Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Paper presented at a technical meeting arranged by the South Pacific Commission on why progress has been slow in testing native plants for medicinal properties. Drug research is extremely costly. Problem is discovering compounds with selective actions. Suggests screening should continue, even if poorly. Terpenes generally disappointing for pharmacologists. Pukateine, alkaloid from pukatea, could be useful for pain relief. Ecdysones. Tutin. Karakin - questions evidence for toxicity.