Traditional Medicine in Asia

organisms. It provides useful information
on plants used in traditional medicines and
can be used for literature search before
planning an elaborate research
programme. 8
It is possible to obtain from the
database names of plants of a specific
country or area: plants with pharmacological
data on specific activity, i.e.,
hypoglycaemic, antitumour, antifertility, etc.
Agrobotanical Research
Such research is necessary for the
identification and evaluation of the natural
distribution of the plant species. Research
on conditions of soil, weather, or type of
manure used for cultivation of the plant
and the effect on seasonal variations in the
growth and properties of the plant would
also form a part of such agrobotanical
studies. Such studies are important for
undertaking the cultivation of medicinal
plants and making herb gardens.
Pharmacological Studies
Modern pharmacology has made remarkable
progress in the last four decades.
Research, drug development and manufacture of herbal drugs
From the early days, when pharmacodynamic
studies were done to determine
the effects of drugs on systems and tissues,
i.e., on circulatory or nervous systems, etc.,
the scientists working in this field are now
involved in identifying the molecular basis
of drug action, interactions with receptors
(both extra and intracellular) effects on
transmission mechanisms or interaction
with cytokines. With the cloning of
receptors through recombinant DNA
technology, research methodology has
been further refined. 2
Classical pharmacological studies on
experimental animals, using crude or
refined plant extracts, have yielded some
fruitful data. On a global basis, about 130
drugs, all single entities extracted from
higher plants or modified chemicals, are
currently used in modern medicine. 2
However, such a classical “phyto
pharmacological” approach has not been
cost-effective. In fact, out of 200 new
chemical entities (NCE) introduced in
medicinal chemistry globally, only about 2
per cent were based on higher plants. (2)
The National Cancer Institute (USA),
beginning in 1959, screened over the next
25 years, 180,000 plant extracts covering
Table 1. Drugs from ethnotherapeutic field
Drugs Ethnotherapeutic information
Morphine Opium used by ancient Egyptians and Sumarians
Atropine Used by Babylonians
Ephedrine Used by the Chinese for respiratory ailment (2700 BC)
Quinine Used by Peruvians for fever
Emetine Used by Brazilians and South Americans for dysentery
and to induce vomiting
Digoxin Used in England in the 17th century for heart illness
Tubocurarine Used as arrow poison by Red Indians
Reserpine Rauwolfia serpentina used as ‘folklore’ remedy for
mental diseases in Bihar (North India)
Artemisin Used in ancient Chinese medicine for fever
* Modified for Table 1 in reference: Sukh Deo
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