Herbal Medicine and Plant Products

Terrestrial Natural Product for Health

• Medicinal plants are a significant source of herbal medicines
• Globally, approximately 35,000 plant species are recognized as herbal medicines, and 500 show high therapeutic value
• In Malaysia, around 2,000 plant species out of roughly 15,000 have medicinal value
• 70-80% of the global population utilizes plants for medicinal purposes

Global Market for Herbal Products

• The global market for herbal medicine is roughly USD 165 billion, which constitutes 20% of the global drug market.
• The traditional medicine market in Malaysia, along with health and food supplements, is valued at around USD 800 million

Plant Products and Human Health

• Plants are used for various purposes, including food, flavoring, perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Over 120 compounds from around 90 plant species are employed in prescription drugs.
• Approximately 25% of pharmaceutical medicines are derived from plants.

Chemical Diversity in Plants

• Plants produce a wide array of complex metabolites with diverse chemical structures and biological activities.
• Active plant compounds include sesquiterpene lactones, terpenes, quassinoids, alkaloids, quinones, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, macrolides, polyacetylenes, polyphenols, styrylpyrones, and their derivatives.

Widely Used Medicinal Plants in Malaysia

• Andrographis panniculata (Hempedu bumi)
• Centella asiatica (Pegaga)
• Curcuma xanthorrhiza (Temu lawak)
• Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali)
• Labisia pumila (Kacip Fatimah)
• Morinda citrifolia (Mengkudu)
• Orthosiphon aristatus (Misai kuching)
• Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung anak)

Andrographis panniculata (Hempedu bumi)

• Ethnopharmacological Uses: Antidiabetic, antimalarial, antitussive, febrifuge, treatment for asthma, boils, skin ulcers, rheumatic pain, antipyretic, and immune enhancement (inhibits HIV-1)
• Chemical Constituents: Various diterpene lactones (andrographolide, andrographiside, neoandrographolide) and flavonoids

Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali)

• Ethnopharmacological Uses: Antidotal, antihypertensive, antipyretic, antimalarial, antituberculotic, used to treat indigestion, lumbago, vermicide, jaundice, fever, and diarrhea.
• Chemical Compounds: Various quassinoids (eurycomanol, eurycomanone, eurycomalactone), exhibiting antimalarial, antitumor, antiviral, and antihistaminic activities, along with various canthin-6-one alkaloids and carboline alkaloids.

Centella asiatica (Pegaga)

• Ethnopharmacological Uses: Used to treat bronchitis, asthma, excessive gastric juice secretion, dysentery, kidney problems, urethritis, dropsy, hypertension, and diabetes.
• Chemical Compounds: Triterpenoid glycosides (asiatic acid, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, madecassoside), alkaloids (hydrocotyline), and flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin).

Orthosiphon aristatus (Misai kuching)

• Ethnopharmacological Uses: Antiallergic, diuretic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, remedies for arteriosclerosis, kidney stones, nephritis, diabetes, and rheumatism.
• Chemical Compounds: Sesquiterpene lactones, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and saponins

Morinda citrifolia (Mengkudu)

• Ethnopharmacological Uses: Analgesic, antihypertensive, antihelmintic, antiseptic, expectorant, laxative, antibilious, cathartic, decongestant, treating arteriosclerosis, asthma, diabetes, dysentery, and exhibiting insecticidal activity.
• Chemical Compounds: Alizarin, asperuloside, xeronine, citrifolinin, damnacanthal, various quinone derivatives, flavonoid derivatives, and ajmalicine

Other Plant Species

• Curcuma xanthorrhiza (Temu lawak), Piper longum, Cinnamomum camphora, Litsea cubeba – mentioned, but specific details are not provided for all of them

Piper Species

• Various bioactive compounds have been isolated from Piper species, including alkaloids, lignans, steroids, kawapyrones, chalcones, flavones, flavanones, amides, and polyphenols.

Other Important Notes

• Piper betle: Eugenol is the major component (48%) of the essential oil, and other compounds, such as eugenyl acetate and chavicol, have also been isolated from this plant.
• Piper sarmentosum and Piper aduncum: These Piper species yield phenylpropanoids
• Piper nigrum: An example of an amide is piperine. Examples from other species also given
• Goniothalamus spp.: Includes species like Goniothalamus tomentosus, Goniothalamus malayanus, Goniothalamus giganteus, Goniothalamus macrophyllus. Essential compounds like aristolactam BII, goniopedaline, ouregideone, goniothalamin, and N-methylaristololactam BII are noted, but their distinct uses aren't discussed in detail.

Procedure for Obtaining Bioactive Compounds from Plants

• Extraction of plant material
• Separation of extraction into fractions
• Isolation of pure compounds
• Spectroscopic analysis (LC/UV, LC/MS, LC/NMR)
• Structure elucidation from spectroscopy data
• Identification of pure compounds
• Bio-assay testing
• Structure modification, if needed
• Further testing and potential toxicology assays

Extraction and Purification Techniques

• Fresh/dried samples
• Solvent extraction (polar solvents), increasing polarity
• Fractionation (CC, VCC, PTLC, HPLC)
• Structural elucidation (IR, NMR, MS)
• Testing for biological activity
• Further chemical modifications

Extraction Methods (Table)

• A table is presented summarizing various extraction methods (Maceration, Percolation, Decoction, Reflux, Soxhlet, Pressure Liquid) with differing solvent, temperature, pressure, and other characteristics. The details are highly abbreviated in this excerpt. Important aspects to complete this section, include identifying solvents, the nature of samples (solid or liquid), and details on the solvents and the procedures relating to them.

Zingiber officinale var rubra (Ginger)

• Two key compounds, 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol, are related to ginger, with chemical reactions involved.

Medicines of Plant Origin (Table)

• A table lists various drugs of plant origin, along with their clinical use, botanical source, and traditional usage.

Important Compounds from Various Plant Species (Tables)

• Several tables describe important compounds obtained from a variety of plant species. Some involve chemical structures, while others simply refer to compounds. These tables are highly abbreviated in this excerpt..

Explore the significance of medicinal plants as a vital source of herbal medicines globally. This quiz covers the economic impact, therapeutic values of various plant species, and their uses in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Test your knowledge on the cultural and health benefits of these natural products.