Phytotherapy Lecture 1: Introduction & Definitions - British University in Egypt - PDF

UN SDGs The Strategy for Teaching and learning is extracted from the Egypt Vision 2030 which is aligned with the sustainable development goals of the united nations (UN SDGs) 3&4 Universal healthcare system capable of improving health conditions...

UN SDGs The Strategy for Teaching and learning is extracted from the Egypt Vision 2030 which is aligned with the sustainable development goals of the united nations (UN SDGs) 3&4 Universal healthcare system capable of improving health conditions A high-quality education and training system ****Mention the module specification for this module(updated version) to the students highlighting that it is a contract between both students and module leader Module specification briefly(the learning outcomes) Example 1. Discriminate tools for detection and identification of natural drugs: seeds, fruits, herbs, subterranean, unorganized and animal drugs, macro- micromorphologically and chemically, with the aim of their identification. 2. Articulate methods from Pharmacopeia for the selection of genuine natural drugs and differentiation between genuine grade, varieties, and adulterants. 3. Enumerate the uses of medicinal plants. 4. Examine unknown natural drug whether in entire or powdered form. 5. identify an unknown natural drug by chemical tests for the aim of authentication. 6. compare the quality of a natural drug sample. 7. Analyze an unknown natural drug whether in entire or powdered form. 8. Assess the quality of a natural drug sample regarding fundamental reference. 9. Rationalize the use of natural products in pharmaceutical, cosmetic & food products. 10. practice and demonstrate professional competence in internet and literature retrieval skills. 11. Work autonomously or with minimal guidance where appropriate Module aim This module aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of botanical drugs derived from various plant parts, including seeds, fruits, subterranean organs, herbs, and marine and animal sources. Based on Egyptian and global flora references, students will gain practical knowledge of medicinal plants used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Through lectures and practical sessions, students will develop the ability to identify and recognize examples of these drugs in both their entire and powdered forms. They will also acquire in-depth knowledge of the major constituents, traditional uses, clinically proven applications, benefits, precautions, and potential interactions of selected botanical drugs. This hands-on approach will enable students to apply their learning to real-world scenarios and contribute to the advancement of herbal medicine  ****Explain the assessment of the module throughout the semester and the weight of each component /Programme D OR DC Theoretical part (???%) Practical /tutorial part (???%) Evaluation: Evaluation: Course work weight ???%: Final practical/tutorial exam (???%) = Practical sheet (……+ Practical/tutorial ONE quiz/semester covering 4 lectures (to be exam(……marks) +Lab manual (……marks)+Activity if announced applicable (…….marks) (70% for CW 10-15%)+ 30% assignments(max 3.) 50% for CW 25 and more+ 50% assignments(max. 3) Final written (Unseen exam ???%) Final oral exam(if applicable)(weight ??? %) For each part: The learning material (power point slides ± hand out) is available on the e-learning  Phytotherapy & Aromatherapy Lecture 1 Introduction to Phytotherapy and related definitions Assoc. Prof. Noha Swilam Department of Pharmacognosy and Microbiology [email protected] 5 Room: 329 Introduction Complementary / Alternative Medicine ( CAM ) : The term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. Standard medical care is medicine that is practiced by health professionals. It is encountered worldwide and in different cultures. It includes most importantly : 1- Herbal medicine ( Phytotherapy ). 2- Physical therapy, including : 1) Massage 2) Electrotherapy 3) Thermotherapy 4) Hydrotherapy 5) Cryotherapy 6) Acupuncture 7) Cupping ( vacuum cup ) 8) Yoga and meditation 9) Aromatherapy Electrotherapy  Definitions Phytotherapy ▪ It is a curing ability using bioactive plants-derived medicine (Phytopharmaceuticals) as medication. Phytopharmaceutical, Phytomedicine, Herbal medicine Are terms used for those medicinal preparations made by extracting botanical products with appropriate solvents to yield plant extract, crude product and few products related to animals, fungi & bacteria. Phytotherapy is useful for treatment of simple, mild, self- limiting, non-progressive, acute or often chronic diseases as: - Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, Loss of appetite in the elderly. - Cough and common cold. - Local ( skin & mucus membrane ) infections. - Infrequent insomnia. - Strained muscles - Headache  Definitions "Medicinal plants" plants contain metabolites with pharmacological activity in humans and animals and used for medicinal purposes and must be considered to be drugs This definition excludes: 1. Plants used in surgery (Hevea brasiliensis) rubber tree. 2. Plants used to extract substances in the synthesis of compounds with known pharmacological activity, a good example being Dioscorea species which contains diosgenin, a substance used to synthesize progesterone. 3. Plants used as parasite repellents (e.g. Derris elliptica) or agents poisonous to animals such as Antiaris toxicaria. ✓ There are, then, a limited number of plants that qualify either as drugs, foods or both (e.g. Allium sativum)  Definitions “ Herbal medicine" or "botanical medicine", as preferred by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This definition refers to the use of plants or plant substances as medicinal agents, as does the term "herb", "herbal drug" and "herbal remedy". Use of pure plant components e.g. atropine, reserpine, morphine or digoxin is not phytotherapy, its conventional treatment. Phytotherapy describes the efficacy and limitation of herbal medicines in the treatment of human diseases: it covers everything, from herbal medicines with powerful actions (foxglove, belladonna, etc.) to those with "very gentle" (or mild) action (chamomile, mint, etc.).  Definitions Dietary supplements Nutraceuticals -Functional Foods-Health Food Supplements. All these terms refer to food-based mineral and vitamin preparations as well as plant-based serve as foods and drugs at the same time. Examples: Grapes : contains antioxidant procyanidins. Citrus Fruits: contains antioxidant vitamin C. Green Tea : contains antioxidant procyanidins and catechins.  The Complexity of Herbal Medicines Differences between Herbal & conventional drugs. Herbal Conventional They are crude complex preparations They are mostly synthesized or could be Several active principles (in low natural. concentration) One active principle ( in high concentration) other substances (organic acid, bitter and other substances (excipients) aromatic substances, tannins, mucilage and saponins) Dilute preparations in terms of the active Standardized form with definite amounts. principles. Hence the dose is generally a sizable dose. Minimal side effects, safe, available and Maximal side effects. cheap. The exact active principle of the herbal The activity is due to single active medicine may be known or specified or the constituent. activity may be due to a combination of active compounds. (synergistic components) Promoted for several divergent uses Singular indication The Complexity of Herbal Medicines The quality of a herbal medicine is believed to be directly related to its active principles. These constituents have been referred to as "secondary" plant metabolites. However, herbal medicines contain other substances, often neglected and poorly understood, which render the activity of the active ingredients. Thus, it is often difficult to have the same effect of the herbal drugs by isolating its individual constituents and recombining them in the laboratory. The Complexity of Herbal Medicines Reasons: They are generally inactive substances. Substances of minimal pharmacological interest, such as the bitter or aromatic substances that stimulate the gastric and intestinal secretions thus making the dissolution, and consequently the absorption of the active principle possible or more complete. The tannins and saponins, very common in the vegetable kingdom, as the salts of organic acids may facilitate intestinal absorption of active plant principles through effects on intestinal motility or bile secretion. Like the mucilage and peptic substances, vitamins can also modify the functions of the intestine mucous membrane and consequently the absorption.  The Complexity of Herbal Medicines These compounds underscore the complexity of herbal medicine, as they can either enhance or reduce the effectiveness of drugs based on their chemical properties and interactions with the body's physiology. Gastric and intestinal secretions are essential for dissolving drugs, making them more absorbable and bioavailable. However, they can also degrade certain drugs, slow or speed up absorption, and interact with the drug's formulation. Understanding these interactions is key to optimizing drug absorption, influencing decisions on dosage forms, and routes of administration (e.g., enteric-coated tablets or sustained-release formulations). Bile Secretion and Lipid-Soluble Drugs: Bile, secreted by the liver, emulsifies fats, aiding in the absorption of lipid-soluble drugs. Without bile, many fat-soluble drugs would not be properly absorbed, significantly reducing their bioavailability. Drugs like vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as certain lipophilic medications, rely on bile for effective absorption. The increased permeability can allow drugs to pass through the intestinal wall more easily, which can enhance their absorption into the bloodstream. The Complexity of Herbal Medicines There is also the possibility of interactions between plant constituents. For example, Foxglove contains about 30 different closely related glycosides. These cardiotonic agents, with small structural differences, have different rates of onset of action and different durations of their effects. (digitoxin, given orally, has an medium duration of action and digoxin has an long duration of action) For these reasons foxglove preparations provide an activity of short onset and long duration but they are very seldom used because it is difficult to standardize. The Complexity of Herbal Medicines  Are the Herbal Medicines Safe? “Show me a drug with no side effects and I’ll show you a drug with no actions” Sir Derrick Dunlop Chairman, Committee on Safety of Drugs, UK founder of the Yellow Card System 1964 Are the Herbal Medicines Safe?  Are the Herbal Medicines Safe? The situation is complicated The sources of herbal material are diverse. Different parts of plants often contain different bioactive compounds with specific therapeutic properties. For instance, the bark may contain antimicrobial compounds, while the seeds or leaves might have antioxidant properties. This diversity allows for a wide range of medicinal uses across different plant parts. The active (and toxic) components vary as a result of climate, soil quality and geographical source. Plants have adapted to a variety of environments, and these adaptations influence their chemical composition. For example, plants in dry or harsh climates may produce more resins or essential oils for protection, while plants in tropical climates may produce alkaloids for defense against herbivores.  Are the Herbal Medicines Safe? Genetic factors. Genetic factors in plants can affect their safety by influencing the production of harmful compounds, allergens, or their ability to absorb toxins from the environment. Exposure to chemicals. exposed to harmful chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, or pollutants in the soil, air, or water. These chemicals can be absorbed by the plant and accumulate in its tissues, which may then pose health risks to humans or animals if consumed. Quality control is lacking so that problems such as contaminations with heavy metals or microorganisms and adulteration with botanicals and/or chemicals may arise during preparation, storage or shipping  Standardization of Herbal Medicines One of the main problem of Phytotherapy is the standardization of herbal preparations. Standardization of drugs means confirmation of its identity, determination of its quality, purity and detection of nature of adulterant by various parameters like morphological, microscopical, chemical and biological evaluations. If a preparation of a given herb is shown to be effective, this does not necessarily mean that another preparation of the same drug is similarly effective. The use of preparations inadequately standardized produces a false negative overall result. To carry out reliable clinical trials the herbal medicines must be of standardized quality.  Standardization of Herbal Medicines The composition of herbal medicines is inevitably inconstant, depending on a variety of factors: Age and origin, Harvesting period The specific parts of the plant to be processed The extraction methods employed The drying and storage (Correct drying is the most important phase in the whole process of production)  Standardization of Herbal Medicines Crude drug, the name of the drug should be followed by the drug/extract ratio, by the solvent used for extraction and by the physical form (for example: Rhamnus purshiana bark, 1:1, 20% hydroalcoholic extract). Purified extract the name of the herbal drug (i.e. Latin name of the plant followed by the part of the plant used) should be followed by the content of active principles (for example: Atropa belladonna leaves, 90% total alkaloids calculated as hyoscyamine). It is better to define a fingerprint of the herbal medicine. Chromatographic techniques (HPLC) yield good results and considered the most suitable. Echinacea Extract: Commonly used to support the immune system, standardized to contain a specific percentage of active compounds like echinoside. Ginkgo Biloba: Often standardized to contain 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones , known for supporting brain health and cognitive function.  Standardization of Herbal Medicines HPLC fingerprints of Ginkgo extract in two different experiment conditions.  Standardization of Herbal Medicines HPLC chromatographic fingerprints of 12 Yiqing samples Chineese Prescription: skullcap Coptis 165g, rhubarb 500g antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects.  Standardization of Herbal Medicines Standardization involves insuring Quality and Safety for all herbs, herbal drugs and food supplements, in addition to Efficacy for herbal remedies only Quality involves : Identity : by binomial name ( not common name only ) and organ ( part used ). Purity : Freedom of impurities or contaminants ( which are not allowed ). Potency : % or content of the active principle. Safety : Proven non-toxic, through acute or chronic toxicity studies. Efficacy: Only for herbal medicines, for their indicated uses, proven either through clinical studies as per FDA regulations ( U.S.A. ) or by collective evidence as per German Commission E. Classes of phytochemicals “Of medicinal properties"  Classification of plant constituents Based on Key functional groups 1. Phenolic compounds Flavonoids (glycosides), tannins, quinones, anthocyanins,…… - Precursor → shikimic acid - Hydrophilic - with at least one aromatic ring (with 1 or more oxygenations)  Classification of plant constituents Based on Key functional groups 2. Terpenoids Essential oils, sterols, carotenoids - Precursor → isopentenyl pyrophosphate (isoprene) - Lipophilic - Subclassified acc. to No. of isopentene units (=isoprene, C = 5) VO  Classification of plant constituents Key functional groups 2. Terpenoids  Classification of plant constituents 3. Organic acids Simple organic acids (citric, malic, etc..) - Precursor → acetate  Classification of plant constituents 4. Lipids Fixed oils, fats and waxes - Precursor → acetate R Dietary N-3 fatty acids “Omega-3 fatty acids”: protect against chronic diseases ALA must be assimilated through the diet. DHA and EPAare α-linolenic acid (ALA) produced fromALAwith low efficiency DHA and EPAare produced by marine Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) algae and accumulate in some fish, making fish good sources of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) beneficial N-3 fatty acids N-3 fatty acids have been shown to have protective functions for cardiovascular disease, and, in rats, protect against neurodegeneration  Classification of plant constituents 5. Nitrogen containing compounds Amino acids, peptides, alkaloids - Precursor → different amino acids - Basic in nature Alkaloids contain "N”: stimulants and narcotics Catharanthus Coffee roseus Coca Caffeine Cocaine Vincristine Nicotine Nicotiana tabacum Morphine Papaver somniferum  Classification of plant constituents 6. Water-soluble carbohydrates & their derivatives mono- & oligosaccharides, water soluble glycosides Aspirin Salicin: glycoside related to aspirin  Medicines from Ayurveda Traditional Indian medicine Senna glycosides, used as laxatives and dieters’ tea, from Senna alexandrina Curcumin (haridra) from tumeric (Curcuma longa)