Enhancing Medicinal Plant Resources

In the earlier post I have mentioned about a Brain storming session recently held on the Status of Medicinal Plants at Tamil Nadu Forest Training Academy. (19^th June2015). The Decision makers and almost all senior officials of TN Forest Department, Industry representatives, Forest Academy, College, Research institutes and few farmer Association office bearers took part.

Most forest officers were of the view that conservation is the priority and no harvesting should be allowed. Some even felt that No data is available on the inventory of species available in Tamil Nadu forest. Researchers were for prioritizing identification of Genetic variability.  Many expressed that the entire herbal trade is non transparent and traders and industry plunder nations wealth. 

Cultivators expressed the views that Seeds, Technology and appropriate marketing mechanism is not there.

Industries were saying they find no shortage of any crude drug and added it is wrong to say  that there is no transparency as most companies go by open tender process, some with forward contracts with gatherers and growers. The need for storage godowns  was also expressed. The general perception was, Medicinal plant sector is unorganized and with no institutional mechanism in place for Certification and provision of authentic herbal raw material

On my part I raised the following on behalf  CTMR

1.       My concern on the absence of The Commissioner of Indian medicine who is responsible for procurement of medicine for all 1800 GH/PHC/ ISM Hospitals and Colleges – The largest user of Medicinal plants in the meeting and the absence of State Medicinal plant board representative and the horticultural Dept who promotes home gardens and sanctions subsidy for plant growers.

2.       The Revival of the now neglected Medicinal Plants Development Areas created in 2000-2002 across the state and non –utilization of the Resource created.

3.       Proper monitoring of The  AYUSH Cluster which was funded by Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to act as a herbal crude drug bank and common facility for testing and manufacture by smaller units. This is yet to take off.

4.       The possibility of providing saplings for Home herbal garden by the Forest extension centres/ forest nurseries and 56 research units functioning in the state – Integrating with Organic terrace garden project of Horticulture Dept.

5.       Promotion of 20 important medicinal Trees (50 nos each species)in the campus of all educational institutes particularly 550 engineering colleges- Higher Education secretary to send a guideline through Anna University to the colleges and Director of College education. Similarly Sipcot INDUSTRIAL PARKS and others could grow as Avenue and hedge tress. Forest Extension centres to  encourage Village Forest Committees to grow and sell saplings for the Institutes. This will not only augument medicinal plant resource but improve livelihood of Marginalized forest dependant communities.

6.       Forest Dept to encourage NABARD to fund for Rural Godowns which could act as grading and storage centers for gathers and growers and certified clean authentic material will be made available to ISM Industry at affordable cost and farmers will be saved from distress selling due to lack of storage space.

I hope ‘ Amma’ Home Herbal Garden kit will be available at the earliest with 7 most important medicinal plants useful as home remedy.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Herbs

‘Did you take any Ayurveda or Siddha Medicine? That is the reason why you have developed this kidney disease. They contain heavy metals which damage your kidney.’ - There is a trend among some physicians of bio-medicine to blame Siddha medicine for renal disease. Some research findings published from the west go a step further and say - Indian traditional herbal medicines contain aristolochic acid which leads to renal failure.  Many scared patients ask the Ayurveda/ Siddha Physicians ‘Is that true?’

Before answering the question let me explain what is this Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease means that for some time a person’s kidneys  have not been working the way they should- filtering blood  and remove waste products and extra fluid and flush them from the body as urine. If they don’t work properly, wastes build up in the blood and make the person sick. This does not occur overnight but happens in a phased manner for many years as a result of damage the kidneys. The tiny filters called nephrons are damaged, they stop working. For a while, healthy nephrons can take on the extra work. But if the damage continues, more and more nephrons shut down. After a certain point, the nephrons that are left cannot filter the blood well enough to keep the person healthy.

 The most common causes of this damage are:

·         High blood pressure.

·         High blood sugar (diabetes).

·         Urinary tract infection

·         Polycystic kidney disease

·         Birth anomaly

·         A narrowed or blocked artery that carries blood to the kidneys.

·         Long-term use of medicines that can damage the kidneys. Examples include Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

The condition manifest as reduced urinary output, collection of fluid in the tissues- more prominent in the face and legs, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite and weight loss and disturbed sleep.

Elevated Urea level and creatinine are the lab findings.

Now answering the question – Some Indian Medicine drugs which contain  mercury if not properly processed and if  administered more frequently even for simple conditions and in doses beyond the safe dose recommended in the classical texts of Siddha can cause this condition like any other drug of Bio- medicine. But the majority cases are due to the killer diseases of Diabetes and Hypertension.  Plants containing aristolichic acid are rarely used in any of the formulated Siddha products sold by manufacturers. The uses of these plants are negligible in Siddha and Ayurveda unlike Chinese herbal medicine. It is easier for western researchers to club the Chinese and Indian herbal products under the ‘Asian Herbal medicine’ grouping.

There are things one can do to slow or stop the damage to your kidneys. Taking medicines and making some lifestyle changes can help you manage your disease and feel better.

The Siddha herbal formulations used in treating diabetes invariably contain herbs that protect the liver and Kidney and prevent accumulation of waste to be removed by kidney. Low sodium salt, proper intake of pulses and choice of vegetables and fruits can help. It must be ensured none of the following is taken in excess – Sodium, Pottasium and Calcium. Indhuppu is  better than the sodium salt.

Phyllanthus amarus, Orthosiphon stamineus and Musa paradisiaca are the top three herbs that can improve the renal function and prevent elevation of Serum creatinine and Blood urea. 

The first one is to be taken as a cold processed extract, the second as a decoction- Herbal tea and third as a food supplement. It is futile if the primary cause is not properly addressed. These herbs can still be used even when the patient is on dialysis so that the frequency could be drastically reduced.

The best way is to go for regular health check up and follow a systemic life to prevent the Non communicable Diseases of Diabetes and Hypertension and if already affected follow a healthy lifestyle and regimen and ensure they do not go beyond control. 

Lecture on ‘Herbs in Management of Diseases’

The Post Graduate Department of Botany of the Aringar Anna college of Arts and Sciences, Villupuram organized a one day National Seminar on Emerging trends in Medicinal Plants research and Utilization on 27th Jan 2011. Vd. S. Usman Ali, Director of the Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research delivered the key note address on Herbs in Management of Diseases’ In his lecture he explained the various aspects like herbal Drugs, Drug Combinations, Pharmaceutics, Dose, Safety, Diet and Drug-Diet interaction . He explained how one herb could have many pharmacological actions and many herbs could have the same pharmacological action and explained how to choose an appropriate herb or combination of herbs for a particular disease. He explained the features of 50 herbs commonly used Industry as well as Traditional medicine practitioners.

Food for Hypertension

Food for Hypertension
The Most important way to have blood pressure under control is to turn to Vegetarianism. Vegetarians in general, have lower blood pressure levels and a lower incidence of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. This is mainly due to the fact a typical vegetarian's diet contains more potassium, complex carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fat, fiber, vitamin C and vitamin A. High fiber food ingredients like fenugreek has beneficial effect on lowering cholesterol. In Siddha this is considered anti-Pitham. Generally fruits and vegetables contain potassium. Garlic (One or two cloves) and onion (In food without deep frying and boiling- simple baking) are other two substances that reduce thickening of blood vessels due to fat deposit. Lemongrass tea is refreshing and is a mild diuretic. Lycopene in Tomatoes, Vitamin –C in Indian gooseberry and turmeric are all good as lipid regulators and anti- aging. Once artery is as thihck as their age.
Siddha advocates rock salt (Indhuppu- Syndhia lavana) instead of high sodium table salt. But that also should be used in moderation. Celery seed as spice is good as cumin seed.
Among oils sesame oil is preferred.
Looking for herbal supplement – Commiphora mukul and Arjuna tree bark extract are the top choice. Passiflora fruit drink helps. Bacopa (Jalbhrami) (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) and
Passiflora leaf extract helps calming of mind.
The best of drug less management is Meditation and Pranayama (Breath exercise)
Overweight persons must definitely go for brisk walk and shed few kilos.
Say no to Pizzas, Sweets and deep fried oil rich food and pickles.

Disease Modifying Agents From Natural Products

DMA AND AUTO IMMUNE DISORDER

• Immune effector cells like T and B lymphocytes and macrophages play critical roles in the pathogenesis of Auto-immune disorders

• Autoimmune diseases are a group of illnesses with multiple organ involvement like Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Disease Modifying Agents are the drugs believed to alter the course of the disease particularly in Auto immune Disorders.

• The goal of DMARD therapy is to reach remission or obtain optimal control of inflammatory joint diseases

CURRENT REGIMEN

Antimalarials Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine), Sulfasalazine,
• TNF inhibitors (Etanercept, infliximab and Adalimumab),
• Interleukin-1 receptor antagonists, leflunomide Methotrexate,
• Gold compounds, and
• Cytotoxic agents (Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine).

TNF INHIBITORS

• Etanercept and infliximab are TNF inhibitors. These drugs bind to and block the activity of TNF-alpha, which is a cytokine that causes inflammation and joint destruction in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Though they promise safety and efficacy compared to the earlier DMA’s, therapy cost is prohibitive


HERBS FROM OTHER REGIONS

• URTICARIA DIOTICA- NETTLE LEAF
• PANAX GINSENG
• GINKO BILOBA

INDIAN HERBS

• TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA
• BOSWELLIA SERRATA
• ZINGIBHER OFFICINALIS
• CURCUMA LONGA
• OCIMUMSANCTUM
• CAMELIA CHINENSIS

TURMERIC- NO MYTH

• Curcumin, a flavonoid from Curcuma longa (turmeric) is a known inhibitor of TNF-alpha. An in vitro study found TNF-alpha increased intestinal permeability and curcumin inhibited the NFkappaB- induced-TNF-alpha-stimulated increase in intestinal permeability

BOSWELLIA SERRATA

• Boswellia serrata is a botanical with significant anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro, this botanical inhibits the 5-lipoxygenase product LTB4, which has been implicated in Crohn's Disease
• This is also confirmed in Randomized Double blind clinical studies carried out in comparison with known drug, Mesalamine

INTERLEUKINS

• Interleukins are the cytokines that act specifically as mediators between leucocytes
• IL-1 often acts synergistically with Tumor Necrosis Factor during the pro-inflammatory process. IL-6 also plays a role in inflammation, mainly as an inducer of acute phase proteins synthesis by hepatocytes.

TULSI- NOT JUST RELIGIOUS

• Ursolic acid, rich in Tulsi -Ocimum sanctum is a major inhibitor of IL-6 responsible for Pro-inflammatory activity
• Ursolic acid suppressed NF-kappaB activation induced by various carcinogens including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)

RASAYANEE DRUGS

• If one looks at the botanicals, we understand that most of them are Rasayanee drugs.
• This is just not coincidence
• More we understand the mechanism of pharmacological action better is our understanding of disease and choice of treatment