Drug Standardisation

                               Use Herb as a whole

                                                                                        Dr.Himanshu Sharma

                                                                                       Ayurvedic Consultant

                                                                                         NIAPR,Patiala

INTRODUCTION

Widely regarded as the oldest form of healthcare in the world, Ayurveda is a time tested  medical system that originated in India thousands of years ago.. The aim of the system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve life. This can be summed up as follows: To protect health and prolong life ("Swasthyas swasthya rakshanam") ,To eliminate diseases and disfunctions of the body ("Aturasya vikar prashamanamcha  ).

Ayurveda  has several single and polyherbal   formulations .Today there has been a great demand for plant derived herbal  products. World has accepted the concept of drug standardization   for scientific validation of these  herbs.  The  standard extract(active principle) of a herb help us  to understand its phytochemistry, drug interactions, bioequivalence, pharmacovigilance  study.

OBJECT

Inspite of using the active principle of drug, use of crude drug is more scientific as per ayurvedic  principles.  It is believed that  the  standardised extracts are more effective than crude drug.In my view, If we are working on Ayurvedic principles, we must consider the importance of the views of our ancient Acharyas.

DISCUSSION

·         The concept of using whole herb by our ancient acharyas was based on the principle of   Ras panchak.  The action of a drug is based on  Ras, ,Virya ,  Guna,   Vipaak and Prabaav. In Ayurveda it is not the dead line that the action of herb lies only in its active principle. According to the principle of Ayurveda, one herb  works on the basis of its ras, another on the basis of its veerya, another on the basis of its vipaak.

·         A drug has major and minor constituents. The concept of using the major constituents as active principle does not solve the purpose. It is possible that those other minor   constituents may also be essential in a polyherbal formulations . How one herb interact with other herbs in a polyherbal formulations is yet to be carried out.

·         In Ayurveda , each and every patient is a individual entity and the treatment also differs from patient to patient. Rogi Nidaan has its different parameters. It’s not as simple as in modern medicines. Prakriti parikshan, Saar, Sahanan, vyayam shakti, agni all these parameters are  studied by an ayurvedist.An ayurvedist makes a clear picture of tha individual by understanding a patient as awhole and also  decides what kind of mode of  preparation to be used for the individual.  Panch Kashay Kalpana  (SWARAS,CHURNA,KALK,HIM,PHANT,)  is based on this principle. But if we are using only the extract of the herb , it  may not serve the purpose.

·         Concept of Bhashajya Kalpana in Ayurveda is highly scientific.In a polyherbal formulations our Acharayas has shown their creadibility . Tribhuvakirti ras ,Sanjivani vati many other jwarhar yog contains  vatsnaabh as a main content. Vatsnaabh is poisonos.Even after its shobdhan while prearing he formulation tankan,which is an anti dote of vatsnaabh is also added.This is one of the reason why ayurvedic formulation has less side efects.

·         Moreover, What is the difference between a "Standardized Herbal Extract" and a "Herbal Extract"? There is a lot of confusion between the two terms "standardized herbal extracts" and "herbal extracts". An "herbal extract" is sometimes also referred to as a tincture, or liquid herbal extract. This is a preparation where a whole herb is steeped in alcohol, water or a combination. A "standardized herbal extract" is a measurable marker substance that is extracted from the herb. This marker may be an active ingredient, or just one that is easily determined, but often, it is a compound that has been used in scientific research. Sometimes the wrong marker chemical is identified and used as the "active" ingredients. For example, St Johns Wart is usually measured for hypericin, though it is now thought that hyperforin is the more active substance.

·         These products have generated both controversy and confusion among consumers and Ayurvedic  professionals. In fact standardization means different things to different people. The word "extract" is also confusing, since this term traditionally is associated with fluid extracts, which are highly concentrated tinctures made from the whole plant.

·         One well-known manufacturer tells us in its consumer literature that in standardized extracts "active compounds are natural compounds found in an herb that is proven to be responsible for its healthy benefits." Morphine is from opium, but it is not a herb! Citric acid is not an orange, and isoflavones are not a soy bean! An active compound is in fact an isolated chemical, and no longer belongs to the plant kingdom, but to the molecular world. Unfortunately, cheaper brands, like those routinely available now in pharmacies, corner stores and even airports, are usually standardized, yet do not contains whole herbs.

·         Many herbal supplements contain "standardized herbal extracts" which is the chemical market that has been extracted using solvents such as acetone. These chemical derived compounds may contain residues which themselves could act as toxins on the body. "Standardized herbal extracts" are normally listed as : Blueberry Leaf Extract, Green Tea Extract, Bilberry Extract or Grape Seed Extract.

CONCLUSION

·         I believe that it  is best to use the whole herb. There are several (major and minor) active ingredients in the whole herb that have benefits researchers still do not fully understand. A herbal extract is an isolated component of only one of these compounds present in the whole herb.Use of crude drug in Ayurveda has its scientific  view.  Due to which  Ayurveda  has negligible side effects.  Inspite of using the active principle of drug, use of crude drug is more scientific as per ayurvedic  principles.  I believe that follow principles of ayurveda  as mentioned in our Classical text.

·         I invite your views on the topic.