A Review of Significance of Herbal Medicine and its Evolution as a Therapeutics in Global Healthcare

Abdullah Al Mamun ^1*, Md Shamsuddin Sultan Khan ²

This review provides the history of herbal medicine and its impact in modern healthcare evolution 

Abstract

There has been a renewed interest in herbs and their formulations in recent years, driven by the growing demand for natural healthcare and the diverse health benefits these plants offer. This article shows herbal formulation, exploring its development activities, processes, challenges, and opportunities. Herbal products are created by extracting and preparing active compounds from medicinal plants and incorporating them into various forms like capsules, tablets, creams, or tinctures. This enhances the bioavailability, stability, and safety of herbal ingredients. Developing effective herbal formulations requires a deep understanding of plant phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and their interactions with other ingredients. The journey begins with carefully selecting botanical specimens, followed by rigorous extraction and purification processes. Quality control standards are strictly maintained, utilizing advanced analytical techniques such as chromatography and spectroscopy. Despite challenges like environmental factors and regulatory complexities, the herbal sector thrives globally due to the rising demand for natural healthcare. Exploring new herbal formulations, like adaptogens and nutraceuticals, combines ancient wisdom with modern scientific advancements. Approximately 85% of clinical trials involving herbal products show positive outcomes, emphasizing their effectiveness. In conclusion, the symbiotic relationship between tradition and progress in herbal formulation plays a crucial role in meeting the increasing demand for sustainable healthcare. It not only preserves traditional knowledge but also taps into the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in the modern healthcare environment. The herbal formulation market reached $83 billion globally in 2021, highlighting its significant growth.

Keywords: Herbal Remedies, Regional Ailments, Traditional Medicine, Scientific Validation

References

Alschuler L, Benjamin SA, Duke JA. Herbal medicine-what works, what is safe. Patient Care, 1997; 31, 48-103.

 Amiri, H. (2012) Essential Oils Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Three Thymus Species. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, Article ID: 728065

Ansari FZ, Alam S, Jain P, Akhter S, Ansari MZH. Vitiligo and its herbal treatment. The Pharma Review, 2008; 12: 137-13.

 Blumenthal, M., Busse, W.R., Goldberg, A., Gruenwald, J., Hall, T., Riggins, C.W. and Rister, R.S. (1998) The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, Austin, TX/Boston, MA, American Botanical Council/Integrative Medicine Communications.

Bodeker, G., and G. Burford, Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy and Public Health Perspectives,Imperial College Press, London, 2007

Bodeker, G., C. K. Ong, C. Grundy, G. Burford, K. Shein, WHO Global Atlas of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, World Health Organization, Kobe, 2005.

Brevoort P. The booming US botanical market. A new overview. Herbal Gram, 1998; 44: 33-44

 Clark, A.M. (1996) Natural Products as a Source for New Drugs. Pharmaceutical Research, 13, 1133-1141.

Cox PA. Will tribal knowledge survive the millennium Science, 2000; 287: 44-4

Cronquist, A. (1988) The Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.

Donald, P.B. (2000) Medicinal Plants and Phytomedicines. Linking Plant Biochemistry and Physiology to Human Health. Plant Physiology, 124, 507-514.

Dwyer J and Rattray D. Magic and Medicine of PlantS. Reader’s Digest: Pleasentville,NY, 1993, pp 48-73.

Edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

 ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (1999) ESCOP Monographs on the Medicinal Uses of Plant Drugs, Exeter, UK.

Farnsworth, N.R. (1990) The Role of Ethno Pharmacology in Drug Development. Ciba Foundation Symposium 154 Bioactive Compounds from Plants. John Wiley & Sons, Baffins Lane, Chichester (England), 2-21.

Fumonisin, B. (2002) Some Traditional Herbal Medicines, Some Mycotoxins, Naphthalene and Styrene. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans 82.

Hariramamurthi, G., P. Venkatasubramaniam, P. M. Unnikrishnan, Darshan Shankar, “Home Herbal Gardens-A Novel Health Security Strategy Based on People's Knowledge and Resources” in Gerard Bodeker and Gemma Burford eds., Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy and Public Health Perspectives, Imperial College Press, 2007, pp. 167-184.

Hossain, M. J., Mamun, A. A., & Khan, M. S. S. (2020). Traditional Ethnobotanical Practice in Indigenous Communities of Australia, Asia, and South Asia, and Modern Medicinal Prospects. Australian Herbal Insight, 3(1), 1–11.

Jia W, Gao Wa, Tang L. Anti-diabetic Herbal Drugs Officially Approved in China. Phytother Res, 2003; 17: 1127-1134

 Jones, W.P., Chin, Y.-W. and Kinghorn, A.D. (2006) The Role of Pharmachology in Modern Medicine and Pharmacy Current Drug Targets, 7, 247-264.

Khan I, Alam S, Akhter S, Shahin N, Ansari FZ, Ageing and its herbal treatment, The Pharma Review, 2007;12: 131-134

 Li, L. (2000) Opportunity and Challenge of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Face of the Entrance to WTO (World  Trade Organization). Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, 7, 7-8.

 Liu S, Li F, Li Y, Li W, Xu J and Du H: A review of traditional and current methods used to potentially reduce toxicity of Aconitum roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2017; 207: 237-250.

Maher Ali Ahmed, M., Saeed Mohammed, A. and Ebtesam Hasan, A. (2011) Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil of Thymus vulgaris from Yemen. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, 36, 342-349.

Marculescu, A., Vlase, L., Hanganu, D., Dragulescu, C., Antonie, I. and Neli-Kinga, O. (2007) Polyphenols Analyses from Thymus Species. Proceedings of the Romanian Academy—Series B, 3, 117-121.

 Marculescu, A., Vlase, L., Hanganu, D., Dragulescu, C., Antonie, I. and Neli-Kinga, O. (2007) Polyphenols Analyses from Thymus Species. Proceedings of the Romanian Academy—Series B, 3, 117-121.

Namsa, N.D., Tag, H., Mandal, M., Kalita, P. and Das, A.K. (2009) An Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Anti-Inflammatory Plants Used by the Lohit Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 125, 234-245.

Nandakishore D, Shubhangi G, Prakash I, Pallavi S, Parimal K, Shishupal B. Herbal plants with antifertility activity. The Pharma Review, 2007; 8:131-135.

 Newman, D.J. and Crag, G.M. (2007) Natural Products as Sources of New Drugs over the Last 25 Years. Journal of Natural Products, 70, 461-47

 Newman, D.J., Crag, G.M. and Snader, K.M. (2000) The Influence of Natural Products upon Drug Discovery. Natural Product Reports, 17, 215-234.

Prakash, P. and Gupta, N. (2005) Therapeutic Uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a Note on Eugenol and Its Pharmacological Actions: A Review. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 49, 125-131.

Reddy VJS, Rao GD, Lakshmi GR. A Review On Anti-Arthritic Activity Of Some Medicinal Plants. J Global Trends in Pharma Sci.2014; 5: 2061-2073.

Robbers JE, Speedie M, Tyler VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology.Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1996, pp 1-14.

Roh. P., “Regional Overview: Western Pacific Region,” in G. Bodeker, C. K. Ong, C.Grundy, G. Burford and K. Shein eds., WHO Global Atlas on Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, WHO Centre for Health and Development, Kobe,2005, pp. 183-186.

Saito, H. (2000) Regulation of Herbal Medicines in Japan. Pharmacological Research, 41, 515-519.

Salam DA, Surya AS, Tomy DV, Carla B, Kumar A, Sunil C. A REVIEW OF HYPERLIPIDEMIA AND MEDICINAL PLANTS. Int J A PS BMS , 2013; 2: 219-237

Schulz, V., Hänsel, R. and Tyler, V.E. (2001) Rational Phytotherapy. A Physician’s Guide to Herbal Medicine. 4th

Schulz, V., Hänsel, R. and Tyler, V.E. (2001) Rational Phytotherapy. A Physician’s Guide to Herbal Medicine. 4th Edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

Shang, MF. Status of the development of anti-diabetic TCM in China. Chin J TCM Inform, 2000; 7: 78-81

Shia, G., Noller, B., Burford, G., Safety: Issues and Policy in G. Bodeker and G. Burford eds., Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy and Public Health Perspectives, Imperial College Press, 2007, pp. 83-100.

Taylor, L. (2000) Plant Based Drugs and Medicines. Raintree Nutrition Inc., Carson City, NV.

Tippo, O. And Stern, W.L. (1977) Humanistic Botany. W.W. Norton, New York

 Tyler V.E. (1999) Phytomedicines: Back to the Future. Journal of Natural Products, 62, 1589-1592.

Van der Geest, S., “Is there a Role for Traditional Medicine in Basic Health Services in Africa? A Plea for a Community Perspective,” Tropical Medicine and International Health, Vol. 2, Issue 9, 1997, pp. 903-911.

Vickers A and Zollman C. ABC of complementary medicine: herbal medicine. BMJ, 1999; 319: 1050 -1053

Vishwakarma, A.P., Vishwe, A., Sahu, P. and Chaurasiya, A. (2013) Magical Remedies of Terminalia arjuna (ROXB.) International Journal of Pharmaceutical Archive, 2, 189-201.

WHO (1993) Research Guidelines for Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Herbal Medicines. Manila

WHO (1999) WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Vol. 1, Geneva.

WHO, WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005, World Health Organization, 2002

Wilcox M., G. Bodeker., “Malaria” in G. Bodeker and G. Burford eds., Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy and Public Health Perspectives, Imperial College Press, 2007, pp. 239-254.

World Health Organization, & WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations. Fifty-first report of the WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations. 2017. WHO Technical Report Series, No. 1003, Annexure

World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants. World Health Organization 2003.

Xiao, P. (1988) A Pictorial Encyclopaedia of Chinese Medicine. v1-10. Commercial Press, Hong Kong, 88-90.

Zarzuelo, A. and Crespo, E. (2002) The Medicinal and Non Medicinal Uses of Thyme. Thyme: The Genus Thymus,263-292.