**Question:** Not obtained from plant source?

**Core Concept:** Medications can be classified into natural (e.g., plant-derived) and synthetic sources.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right:** The correct answer is synthetic drugs, which are created in a laboratory using chemical synthesis. These drugs are not derived from natural sources, such as plants, animals, or minerals.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**

A. Plant-derived medications: This is incorrect because the question specifically asks for drugs not obtained from plants. Examples of plant-derived drugs include morphine (from opium), quinine (from cinchona bark), and aspirin (from willow bark).

B. Mineral-derived drugs: This is incorrect because the question targets non-plant sources, and minerals are not the focus here. Mineral-derived drugs include lithium (for bipolar disorder) and iodine (for thyroid disorders).

C. Animal-derived drugs: While some drugs are derived from animals, the question specifically excludes these. Examples of animal-derived drugs include insulin (from pig pancreas) and pertuzumab (a monoclonal antibody derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells).

D. Synthetic drugs: This is the correct answer as it describes drugs created in a laboratory using chemical synthesis, which matches the question's requirement for non-plant sources. These drugs cover a wide range of medications, including antibiotics (e.g., penicillin), anticancer drugs (e.g., methotrexate), and pain relievers (e.g., morphine).

**Clinical Pearl:** Understanding the origin of medications is essential for pharmacology knowledge and safe drug prescribing. Synthetic drugs often offer advantages over natural sources, such as greater consistency, stability, and efficacy.

**Correct Answer:** D. Synthetic drugs

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In summary, synthetic drugs are not obtained from plants, minerals, or animals, but are instead created in a laboratory using chemical synthesis. This distinction is crucial for understanding drug pharmacology, safety, and efficacy. Synthetic drugs often have advantages over natural sources, such as greater consistency, stability, and potency.