Chicory(antibacterial) Queen annes lace(stress relief) Partridge pea (disinfect,clot and keep alert) Blue vervain (pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans, pain relief, and blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed (replace lost blood) Cardinal flower White pine (eastern deciduous only) English plantain(blood clotting)
Burns from oil	Queen annes lace (stress relief) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower English plantain
Toothache	Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower
Flea bites	Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower
Sunburn	Chicory Blue vervain(pain relief) Purple coneflower Common milkweed English plantain
Gunshot wound	Chicory(disinfect and wound healing) Queen annes lace(stress relief) Partridge pea(disinfect,clot) Blue vervain(pain relief and blood clot) Purple coneflower(cleans, pain relief, blood clot and closes wounds) Ironweed(replaces lost blood) White pine(eastern deciduous forest only) English plantain
Broken bone	Queen annes lace (stress relief) Black eyes susan (reduces swollen) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower(pain relief) White pine (eastern deciduous only)(cast)
Burns from fire	Queen annes lace(stress relief) Blue vervain (pain relief) Purple coneflower English plantain