Scope and future prospects of Herbal Drug Industry

Scope and future prospects of Herbal Drug Industry

Objective

At the end of this lecture, student will be able to

• Explain the scope and future prospects of herbal drug industry

• Identify the research institutions involved in herbal drug research

Scope of Herbal Drug Industry

• Worldwide herbal drug industry is growing up at a fast speed

• Herbal Medicine is defined as branch of science in which plant based formulations are used to alleviate the diseases

• In the early twentieth century, when synthetic analgesics and antibiotics were not yet widely available, herbal medicine was the predominant mode of treatment

• With increasing use of allopathic system of medicine, herbal medicine gradually lost its popularity among people

• Almost a century has passed and it has witnessed limitations of allopathic system of medicine

• Lately herbal medicine has gained momentum and it is evident from the fact that certain herbal remedies are more effective

• Substances derived from the plants remain the basis for a large proportion of the commercial medications used today for the treatment of heart disease, high BP, pain, asthma, etc

• For example, Ephedra is a herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than two thousand years to treat asthma and other respiratory problems

• Another example of the use of a herbal preparation in modern medicine is the foxglove plant

• This herb had been in use since 1775

• At present, the powdered leaf of this plant is known as the cardiac stimulant to the millions of heart patients

• Usage of herbs to treat a variety of different ailments is universal, and exists in every human culture on Earth

• Because of the high costs involved with manufacturing modern medicines, many people living in developing nations simply do not have the financial resources to pay for them

• As a result, they are forced to use natural herbs as an affordable alternative

• In recent years, many people living in developed countries have begin taking a second look at herbal medicines due to the rising cost of medicine and healthcare in their own nations

Herb:

Herbs are crude drugs of plant origin that are used in the treatment of disease states, often of a chronic nature, or to attain or maintain a condition of improved health

Advantages of herbal drugs:

• Non – toxic

• No/less side effects

• Easily available

• Affordable prices

India is one of the major producer of medicinal plants, because

• Availability of vast areas

• Wide variations in climate, soil, attitude

• Presence of rich flora

• China and India are the two great producers of medicinal plants – 40%

• Global traditional market – 7-15 % annually

• According to NMPB, Govt of India , India has 17,000-18,000 species of flowering plants

• 6000-7000 species have medicinal properties that are of use in folk and documented in Ayurveda, Siddha etc

• 960 species – Traded

• 178 species – Annual level consumption level in excess of 100 metric tonnes

• Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas and Andaman and Nicobar island

• India – World’s Herbal Garden

Medicinal plant based industries

• Products based on Indian system of medicine – Ayurveda, siddha and Unani

• Plant products and extracts

• Essential oils

• Phytopharmaceuticals

• Nutraceuticals – Herbal teas, anti-oxidants, probiotic, prebiotic etc

• Herbal cosmetics

Future prospects of herbal drug industry are very bright in India

• WHO has stressed on the need of better utilization of the indigenous system of medicine which is based on the local availability of medicinal plants in the country. Therefore there is tremendous increase in the use of plant derived products

• Drug development from medicinal plants is cheaper as compared to synthetic drug development

• Agro climatic conditions in India, which vary from mild temperate to tropical regions with abundant rains and sunshine make it an ideal place for the growth of the flora

• India is enriched with 25% of the biodiversity of the world and there is no short of herbal raw materials for herbal drug industry

• There has been increased demand of raw medicinal herbs of Indian origin from western countries

• India has an impressive medical heritage, which comprises various systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy

• India is the source of cheap labour and skilled man power, which readily absorbs and adopts technological change

• Being strategically located in the world map, India could become a potential supplier of phytopharmaceuticals an raw medicinal herbs in near future for the growing world market

Herbal Drug Industries

Name of the company	Examples of products
Himalaya Drug Company	Liv 52, Bonnisan, Mentat, Septilin
Dabur Pharmaceuticals	Chyawanprash, Hajmola, Pudinhara
Emami Drugs	Navaratna oil, Boroplus, Fast relief
Baidyanath	Chyawanprash, Mahabhringharaj oil
Pankaja kasturi Pharmaceuticals	Pankaja kasturi breath, Mygrane oil
Zandu Pharmaceuticals	Triphala Guggul, Pancharista, Keasri jeevan
Cholayil Pharmaceuticals	Rumacide G, Medimix, cuticura talc

Research Institutions/Centres

Name	City
CCRAS (Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha)	New Delhi
NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute)	Lucknow
National Institute of Ayurveda	Jaipur
National Medicinal Plants Board	New Delhi
Regional Medical Research Centre	Belgaum
CDRI (Central Drug Research Institute)	Lucknow
National Buraeu of Plant Genetic Resources	New Delhi
FRHLT (Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions)	Bangalore