IMPORTANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN HEALTH &

ECONOMY

Dr. TALAL ABURJAI, Ph D

Professor of Medicinal Plant chemistry

WORLD IN 21st CENTURY

100% increase in World’s population (12 billion by the year 2035).

50% reduction in forests cover.

Life expectancy close to 100 years in most parts of the world.

World resources of fossil fuel will be totally consumed.

Dr. Aburjai

PLANT AND PEOPLE

Plant have determined the very course of human civilization. The material culture of nearly every society is based more on plants than on animals.

Search for lands of spices led to the discovery of Americas and colonial invasion of Asia and Africa.

Dr. Aburjai

PLANT AND PEOPLE

Patterns of international trade in rubber, opium and quinine have altered the fates of entire nations.

Medicinal herbs, possessing aphrodisiac properties and longevity have resulted in immense biodiversity loss and continued global smuggling.

Dr. Aburjai

PLANTS AND HUMAN HEALTH

CURRENT PERSPECTIVE

Plant products are used as

Foodstuffs

Flavoring agents and spices

Perfumes and cosmetics

Pharmaceutical and biological agents

Recreational substances Dr. Aburjai

Over 120 compounds from 90 plant species are available as prescription drugs.

Over 80% of world’s population (5.3 billion people) relies on plant-based medicines.

Approximately $ 5 billion were spent in USA on phytoceuticals (1998).

Dr. Aburjai

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN PRIMARY HEALTH

CARE

WORLD PERSPECTIVE

According to World Health Organization (WHO) a vast majority of people (about 80%) in the developing world relies on herbal medicines for their primary healthcare needs.

There are 89 plant-derived drugs currently prescribed in the industrialized world.

Dr. Aburjai

25% of the medicines prescribed in the West contain at least one ingredients derived from medicinal plants.

The World Health Organization (WHO) gave official recognition to herbal medicines in a resolution adopted the 30th World Health Assembly in 1977.

Dr. Aburjai

MEDICINAL PLANT USE

WORLD PERSPECTIVE

China about 40% of total medicinal consumption is attributed to herbal medicines.

Thailand- Annual sale of herbal medicine is US$ 2.5 billion.

Japan- Herbal medicines are more in demand than mainstream pharmaceutical products. Dr. Aburjai

Abut 1400 herbal preparations are widely used in Member States of the European Unions.

60% of North Americans use herbs as cures for common ailments on a regular basis.

High percentage of Jordanians (~50%) use herbs as cures for common ailments on a regular basis.

Dr. Aburjai

MEDICINAL PLANT STATISTICS

★ Inventory of Medicinal Plant compiled by WHO on the basis of literature from 91 countries, including the Classical text on Ayurvedic and Unani medicines, lists 21,000 species of medicinal plants.

★ The NAPALERT (Natural Product Alert) database of University of Illinois (USA) documents ethnomedical uses for about 9,200 species of higher plants and lichens.

★ In China, 500 species of plants are used as drugs by traditional practitioners.

★ In Pakistan, estimated number of medicinal plants used in traditional therapies is 400.

THE STORY OF FOXGLOVESA old woman in Shrospshire (England) used to prescribe a secret cure for the treatment of dropsy and other cardiac diseases. This secret recipe was found to contain foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea).

William Withering, the English physician and botanist after getting the hint from the old lady, used the herb and observed that foxglove has a power over the motion of the heart, to a degree yet unobserved in only other medicine.

Powdered foxgloves, and its active constituents Digoxin and,

Digitoxin,

are now among the most widely prescribed medicines for heart patients.

Digitoxin: R = H

Digoxin: R = OH

O

CH3

O

O

HO

OH

OH

CH3

O

O

OH

CH3

O

CH3

R

CH3

OH

O O

H

H

H

STORY OF RAUVOLFIA SERPENTINA

Small climbing shrub “Chota Chand” grows between Ganges River and foothills of Himalayas, was used as potent antidote to snakebite.

In Bihar, people use the plant to treat insanity, epilepsy and insomnia.

In 1931, Indian Chemists reported the isolation of a number of inactive molecules from this plant. Schlittler (1949) isolated active compound reserpine, which at a very low dose of 0.1 mg/kg lowered the blood pressure by an entirely new mode of action. Reserpine was the first major drug to treat one of the most serious and common illnesses of the modern world, hypertension.

N

N

HH

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CH3OOC

OCH3

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CH3O

OCH3

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THE DISCOVERY OF QUININETHE DISCOVERY OF QUININETHE DISCOVERY OF QUININETHE DISCOVERY OF QUININE

According to a Spanish legend, a soldier who was suffering from a bout of malaria in the wilderness drank the dark-brown water in a pool into which quinine trees (Cinchona) had fallen. He then went to sleep, and when he awoke, he found that his fever had disappeared.

(Plant, People, and Culture by M.J. Balick and P.A. Cox, Scientific American Library, New York, 1997).

During the second world war, over 600,000 US troops in Africa and the South Pacific had contracted malaria and the average mortality rate was 10% (60,000). More U.S. soldiers were dying from malaria than from Japanese bullets.

Lack of Cinchona bark immediately became a serious national security issue for USA.

DRUGS FROM PLANTS

FUTURE PERSPECTIVE More acceptance for the phytotherapy.

Use of biotechnology and genetic engineering for the production of plant-based medicines (Cell culture, targeted biosynthesis, etc.).

Demand of plant-based medicines for age-related disease (autoimmune, and degenerative diseases).

Preventive medicines (antioxidants, vaccines, nutritional therapy, etc.) will be more important.

Many new diseases among the poorest due to microbial resistance and water shortage.

WORLD TRADE OF BOTANICALS

1. World Trade of Herbal Raw Material

US $ 8 Billion

2. Global Consumer Sales Value Over US $ 40 billion

3. Annual Growth Rate for Botanical

Europe 10%

USA 20%

4. World Trade in Medicinal Plants Approx. 0.5 million tones

5. European Market of Functional Foods

Over £ 900 million

TOP RETAILS HERBAL PRODUCTS IN EUROPE

Product Species Company Annual Sales US$ million

Tebonin Ginko Schwabe 200

Ginsana Ginseng Pharmaton/

Boehringer

50

Kwai Garlic Lichiwer Pharma

40

Efarmol /

Epogam

Evening Primrose

Scotia 30

Source: Gruenwald and Buettel, 1996

LEADING SUPPLIERS OF BOTANICAL RAW MATERIAL TO THE WORLD MARKET

Source: NBJ June 1998

Company Headquarters Global Sales US$ million

US Sales US$ million

Martin Bauer Group

Germany >250 20-30

Indena Italy >200 >50

Schwelzerhall Switzerland >200 15-20

SKW Trostburg Germany >100 10-15

Arkopharma France >100 10-15

Botanicals Int. USA >50 >50

MODERN MEDICINES OF PLANT ORIGIN

Drug Clinical Use Plant Source Traditional Use

Ajmaline Heart arrhythmia

Rauvolifa sp. Insanity

Atropine Anticholinergic Atropa belladona Dilate pupil of eye

Codeine Analgesic, antitussive

Papaver som niferum

Analgesic, sedative

Colchicine Anti-tumour, gout

Colchicum autumnate

Gout

Digoxin Cardiotonic Digitalis puprpurea CardiotonicEpherdine Sympathomimetc Ephedra sinica

Stapt.Chronic bronchitis

Monocrotaline Antitumour agent

Crotalaria sessilifora

Skin cancer

Noscapine Antitussive Papaver somniferum

Analgesic, sedative

MAJOR DILEMMAMAJOR DILEMMA Modern health research focuses

on increasing in the life span without improving the quality of life.

8 Million people are hospitalized each year for the ailments caused by the ingestion and side effects of prescription drugs.

GREED- THE NAME OF THE GAME

Disease and dependence continue to be the tools by which multinational pharmaceutical corporations enslave the world’s population.

By discouraging the traditional medicines by stringent laws and rumors; multinational companies ensure that their hold over World remains strong.

GREED- THE NAME OF THE GAME

With a monopoly on health, the pharmaceutical companies will have the power to extort the last penny from ailing seniors and parents of sick children, while those who can not pay will be left to die.

Who will not be willing to sell everything, if they have to save a loved one from suffering and death. Synthetic cures will not come cheap when there is no competition or alternative.

PARADIGM SHIFT

•Today, the world-wide health market is undergoing a product repolarization.

• People are buying fewer pharmaceutical drugs and more health foods, preventive herbs and vitamins.

•Good herbal products have tendency to make people sick less often.

NATURE’S TREASURES

YET TO BE EXPLORED

There are over 25,000 flowering plants in the World, less than 2 percent have been exhaustively studied for their potential pharmacological activities and bioactive chemicals constituents.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN PRIMARY HEALTH

CAREJORDAN SCENARIO

An estimated 60% of population of Jordan depends on traditional medicines.

There are around 2500 species of wild pants in Jordan

According to the studies about 485 plant species are medicinal and used in traditional medicines.

Many herbal manufacturing companies in Jordan produce Arabic medicines on commercial scale. The number of herbal medicine manufacturers in non-organized sector run in to hundreds.

Importing medicinal plants are largely motivated by the competitive market prices.

MEDICINAL PLANTSIMPORT AND EXPORT OF JORDAN

Export: US $ 0.4 Million

Import: US $ 10 Million

Source: 2005, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation

BOTANICALS

VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT RANGE

1. Standardized Plant Extracts.

2. Phytopharmaceuticals.

3. Nutraceuticals/Herbal Teas / Multivitamins-Minerals-Herbs.

4. Personal Care Items (Cosmetics, Soaps, Shampoos, etc.).

5. Recreational Chemicals (Fragrances, Aromatherapy, etc).

6. Functional Foods. 

VALUE-ADDITIONIN HERBAL-BASED PRODUCTS

  

30 + Fold Increase in Value Through the Chain Fresh Plants > Dried Plants > Tinctures > Extracts >Standardized Extracts > Phytomedicines

 

Economic Value of V.OilsEconomic Value of V.Oils

Chamomile oil 2500/kg Eucalyptus oil 1000/kgGrapefruit oil 1200/kgLavender oil 1000/kgPeppermint oil 1200/kgRosemary oil 2300/kgThyme oil 800/kg

Examples:   (1)         Ortica dioica Raw material / US $ 5 / kg   Finished Product US $ 1,500 per kg   (2) Nigella sativa   Raw Material US $ 1.0 / kg Finished Product (oil) US $ 30 / kg

(3) Cucurbitae massimo Raw material / US $ 0.5 / kg Finished Product (Tablets) US $ 2000 per kg

(3) Melissa officinalis Raw material / US $ 1.0 / kg Finished Product (Tablets) US $ 12000 per kg

DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF MEDICINAL

PLANT PRODUCTS1. Sustainable harvesting of medicinal plant raw

material.

2. Cultivation of medicinally / economically important plants.

3. Facilities for upstream and downstream bioprospecting.

4. Large scale industrial manufacturing and marketing of authenticated value-added products for international market.

5. Government policies and right policies.

Salvia triloba Flavonoids (1-3%), essential oils (0.8-2.5%) such as camphor, cineole, thujones humelene, α-pinene and limonene.

A source of essential oils which is used widely in Pharmaceutical Companies and in Perfume and Cosmetic industries.Anti-spasmodic, for digestive disturbance.Antioxidant properties that permit its use in drug and food preparations.Locally it is used for oral hygiene in mouth preparations

Matricaria aurea Essential oils (0.3-1.5 %) include chamazulene (1-15%), α-bisbolol and its oxides.Acidic mucilage, Coumarins and Phenolic acids.Flavonoids as apigenin 7-glucoside, luteolin glucosides and quercetin glycosides

Source of Essential oils used in aromatherapy and perfume manufacturing, it has many uses in Folkloric medicine.Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, antibacterialand antifungal.Skin disorders and insect bites, eye irritation.In cosmetology used in the preparation ofShampoo, suntan lotions and soaps.

Majorana syriaca Essential oils (0.7-3%) like 1-terpinen-4-ol, α-terpinol, 4-thujanols and linalool

Treat acute benign bronchial disease, treatment of functional dyspepsia.Locally is used to relieve symptoms ofcommon cold and for oral hygiene.Source of volatile oils

Important Jordanian Medicinal Important Jordanian Medicinal PlantsPlants

Artemisia sieberi Essential oils (0.3-1.3%) that includes α- and β-thujones, thujols and azulene.Flavonoids, sesquiterpenoids and lactone (absinthin)

Anthelmintic, antibacterial and as antipyretic.It is used to stimulate the appetite and to relieve painful periods. The habitants used it to treat different skin problems including skin rash, aczma and psoriasis.

Cassia senna Anthraquinone glycosides:Sennoides A and B. There are also small amounts of aloe-emodin and 8-rhein glucosides. Mucilage, flavonoids.

Symptomatic treatment of constipation. As an expectorant, antidysenteric and for the treatment gonorrhoea.

Achillea fragrantissima and Achillea falcata

Volatile oils may be azulenes Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antibacterial.

Ammi visnaga Methoxsalen Facilitate skin repigmentation (vitiligo) and treatment of psoriasis.

Ammi majus Coumarin derivative as visnadin, Furanochromones (2-4%) as khellin, Khellol and visnagin

Antispasmodic and for thetreatment of angina pectoris

Ankyropetalum gypsophiloides

Not known / not studied Claimed to be active to treat female sterility and whooping cough.

Mellisa officinalis Essential oils (0.05%) as citrals, citronellal.Triterpenes, Phenolic acids.Flavonoids as quercitin and luteolin

Antibacterial and anti fungalActivity, spasmolytic, CNS sedativeAnd antiviral. In creams and ointments and mouth gargles.

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Volatile constituents (sesquiterpenoid hydrocarbons, alkanes, lactones)Proteins, lipids and sterolsCarbohydrate as cellulose and galactomannans.

Antidiabetic, blood cholesterol-lowering properties.Facilitate weight gainUsed externally to treat different skin disorders.

Foeniculum vulgare

Assential oils as anethol (80%), methyl chavicol (5-10%), fenchon (2%).Furanocoumarin

Industrial source of anethole,Flavour, carminative and widely used in aromatherapy.

Pimpinella anisum Anethol (80-90%), estragol (1-6%)

Flavour, carminative and in aromatherapy.

Ocimum basilicum Essential oils (0.7-3%) as 1-terpinen-4-ol and linalool

Source of perfume, antispasmodic

Lavendula officinalis

Essential oils (0.8%) Antibacterial activityIn perfume and cosmetic industriesAs insect repellentExternally used to treat skin itching and acne

Urginea maritima Bufadienolides (4%) mainly Scillarenin A and Scillarenin B and Proscillaridin A.

Cardiotonic and for treatment of alopecia.

Alhagi maurorum Alkaloids: Choline, hordenine,Flavenoids: Isorhamnetin.Ursolic acid, saponinsVitamin A and C

Aphrodiasic

Rheum palaestinum

Not Known / not studied AphrodiasicAntidiabetic

Arumpalaestinum

Stilbene derivatives and other not known compounds.

Antiplatelet Widely used to treat different types of cancer by the locals but no clinical data are available.

Ecballium elaterium

The active constituents responsible for the pharmacological activity are not well known.

Treatment of Jaundice. The use of the juice of the plant for this purpose is very common even it is well known as highly toxic plant as it’s therapeutic index is very narrow.

RicinusCommunis

Fixed oil, toxic materials as Ricin and the alkaloid Ricinine

Laxative, contraceptive and in cosmetology for the preparation of creams and ointments. The locals claim that one seed prevents pregnancy for 12 months, while two seeds prevent pregnancy for 24 months.

Physostigma venenosum

Alkaloids: Physostigmine Cholinesterase inhibitor.Its major use is as a miotic to contract the pupil of the eye and to combat the effect of mydriatics.Treatment of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Colchicum autumnale

Alkaloids: ColchicineDemecolcine

Treatment of gout, anti-inflammatory.Source of colchicine.

Atropa belladonna Alkaloids (0.3-0 6%)As ( - ) - hyoscyamine,(-) - hyoscine

Gastrointestinal tract sedative

Silybum marianum Lipids (20-30%).Flavonoids as quercetin.Taxifolin.Silymarin (1.5 - 3 %).

Antihepatotoxic activity.

Withania somnifera Withanolides. Sedative and Hypnotic

Paronychia argentea

Flavonoids as isorhamnetin, quercetin and luteolin

Dissolve kidney stones.Treat urinary tract infections.Control blood sugar, it is widely used as antitumour.

Ruta chalepensis Alkaloids as quinolin alkaloids, acridone alkaloids.Coumarins and terpenoids as limonene, α-pinene and eucalptol.

Antispasmodic, sudorific, antipyretic, anticonvulsant, anthelmintic, antitussive, analgesic, abortifacient, and as flavouring agent.Hair tonic, antirheumatic, in menstrual problems and mental disorders.It is widely used as antifertility drug.

Ziziphus spina- christi

Alkaloids as cyclopeptide alkaloidsFlavonoids as quercitinTriterpenoids, saponins

Hypotensive, antitussive, liver complaints, for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.Externally as eye wash.

Astragalus spp. Tragacanth gum Pharmaceutical aids, lowering blood sugar and cholesterol.