INTRODUCTION

• The cross-cultural study of medicines derived from

naturally occurring substances like plants and fungi is
known as ‘Ethnopharmacology’.

• ‘Ethnomedicine’, as defined is the totality of health,

knowledge, values, beliefs, skills and practices of members
of a society, including all the clinical and non-clinical
activities that relate to their health needs.

• Ethnopharmacology is a related study of ethnic groups and

their use of plant compounds. It is linked to
medicinal plant use and ethnobotany, as this is a source of
lead compounds for drug discovery.
They are using medicinal plants by traditional knowledge. More than 160
species of plants having their medicinal value are used by such tribal
communities which have lack of modern medical facilities.

Forms of Medicine
1. Infusion
2. Decoction
3. Mixture
4. Syrup
5. Paste
6. Powder
7. Pills and small cakes
8. Extract- both in water and in alcohol
9. Fresh juice by squeezing fresh materials
10. Fermentation
11. Medicated oil- both from plants and from animal fats.
 Traditional and Complementary
Alternative Medicine
Categories of TM/CAM
Main Popular System of TM/CAM

• Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Indian Ayurveda Medicine
• Arabic Unani Medicine
• Homeopathy

Technical Briefing Seminar,

WHO Headquarters,
September 2004
Medicinal plant in Scripture
Some references of medicinal plants
 ADVANTAGES OF PLANT BASED DRUGS

• Long history of use and better patient tolerance as well as public

acceptance.

• Renewable resources.

• Cultivation and processing –environmental friendly.

• Local availability , especially in developing countries.

• Plant constitute to be a major source of new lead generation.

• Several important recent break through.

 SAFETY IN QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Misconception that all

herbs are safe
Adulteration with Poor quality
dshdg products
other medicines

Mistaken use of Problems

Toxicity
wrong species

Incorrect Interactions with

dosing
Misuse of herbal drugs other medicine
Extraction

 Extracts can be defined as preparations of

crude drugs that contain all the constituents
which are soluble in the solvent.

 Extraction is the method of removing

active constituents from a solid or liquid by
means of liquid solvent.

 Menstruum- solvent used for extraction

 Marc- inert insoluble material that remains

after extraction
Herb & extract
 Rich source of lead compounds for
nutraceutical or pharmaceutical
applications
Mechanism of Extraction

 Constituents (secondary metabolites) embed in cells

 Extraction solvent must diffuse into cell

 Solution must pass the cell wall in opposite direction

Equilibrium
Solute inside Solvent surrounding
the cell the tissue
 Step 1 Step 2

Penetration of solvent into plant cell Swelling of the cells

Penetration of solvent into plant cell Swelling of the cells
Step 3

Diffusion of the extractive substance out of the cell

Ideal Solvent for Extraction
 Must be selective for the extractive compounds

 Non-reactive with the other compounds in material

 Economic

 Harmless to environment

 Volatile

 Immiscible with water

 Big extraction capacity

 Different density from water

 Minimum viscosity
1. Soxhlet Apparatus

• Consists of a flask, a soxhlet extractor and a reflux condenser.

• Raw material is usually placed in a thimble made of filter paper

and inserted into the wide central tube of the extractor.

• Drug, after imbibition with the menstruum may be packed into

the extractor.

• Solvent is placed in the flask and brought to its boiling point.

• Process is continued until the drug is completely extracted

• Optimization of Centella asiatica extraction using Soxhlet

extraction showed to achieve optimum metal chelating activities
Image of soxhlet apparatus
 Active principles in plants
• Secondary plant products
• Two major categories of these compounds
– alkaloids
– glycosides
• Other types of compounds are also important
- essential oils
 Chemistry of alkaloids
• Vary greatly in chemical structure
• Alkaloids share several characteristics:
– they contain nitrogen
– they are usually alkaline
– they have a bitter taste
 Glycosides
• Also widespread in the plant kingdom and second in
importance as medicines or toxins
• Have sugar molecule (glyco-) is attached to the active
component
• Active portion variable, sugar is glucose
• Generally categorized by the active component:
cyanogenic glycosides, cardiac glycosides, and
saponins.
 Saponins
• Steroid molecule is active component
• Can be highly toxic causing severe gastric
irritation and hemolytic anemia
• One useful saponin is disogenin from yams
(Dioscorea spp.) which can be used to
synthesis various hormones such as
progesterone (ingredient in birth control pills)
and cortisone
Sl. Botanical Common Active Principle Part used Pharmacological
No /Scientific Name Name Action and
Therapeutic Use

1. Zingiber officinale Ginger Phenols Rhizome Appetite-stimulant

(Gingerol, Anti-inflammatory
Shogaols);
Terpene
(Zingiberene)

2. Ocimum sanctum Tulsi Ocimene, Leaves Antimicrobial

Linalol, Eugenol Respiratory Disorders

3. Azadirachta Neem Azadirachtin Leaves, Intestinal parasite, Skin

indica Seeds, Bark disease, Wound/Ulcer

4. Piper longum Indian long Piperine Fruit Anti-inflammatory,

pepper Hepatoprotective, Anti-
oxidant
5. Withania Aswagandha Withanolides Root Leaves Restorative Tonic,
somnifera Stress, Nerves Disorder,
Aphrodiasiac
6. Leptadinea Jeevani Leptadenol, β- Leaves, Fever, Diarrhoea,
reticulata sitosterol Roots Urinary tract infections.
Sl. Botanical Common Active Principle Part used Pharmacological Action
No /Scientific Name Name and
Therapeutic Use

7. Tinospora Giloy Tinocordiside All Part Immunity booster

cordifolia Improve digestion

8. Embilica Indian Polyphenols Fruit Antioxidant, Anti-

officinalis gooseberry (gallic acid, ellagic inflammatory,
acid) Vitamin C Antimicrobial
9. Eucalyptus Eucalyptus Eucalyptol Leaves Anti-inflammatory action.
globulus (Cineol) Used for Joint Pain,
Relieves congestion
10. Glycyrrhiza Mulethi Glycyrrhizin, Root and Expectorant
echinata Glycyrrhetic Acid Rhizome
11. Curcuma longa Haldi Curcuminoid Rhizome Psoariasis, Anti-oxidant,
Wound healing, Anti-
inflammatory
12. Adhatoda vasica Malabar Quinazoline Leaves Expectorant
Nut alkaloids
Sl. Botanical Common Active Principle Part used Pharmacological Action
No /Scientific Name Name and
Therapeutic Use

13. Butea Palash β-amyrin, Leaves Skin ailments,

monosperma luteolin, vitexin Anthelmintic,
DigestiveDisorders.

14. Aloe Vera Gwarpatha Aloe Leaves Skin problems,

/Ghritkumari Mastitis, Constipation

15. Cassia Senna Rhein-9- Leaves Stimulaat laxative

angustifolia anthrone, Used for constipation
Sennidin

16. Rheum Rhubarb Anthraquinone, Root Digestive Disorders

rhabarbarum Polyphenols, Rhizome
Flavonoids

17. Senegalia catechu Catechu Arecoline, Fruit Astringent, Anti-

Arecaidine, inflammatory, Anti-
microbial, Aphrodiasic

18. Saxifraga ligulata

 What’s in the future
• Search for medicinal plants continues
• Especially in tropical rain forests
• Time is critical before plants are lost and
cultural knowledge of the plants are lost
• Same is true among native peoples
Thank you