VISTAS INVISTAS IN

HERBAL TECHNOLOGY HERBAL TECHNOLOGY

The most powerful The most powerful technologies of 21technologies of 21stst century century

• Information technology (IT)

• Biotechnology (BT)

• Nanotechnology (NT)

• Herbal technology (HT)Herbal technology (HT)

Herbal TechnologyHerbal Technology

Herbal technology (HT) deals Herbal technology (HT) deals with various aspects of utilizing with various aspects of utilizing plants for human welfare.plants for human welfare.

• The five prominent areas in HT are: Phytomedicines/Herbal healthcare Phytomedicines/Herbal healthcare products, Natural dyes, Biopesticides, products, Natural dyes, Biopesticides, Biofertilizers and Biofuels. Biofertilizers and Biofuels.

PHYTOMEDICINEPHYTOMEDICINE

Any medicine or healthcare product derived from plants (phyto = of plant origin)

Includes: • PhytopharmaceuticalsPhytopharmaceuticals - Drugs• NutraceuticalsNutraceuticals - Functional food• CosmeceuticalsCosmeceuticals - Functional makeup • AgriceuticalsAgriceuticals - Fungicides, pesticides, etc.• Plant/Natural dyesPlant/Natural dyes

Phytomedicines in differentPhytomedicines in different Medicare systems Medicare systems

• Allopathic system (Modern medicine)• Homeopathic system (Modern medicine)

Alternative/complimentary systems:• Ayurveda, Sidha and Unani systems• Chinese and Tibetan systems• Folk medicine• Naturopathy• Aromatherapy• Grandma’s medicines/Home remedies

Many of the modern drugs have been derived from plants

• 25 percent of active ingredients of modern medicine are obtained from plants

• They are either obtained directly or are synthetic derivatives of plant derived molecules

Common herbsCommon herbs of our homesteadsof our homesteads

TRIPHALATRIPHALA

TRIKATUTRIKATU

Important discoveries

therapeutically useful biodynamic

molecules from plants

Vincristine and VinblastineVincristine and Vinblastine

Catharanthus roseus

Vincristine and VinblastineVincristine and Vinblastine

• VincristineVincristine is used in the treatment of lymphatic leucaemia, lung cancer and breast cancer

• VinblastineVinblastine is used in the treatment of Hodgkin disease; renal, testicular, head and neck cancer

Both are alkaloids isolated from Both are alkaloids isolated from Catheranthus roseusCatheranthus roseus (Ushamlari, Savamnari) (Ushamlari, Savamnari)

Morphine

Papaver somniferum

ReserpineReserpine

Rauwolfia serpentinaRauwolfia serpentina

TaxolTaxol

• One of the most promising compounds in the treatment of cancer

• It is a diterpenoid isolated form Taxus brevifolia and Taxus baccata

T. brevifolia

ArtemisinineArtemisinine

Artemisia annuaArtemisia annua

Artemisinine, the most promising antimalarial drug

• Artemisinine is isolated from Artemisia annua by Chinese scientists

• Among its synthetic derivatives Artementher and Arteether are important

AntioxidantsAntioxidants

• They are Phenolic substances derived from They are Phenolic substances derived from edible plants which are capable of edible plants which are capable of scavenging the toxic free radicals from scavenging the toxic free radicals from human body.human body.

• These secondary metabolites are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activities which suggest their potential in preventing cancer and coronary heart diseases.

CurcuminCurcumin

Curcuma longa

GingerolGingerol

Zingiber officinale

Global trend in herbal drug Global trend in herbal drug industryindustry

• Growing preference for phytomedicinesGrowing preference for phytomedicines (especially due to toxicity and side effects of synthetic drugs)

• Billions of dollar worth herbal healthcare Billions of dollar worth herbal healthcare products are sold annuallyproducts are sold annually

WHO projection for the year 2050: Five trillion US dollarsFive trillion US dollars

Approach to developing new Approach to developing new generation herbal healthcare productsgeneration herbal healthcare products

Traditional/Indigenous Knowledge survey

Taxonomic screening

Plant collection

Phytochemical screening

Isolation ofActive principles

PharmacologicalScreening-I

DrDrug formulation

PharmacologicalScreening-II

Value addition Marketing

Success story of JeevaniSuccess story of Jeevani

Arogyappacha

Arogyappacha naturally grows in Arogyappacha naturally grows in AgasthyamalaiAgasthyamalai

Trichopus zeylanicus Trichopus zeylanicus ssp.ssp. travancoricus travancoricus

Active principle:Active principle: 6-acetyl-7-hydroxy, 8-methoxy-2, 2-2dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1 benzopyran

The plant possesses Antistress, antihepatotoxic, immunoenhancing, anticancer and antioxidant properties

Benefit sharing: TBGRI Model

Our strength• India is one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries of

the world, with about 45,000 species of plants• About 1,000 plants are used in the Indian System of

Medicine (ISM)• Nearly 9,500 wild plant species are used by the

tribes (of these some species have direct medicinal use and some are giving new leads and claims that require scientific scrutiny)

• 3,900 have edible utility• 300 species are used as pesticides

Medicinal plants used in Ayurveda

Approximately 4645 ethnic communities of India use about 9500 plants for healthcare

Number of plants used in Ayurveda 1000

Plants having direct medicinal use 7500

New claims and leads 950

Hortus Malabaricus IndicusHortus Malabaricus Indicus

17th century publication on the

medicinal wealth of Kerala

Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede

Problems in Development and Problems in Development and Trade of Phytomedicines in IndiaTrade of Phytomedicines in India

• Depleting resources• Lack of agrotechnology standardization• Lack of qualified human resources for:

Scientific screening for bioactive moleculesGood manufacturing practice Quality control/standardizationPlanning of business and trade

Post-graduate course in Phytomedical Science and Technology

integrates traditional knowledge on natural integrates traditional knowledge on natural resources with modern science and technology to resources with modern science and technology to

make a big leap in the global market of herbal make a big leap in the global market of herbal healthcare productshealthcare products

Study focusStudy focus

• Exploration, taxonomic characterization and documentation of medicinal plant resources

• Cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants• Study of traditional knowledge on plants• Phytochemical screening for biodynamic molecules• Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy• Good manufacturing practice• IPR issues and Quality standards• Business planning and Trade

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