a
Plants with ocular effects: 3
Sweden (1996 SG 1895/1896) Nobel prize winners. S. Bergstrom (1916-) and B. Samuelsson (1934-)

Aspirin works by inhibiting the enzymatic conversion of the fatty acid arachidonic acid to prostaglandins.
During trauma prostaglandins and leukotrienes are synthesized from arachidonic acid and secreted by the 
damaged tissues. They sensitize the nerve endings and hence pain. Pure prostaglandins were first isolated 
by Sune Bergstrom a Swedish chemist in 1957. Bengt Samuelsson another Swedish chemist detailed the
synthesis of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid. They were awarded the Nobel prizes in medicine in 1982 for 
their works on prostaglandins and related chemicals.

Reference:
A History of Anaesthesia through Postage Stamps by Alistair McKenzie.

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