Herbal Medicines

LECTURE # 2

Dr. Sirajunisa Talath,

Associate Professor,
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
RAK College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
 Course Content

1. Definition of herbal medicines

2. Scope of herbal medicine
3. Herbs as food supplements
4. The challenges in herbal medicines
5. Preparation of herbal medicine
6. Pharmaceutical uses of herbs

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 HERBS AS FOOD SUPPLEMENTS

• A dietary supplement, is defined as a

product that:
• Is intended to supplement the diet
• Contains one or more dietary ingredients
(including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other
botanicals, amino acids, and certain other
substances) or their constituents
• Is intended to be taken by mouth, in forms
such as tablet, capsule, powder, softgel,
gelcap or liquid
• Is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

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Herbal Medicines : Dr. Talath
 Herbal Supplements

• Naturally occurring substances taken from

parts of plants
• Herbal remedies have a long history.
• Herbal supplements may act in the same
way as drugs.
• Herbals may interact with medications,
vitamins, and minerals.
• Side effects may be unpredictable.

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 Common Herbs as Supplements

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Uses:

1. Colds, coughs & vomiting

2. Lowering cholesterol
3. Relieve Arthritis
4. Nausea, motion sickness M
5. Morning sickness
6. Menstrual cramps

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Anise (Pimpinella
anisum)

• Expectorant.
• Coughs and Bronchitis
• Parasite Repellant

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 Herbal Supplements

Green Tea

• Reduce Cancer incidence

• Metabolism booster
• Lowering Cholesterol
• Relieve inflammation and itching
of insect bites
• Reduce Pink eye inflammation
and Conjunctivitis

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Herbal Medicines : Dr. Talath
 Herbal Supplements

Lavender
1. Reduce Anxiety & Stress
2. Healing of Skin abrasions,
Burns & scalds
3. Anti-inflammatory and
antiseptic
4. Flea bites, rashes
5. Relive Fibromyalgia
6. Relive Arthritis & improve
circulation
7. Relaxation of neck & head
muscle
8. Effective for Leucorrhoea

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Thyme

• Reduce Fever,
bronchitis
• Fighting Toothache/
tooth infections
• Cough, flu & sore throat
• Insect repellent

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 Herbal Supplements

Aloe

Uses:

1. laxative and cathartic

effects;

2. Treatment of burns, to
promote wound
healing

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 Herbal supplements

Black Seeds

1. Relive Rheumatoid Arthritis

2. High Blood Pressure
3. Anti-inflammatory
4. Analgesic, antipyretic
5. Antimicrobial and
6. Antineoplastic activity
7. Preventing hair loss

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 Chamomile

Chamomile
• Soothes stomach-aches
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-spasmodic
• Anti-bacterial
• Antifungal
• Mild sedative

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St. John’s Wort
(Hypericum perforatum)
• Extract from leaves
• Effective for depression
and sleeplessness
• Anti-retroviral activities
(AIDS)
• Wound healing

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 Turmeric

• Tumeric (Curcuma
longa)
Uses:
1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Antioxidant.
3. Inhibits cells changes
that can lead to cancer
development.
4. Liver protective
5. Aids digestion
6. Treatment arthritis

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 Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.)

• Phenolic
compounds from
the root or rhizome
• Anti-oxidant
• Anti-tumor
• Anti-inflammatory

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 Define the following
 Phytochemistry is the chemistry (chemical
analysis) of plant products.

 Phytochemicals are naturally occurring

chemical compounds in plant-based foods.

 Phytochemical: Non-nutrient plant

chemicals that contain protective, disease-
preventing compounds.

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 What is the Extraction???

The process of separating active

principle(s) from powdered crude drugs
by using suitable solvents is called
extraction

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 Herbal Preparations
Herbal Herbal
Plants Extracts

Tinctures Elixirs Syrups Tea

Infusion Brew Decoction

External Use only

Liniment Ointment Salve Compress

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 Herbal Extracts

Herbal Extracts are

liquid preparations of
herbs that separate
soluble medicinal
components from the
fibrous portion of the
plant.

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Herbal Preparations

Herbal Teas: A Herbal

extract prepared using water
as the medium

Herbal Syrup: A concentrated tea

with the addition of a sweetener such as
honey, maple syrup or glycerine

Tinctures: A Herbal extract

prepared using alcohol as the medium.
It is only for external use

Elixirs: A herbal extract

prepared using alcohol and
honey. 20
Herbal Preparations: External Use

Salve Compress
Liniments Ointment
A mixture of Method where
A tincture A mixture of
herbs, oils and herbs are held
comprised of oil and tea
beeswax that in contact
alcohol or that is easily
does not with skin
Witch Hazel as rubbed into
absorb onto either dry, in a
medium the skin
the skin tea or tincture

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 Risks with Herbal Medicines
1. Delay in effective treatment for serious
condition.
2. Interference with vital treatment
3. Overloading patient with multiple
medications
4. Unexpected rare but serious liver toxicity
5. Toxic plants used
6. Interactions with other medicines
7. Contamination during manufacturing
process
8. Confusion over standards
9. Weak or missing information

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