HERBS AS RAW MATERIALS

The definition of herb can be given as any seed-bearing plant which does not
have a woody stem and dies down to the ground after flowering. Herbs refer to
the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried).

Culinary Herbs: Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables, like spices.
They are used in small amounts and provide flavour rather than substance to
food. Herbs can be perennials such as thyme or lavender, biennials such as
parsley, or annuals like basil.
Medicinal Herbs
The plants, which contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some
effects when consumed in the small levels also. some types of herbal extract, such as the extract
of St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) or of kava (Piper methysticum) can be used for
medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may
lead to toxic complications.

Sacred Herbs
The herbs, which are used in many religions & considered as holy plants. For example, myrrh
(Commiphora myrrha) and frankincense (Boswellia species) in Hellenistic religion, Bael (Aegele
marmelos) leaves, holy basil or tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), turmeric or "haldi" (Curcuma longa),
cannabis in Hinduism. Americans use both white sage and cedar for spiritual cleansing and
Herbal Cosmetics
These are hebal foemulations containing mixtures and pastes of herbs or their extract with natural
excipient. Herbal cosmetics come in many forms, such as face creams, shampoos scrubs, lipstick, natural
fragrances, and body oils.

Herbalism
It is a practice to study the botany and use of plants intended for medicinal purposes or for
supplementing a diet.

History of herbalism
The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE) from ancient Egypt has a prescription for Cannabis sativa applied
topically for inflammation.
Mesopotamia:
In Mesopotamia, the written study of herbs dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who created
clay tablets with lists of hundreds of medicinal plants (such as myrrh and opium).
India:
Ayurveda medicine has used many herbs such as turmeric possibly as early as 5,000 BC. Earliest Sanskrit
writings such as the Rig Veda, and Atharva Veda are some of the earliest available documents detailing the
medical knowledge that formed the basis of the Ayurveda system. Many other herbs and minerals used in
Ayurveda were later described by ancient Indian herbalists such as Charaka and Sushruta during the 1st
millennium BC. The Sushruta Samhita attributed to Sushruta in the 6th century BC describes 700 medicinal
plants, 64 preparations from mineral sources, and 57 preparations based on animal sources.

China:
Chinese started prescribing to herbal medicines in 2,000 BC. The Chinese emperor Shennong is said to have
written the first Chinese pharmacopoeia, the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing". The "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" lists
365 medicinal plants and their uses - including Ephedra (the shrub that introduced the drug ephedrine to
modern medicine), hemp, and chaulmoogra (one of the first effective treatments for leprosy).
Ancient Greece and Rome
Hippocrates:
The 'Father’ of Western Medicine. The recipes and remedies included in treatments of the early ancient Greek
period.

Galen: a Greek physician practicing in Rome, attempted to write down his knowledge on all things medical. He
wrote many texts regarding herbs and their properties.

Dioscordes: Dioscorides constructed a pharmacopeia, De Materia Medica, consisting of over 1000 medicines
produced form herbs, minerals, and animals.
16th century
The best-known herbals in English was “The Herball” or General History of Plants (1597) by John Gerard.
Gerard’s text was basically a pirated translation of a book by the Belgian herbalist Dodoens.

17th century:
Paracelsus introduced the use of active chemical drugs (like arsenic, copper sulphate, iron, mercury, and
sulphur).

18th century: In the America, herbals were relied upon for most medical knowledge with physicians.

19th century: The formalization of pharmacology in the 19th century led to greater understanding of the
specific actions drugs have on the body.
Modern Era :
In China, Mao Zedong reintroduced Traditional Chinese Medicine, which relied heavily on
herbalism, into the health care system in 1949. Since then, schools have been training
thousands of practitioners – including Americans – in the basics of Chinese medicines to
be used in hospitals.
"The World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal
medicines for some part of their primary health care.
In Germany, about 600 to 700 plant based medicines are available and are prescribed by
70% of German physicians.“
South African doctors use herbs to treat many patients. Some patients were finding the
plants more useful than modern medicine previously prescribed to them.
Selection of Medicinal Plants

Where applicable, the species or botanical variety selected for cultivation should be the

same as that specified in the national pharmacopoeia or recommended by other

authoritative national documents of user's country. In the absence of such national

documents, the selection of species or botanical varieties specified in the pharmacopoeia or

other authoritative documents of other countries should be considered.

Identification of Herbal Materials

Identification tests should be specific for the herbal material and are usually a combination of three or more of the

following:

1. Macroscopic characters

2. Microscopic characters

3.Chromatographic procedures

4. Chemical reactions
Authentication Methods

Taxonomic method: The initial step in the identification and authentication of botanical materials

entails classical botanical methodologies for collection and documentation of the plant at its

source. The botanical origin of the drug is identified and its scientific Latin binomial (i.e. genus

species) name is determined based on this method. It is the first step for authentication. To identify

the drug generally herbarium of that particular drug has to examine by the taxonomist then the

botanical origin of the drug is identified and its scientific Latin binomial (i.e. genus species) name is

determined.
 Processing of Herbal Raw Material
1. Processing of Herbs into Herbal Materials: Primary processing encompasses the immediate post-harvest

treatments accorded to herbs obtained from cultivation or by wild crafting or field collection intended to free

them from foreign matters, untargeted plant materials and other contaminants, and includes, for example, the

procedures of sorting (garbling), washing, drying, cooling and freezing, where appropriate. Primary processing is

applied to herbs in the preparation of herbal materials.

2. Processing of Herbal Materials into Herbal Preparations: Secondary processing is the next step concerned with

converting the primary processed herbs (herbal materials) into herbal preparations by various additional

procedures, including, for example, cutting, sectioning, comminution (fragmentation), aging/sweating; baking/

roasting; boiling/steaming; and stir-frying.

3. Processing of herbal materials or herbal preparations into herbal dosage forms:

Depending on the intended use, herbal materials could be regarded as starting materials and herbal preparations

could be regarded as intermediates in the process of producing finished products or as final dosage forms for

therapeutic applications. In the latter case, it is not uncommon that simple dosage forms are prepared from either

herbal materials (such as unprocessed seeds or plant exudates) or herbal preparations (such as ground powders

and dried extracts) ready for administration to the patients. These herbal dosage forms, produced under GMP

conditions, include liquid extracts, decoction, tea bags, granules, syrups, ointments /creams, inhalations, patches,

among others.
 The Indian System of Medicine

• The Indian System of Medicine is the culmination of

Indian thought of medicine which represents a way
of healthy living valued with a long and unique
cultural history

• It also amalgamates the best of influences that

came in from contact with other civilizations be it
o Greece (resulting in Unani Medicine),
o Germany (Homeopathy) or
o Our sages (which gave us the science of Ayurveda, Siddha
as also Yoga & Naturopathy).
 Ayurveda
BASIC PRINCIPLES

• Ayurveda is a classical system of healthcare

originating from the Vedas documented around
5000 years ago.
• Around 1000 B.C. the knowledge of Ayurveda was
first comprehensively documented in the
compendia called Charak Samhita and Sushruta
Samhita.
• As per the fundamental basis of Ayurveda, all
objects and living bodies are composed of five
basic elements, called the Pancha Mahabhootas,
namely:
o Prithvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and
Akash(ether).
• Ayurveda imbibes the humeral theory of Tridosha-
o Vata (air),
o Pitta (fire) and
o Kapha (earth + water),
which are considered as the three physiological
entities in living beings responsible for all metabolic
functions.
• The mental characters of human beings are
attributable to Satva, Rajas and Tamas, which are
the psychological properties of life collectively
terms as ‘Triguna’.
• Ayurveda aims to keep structural and functional entities in
a state of equilibrium, which signifies good health
(Swasthya).

• Any imbalance due to internal or external factors can

cause disturbance in the natural equilibrium giving rise to
disease and the treatment consists of restoring the
equilibrium through various procedures, regimen, diet,
medicines and behavior change.

• The preventive aspect of Ayurveda is called Svasth-Vritta

and includes personal hygiene, daily and seasonal
regimens, appropriate social behavior and use of materials
& practices for healthy aging and prevention of premature
loss of health attribute.
• The curative treatment consists of Aushadhi (drugs),
Ahara (diet) and Vihara (life style).

• Ayurveda largely uses plants as raw materials for the

manufacture of drugs, though materials of animal and
marine origin, metals and minerals are also used.

• Ayurvedic medicines are generally safe and have little

or no known adverse side-effects, if manufactured
properly and consumed judiciously following
necessary DOs and DON’Ts.
• Ayurveda is proven to be effective in the treatment of
chronic, metabolic and life style diseases for which
satisfactory solutions are not available in conventional
medicine.

• Over the years, Kshar Sutra and Panchakarma therapies

of Ayurveda have become very popular among the
public.

• Panchakarma is a unique therapeutic procedure for the

radical elimination of disease-causing factors and to
maintain the equilibrium of humors.
• Panchakarma include 5 detoxification processes,
used to treat diseases, according to Ayurveda.
o Vamana (Medicated emesis),
o Virechana (Medicated purgation),
o Basti (Medicated enema),
o Nasya (medication through the route of nose),
o Raktamokshana (Blood letting)

The Panchakarma therapy minimizes the chances

of recurrence of the diseases and promotes
positive health by rejuvenating body tissues and
bio-purification.
• Kshar Sutra is a para-surgical intervention using an
alkaline thread for cauterization, which is scientifically
validated to be effective in the treatment of fistula-in-
ano and such surgical conditions as require excision
of overgrown soft tissue like polyps, warts, non-
healing chronic ulcers, sinuses and papillae.
 Unani
• As the name indicates, Unani system originated in
Greece.

• The foundation of Unani system was laid by

Hippocrates.

• It was introduced in India by the Arabs and Persians

sometime around the eleventh century.

• During 13th and 17th century A.D. Unani Medicine

had its hey-day in India.
 Unani
• The basic theory of Unani system is based upon the
well- known four- humour theory of Hippocrates.
 Unani
• The human body is considered to be made up of
the following seven components are:
o Arkan (Elements)
o Mizaj (Temperament)
o Akhlat (Humors)
o Aaza (Organs)
o Arwah (Spirits or vital breaths)
o Quwa (energy)
o Afaal (Functions)
 Unani
• Unani system of Medicine has been found to be
efficacious in conditions like

o Rheumatoid Arthritis,

o Jaundice,

o Nervous Debility,

o Skin Diseases like Vitiligo & Eczema,

o Sinusitis and Bronchial Asthma.

 Unani
• For the prevention of disease and promotion of
health, the Unani System emphasizes six
essentials (Asbab-e-Sitta Zarooria):-
a) pure air
b) food and water
c) physical movement and rest
d) psychic movement and rest
e) sleep and wakefulness and
f) retention of useful materials and evacuation of waste
materials from the body.
 Unani
• There are four forms of treatment in Unani medicine-

o Ilaj bid Dawa (Pharmacotherapy),

o Ilaj bil Ghiza (Deitotherapy),

o Ilaj Bid Tadbir (Regimenal Therapy) and

o Ilaj bil Jarahat (Surgery).

 Unani
• Regimenal Therapy is a special technique/
physical method of treatment to improve the
constitution of body by removing waste materials
and improving the defense mechanism of the body
and protect health.
• Some of the special techniques are
o Fasd (Blood-letting)- Withdrawal of often little
quantities of blood from a patient to cure or
prevent illness and disease.
o Dalk (Massage)
o Riyazat (Exercise)
 Unani
o Hijama (Cupping)- A partial vacuum is created
in cups placed on the skin either by means of
heat or suction. This draws up the underlying
tissues. When the cup is left in place on the
skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed
and localized healing takes place.
o Taleeq-e-Alaq (Leeching)- application of a
living leech to the skin in order to initiate blood
flow or deplete blood from a localized area of
the body.
o Hammame- Har (Turkish Bath)
o Amal-e- Kai (Cauterization).
 Siddha
• The Siddha System of medicine is one of the ancient
systems of medicine in India having its close bend
with Dravidian culture.

• The term Siddha means achievements and Siddhars

are those who have achieved results in medicine.

• The Siddha system of Medicine emphasizes on the

patient, environment, age, sex, race, habits, mental
frame work, habitat, diet, appetite, physical
condition, physiological constitution of the diseases
for its treatment which is individualistic in nature.
 Siddha
• Diagnosis of diseases are done through
examination of pulse, urine, eyes, study of voice,
colour of body, tongue and status of the digestion
of individual patients.

• System has unique treasure for the conversion of

metals and minerals as drugs and many infective
diseases are treated with the medicines containing
specially processed mercury, silver, arsenic, lead
and sulphur without any side effects.
 Siddha
• The strength of the Siddha system lies in
providing very effective therapy in the case of
o Psoriasis,
o Rheumatic disorders,
o Chronic liver disorders,
o Benign prostate hypertrophy,
o Bleeding piles,
o Peptic ulcer
o Various kinds of Dermatological disorders of non psoriatic
nature.
 Homoeopathy
• The Physicians from the time of Hippocrates (around
400 B.C.) have observed that certain substances
could produce symptoms of a disease in healthy
people similar to those of people suffering from the
disease.
• Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, a
German physician, scientifically examined this
phenomenon and codified the fundamental
principles of Homoeopathy.
• Homoeopathy was brought into India around 1810
A.D. by European missionaries and received official
recognition in 1948 by the Parliament.
 Homoeopathy
• First principle of Homoeopathy ‘Similia Similibus
Curentur’- a medicine which could induce a set of
symptoms in healthy human beings would be
capable of curing a similar set of symptoms in
human beings actually suffering from the disease.
• Second principle of ‘Single Medicine’- Single
medicine should be administered at a time to a
particular patient during the treatment.
• Third principle of ‘Minimum Dose’ - bare minimum
dose of a drug which would induce a curative
action without any adverse effect should be
administered.
 Homoeopathy
• Homoeopathy is based on the assumption that the
causation of a disease mainly depends upon the
susceptibility or proneness of an individual to the
incidence of the particular disease in addition to
the action of external agents like bacteria, viruses,
etc.
• Homoeopathic medicines are prepared mainly
from natural substances such as plant products,
minerals and from animal sources.
• Homoeopathy has its own areas of strength in
therapeutics and it is particularly useful in treatment
for allergies, autoimmune disorders and viral
infections.
 Homoeopathy
• Many surgical, gynaecological and obstetrical and
paediatric conditions and ailments affecting the
eyes, nose, ear, teeth, skin, sexual organs etc. are
amenable to homoeopathic treatment.
• Behavioral disorders, neurological problems and
metabolic diseases can also be successfully
treated by Homoeopathy.
• Apart from the curative aspects, Homoeopathic
medicines are also used in preventive and
promotive health care.
 Biodynamic Agriculture
It is a form of organic agriculture, biodynamic agriculture/farming uses

management practices that are intended to "restore, maintain and

enhance ecological harmony."

 Pests
A pest is any living organism which competes with human, domestic animals or desirable plants for food
or water. Pest control refers to the regulation or management of pests.
Biopesticides
Advatages of biopesticides
• Inherently less harmful and less environmental load.

• Designed to affect only one specific pest or, in some cases, a few
target organisms.

• Often effective in very small quantities and often decompose quickly,

thereby resulting in lower exposures and largely avoiding the
pollution problems.
2.

3.