Sir, one of the most important drugs for the treatment of glaucoma and xerostomia is pilocarpine. Pilocarpine is derived from the Jaborandi plant which is the only known source of pilocarpine in the world.1 Pilocarpine hydrochloride is a direct acting cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent which stimulates secretion by exocrine glands such as the salivary, sweat, lacrimal, and respiratory mucous glands. Pilocarpine is used widely for the management of glaucoma, radiation induced xerostomia, drug induced xerostomia, Sjogren's syndrome, and xerostomia associated with cGVHD (Chronic graft-versus-host disease).

Pilocarpine is derived from the leaves of Pilocarpus Microphyllus (Jaborandi) which belong to the genus Pilocarpus (Rutaceae). Pilocarpus species are found exclusively in South America, mainly in the forests of northern Brazilian states.1 Jaborandi was first introduced to western medicine in 1873 when Symphronio Coutinho, a Brazilian doctor took the leaf sample to France. He routinely used Jaborandi leaves in his practice as a diphoretic and sialagogue. Its value in ophthalmology was a secondary discovery. Interest in the Jaborandi plant by French physicians was piqued due to its use among Brazilian Indians to promote profuse sweating and salivation.2

Because of its commercial value, this species was exploited without control and by the 1990s it was considered an endangered species in Brazil.1 During the dry season collectors go into the forest and strip the leaves from branches by hand. Excessive and frequent collection of leaves from the same plant does not allow full development of new leaves leading to high plant mortality and reduction in the size of new leaves.2 Studies are being carried out to establish the biosynthetic route of this alkaloid and produce pilocarpine from callus cell lines in order to save this endangered species.1 New methods of detection of pilocarpine are being employed. Alexndra Sawya and Ilka Abreu used HPLC-ESI-MS/MS (high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method to detect pilocarpine in paste that is left over after industrial extraction of pilocarpine to permit additional studies of biosynthetic pathway.3 Genetic breeding programmes have been proposed by Moura and Pinto.4

Jaborandi, the only known source of pilocarine, is at the verge of extinction due to human impact. Overharvesting has placed many medicinal species at risk of extinction. We must safeguard our remaining medicinal treasures in the wild for future generations.