“Nature, green in leaf and stem”. Research on plants with medicinal properties in Suriname

Abstract

The widely held layman's perception of nature as a collection of animals operating against a static green background of plants is a serious misunderstanding of the complexity and dynamics of the plant biodiversity. Plants fulfill all functions that superficially only seem reserved for animals including movement, communication, and defense. For the latter purposes, plants have developed intricate and highly sophisticated chemical warning signals and defense systems to alarm friends and ward off foes. Many of these plant substances possess meaningful pharmacological properties, and some were found useful against human diseases. This paper briefly describes several aspects of plant communication and defense; gives a few examples of plant-derived therapeutics; and focuses on the potential contribution of Suriname (South America) to this scientific area.