Medicines are either man made (i.e., synthetic) or obtained from living organisms like plants, bacteria, animals, etc., and hence, the latter are called natural products. Sometimes, natural products are chemically altered by man to reduce toxicity or side effects. Write against each of the following whether they were initially obtained as a natural product or as a synthetic chemical.
(a) Penicillin (b) Sulphonamide (c) Vitamin-C (d) Growth hormone
(a) Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from fungi Penicillium and was initially used as a natural product.
(b) Sulphonamide is a synthetic chemical. It is an antimirobial agent is the basis of several groups of drugs.
(c) Vitamin-C or L-ascorbic acid or ascorbate is a natural product and an essential nutrient for humans. It is present in citrus fruits.
(d) Growth hormone (GH or HGH) also known as somatotropin or somatropin is a peptide hormone occurring naturally in the body. It stimulates growth.