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Tropical rainforests produce, most importantly, 40% of the earth's oxygen. Rainforests today cover less than 6% of the world's surface and yet scientists estimate that more than half of all of the earth's plant and animal live in these rainforests. The three largest rainforests are located in South America, Africa, and Asia. Probably the best known, is the rainforest in Brazil which is in grave danger of destruction by industrialists. Approximately 25% of all of the medicines that we use come from rainforest plants. An example of this is curare which comes from a tropical vine. It is used as an anesthetic and to relax muscles during surgery. Also, quinine, which is used to treat malaria is produced from the cinchona tree. There are many more examples of plants that produce medicines that grow only in our rainforests.

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17y ago

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