scholarly journals DNA metabarcoding to unravel plant species composition in selected herbal medicines on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) of Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santhosh Kumar J. Urumarudappa ◽  
Chayapol Tungphatthong ◽  
Pinidphon Prombutara ◽  
Suchada Sukrong

Abstract Traditional medicines are widely traded across the globe and have received considerable attention in the recent past, with expectations of heightened demand in the future. However, there are increasing global concerns over admixture, which can affect the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicinal products. In this study, we aimed to use DNA metabarcoding to identify 39 Thai herbal products on the Thai National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and assess species composition and admixture. Among the products, 24 samples were in-house-prepared formulations, and 15 samples were registered formulations. In our study, DNA metabarcoding analysis using ITS2 and rbcL barcode regions were employed to identify herbal ingredients mentioned in the products. The nuclear region, ITS2, was able to identify herbal ingredients in the products at the genus- and family-levels in 55% and 63% of cases, respectively. The chloroplast gene, rbcL, enabled genus- and family-level identifications in 58% and 73% of cases, respectively. In addition, plant species were detected in larger numbers (Family identified, absolute %) in registered herbal products than in in-house-prepared formulations. The level of fidelity increases concerns about the reliability of the products. This study highlights that DNA metabarcoding is a useful analytical tool when combined with advanced chemical techniques for the identification of plant species in highly processed, multi-ingredient herbal products.

Author(s):  
E. I. Sakanyan ◽  
E. L. Kovaleva ◽  
L. N. Frolova ◽  
V. V. Shelestova

The article provides the results of a comparative analysis of requirements laid out in the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR, XI ed. (SPh XI) and the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, XIII ed. (SPh XIII) concerning  quality evaluation and standardization of herbal substances, herbal medicines and other herbal products. The article discusses requirements  for the criteria of herbal substances and herbal medicines quality control described in general chapters and monographs that were previously in force and that have recently been adopted. The article mentions new herbal substances that were included into the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation for the first time as well as herbal substances included into the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR, X ed., not included into SPh XI, but included into SPh XIII. The article analyses the requirements described in the new general chapters that were recently included into SPh XIII: “Herbal substances. Herbal preparations”, “Determination of heavy metals and arsenic content in herbal substances and herbal medicinal  products”, “Determination of water absorption  factor for herbal substances”,  “Buds”, “Cut-pressed granules”. The article suggests ways to improve methods of analysis of herbal substances and herbal medicinal products in view of recent advances in pharmacopoeial analysis and the increasing requirements for its quality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 179 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-512
Author(s):  
Karen Nieber ◽  
Esther Raskopf ◽  
Johanna Möller ◽  
Olaf Kelber ◽  
Robert Fürst ◽  
...  

AbstractIn paediatrics, clinical study data are limited, especially on herbal medicinal products. To address this gap, 2063 datasets from the paediatric population were evaluated in the PhytoVIS data base. By screening for paediatric data, information on indication, gender, treatment, co-medication and tolerability were evaluated. The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety. The perceived effect of the therapy was rated in 84% of the patients as very good or good without adverse events. The data shed light on a still neglected field of phyto-pharmacotherapy by giving information on the use of herbal medicines in an unselected cohort of paediatric patients. The results confirm the good clinical effects and safety of herbal medicinal products in this patient population and show that they are widely used in Germany.What is Known:• In Germany, about 85% of children receive one or more herbal medicinal products per year.• Despite international initiatives to promote clinical research in paediatrics, there are still many gaps of knowledge in the use of drugs in paediatrics.What is New:• The PhytoVIS project evaluated 2063 data sets from the paediatric population using herbal medicinal products.• The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety, and 84% of the patients rated the therapy as very good or good without adverse events.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Keter ◽  
Richard Too ◽  
Nicholas Mwikwabe ◽  
Charles Mutai ◽  
Jennifer Orwa ◽  
...  

Utilization of herbal products is a major concern due to the possibility of contamination by toxigenic fungi that are mycotoxin producers such as Aspergillus species during processing and packaging. Research was carried out to determine the presence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in herbal medicinal products sold in Eldoret and Mombasa towns in Kenya. The study employed both exploratory and laboratory experimental design. The herbal products were purchased from the market and transported to Kenya Medical Research Institute for processing and analysis. Fungal contaminants were determined according to Pharmacopoeia specifications. The toxins were quantified using ELISA based technique. The genus Aspergillus was the most dominant followed by Penicillium. Fungal counts ranged between 1 CFU/g and >1000 cfu/g. Analysis of variance showed that the rate of fungal contaminants for Eldoret and Mombasa samples had significant association (p≤0.001). Aflatoxin levels ranged from 1 to 24 ppb, while fumonisin levels ranged from 1 to >20 ppb. Only 31% of samples met the standards for microbial limits as specified in Pharmacopoeia. There is need for product microbial quality improvement through proper harvesting, processing, storage, and marketing. It is recommended that a policy be enacted to enable regulation of herbal products in Kenya.


2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edzard Ernst

Herbal medicinal products are often sold as a safe and effective alternative to HRT. Sizeable sets of trial data exist for black cohosh and soy. For other herbal medicines, only isolated trials have emerged, and their number is too low to enable one to arrive at valid conclusions. Collectively the data for black cohosh do not prove efficacy. The evidence for soy is encouraging but not compelling. Neither black cohosh nor soy is associated with major safety problems. Further research is warranted to closer define the role of herbal medicines for the menopause.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Luisa De Pellegrin ◽  
Anette Rohrhofer ◽  
Philipp Schuster ◽  
Barbara Schmidt ◽  
Philipp Peterburs ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Herbal medicinal products have a long-standing history of use in the therapy of common respiratory infections. We sought to assess the potential of five validated herbal extracts regarding their ability to restrict SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro: Bronchipret thyme-ivy (BRO TI), Bronchipret thyme-primrose (BRO TP), Imupret (IMU), Sinupret extract (SINx) and Tonsipret (TOP). Methods Vero cells were incubated with different concentrations of herbal extracts and infected with SARS-CoV-2 for 48 hours. The inhibition of viral replication was assessed by determination of the viral RNA load in the cell culture supernatant using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results SARS-CoV-2 RNA load was reduced by non-cytotoxic concentrations of BRO-TP (up to approximately 1,000-fold) and, to a lesser extent, IMU and TOP (approximately 10-fold). Conclusions Some herbal extracts showed a promising in vitro effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, suggesting an antiviral potential of herbal medicinal products. The potential of herbal medicines to restrict SARS-CoV-2 and to treat COVID-19 should be investigated further in a clinical setting.


Author(s):  
O. V. Evdokimova ◽  
A. V. Beketova ◽  
M. N. Lyakina

The relevance of this study stems from the need for alignment of test methods used for identification and assay of anthracene derivatives in herbal preparations and herbal medicinal products. The aim of the study was to analyse Russian and international quality standards and to identify the most specific and sensitive test methods that could be used for herbal medicines containing anthracene derivatives. The comparative analysis of requirements in the Identification, Determination of major classes of bioactive compounds, and Assay parts of the Russian and foreign pharmacopoeial monographs for herbal preparations and herbal medicinal products containing anthracene derivatives, demonstrated that the main test method used for identification is thin layer chromatography, while assays most often rely on spectrophotometry. The so-called “consistent standardisation” principle is implemented in the Russian quality standards as regards alignment of methods used for anthracene derivative determination in herbal preparations (i.e. active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs) and herbal medicinal products containing these APIs. The comparative analysis of requirements in the Russian and foreign quality standards for herbal medicines containing anthracene derivatives demonstrated the need for elaboration of two general chapters: Qualitative analysis of anthracene derivatives in herbal medicines and Quantitative analysis of anthracene derivatives in herbal medicines.


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