Influence of Brazilian herbal regulations on the use and conservation of native medicinal plants.

For decades, several native medicinal species have been used by the pharmaceutical industry in Brazil to create commercial products. In 1995, the Ministry of Health, following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, established herbal regulations (RDC 17) in order to improve the quality of such products. In fact, only plant species with conclusive results from pharmacological and toxicological studies can be used for creating medicines. In this study, we evaluated the consequences of RDC 17 on the use and conservation of native medicinal plants by comparing the plant material used by six companies in 1995/1996 and 10 years later (2005/2006). Eighty-three different species were used in 1995/1996, 50 of them native (60.2%), 16 exotic (19.3%), and 17 imported (20.5%). In 2005/2006, 44 species were used by the companies and only 19 (43.2%) were native. The category of plant material that saw the largest decrease in use was roots, and in 2005/2006 leaves were more used. The study shows a strong reduction in the collection of native species signalizing the importance of herbal regulations on their conservation. It also points to the need for pharmacological and toxicological studies of the Brazilian native medicinal flora, as well as studies on their ecology and conservation.

Bitter plants used as substitute of Cinchona spp. (quina) in Brazilian traditional medicine.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bitter tasting plant species are used as tonics and have been previously used to treat intermittent fevers in Brazil, the principal symptom of malaria. Many of these species were named quina and were used as substitutes of Cinchona spp., the source of quinine. AIM OF THE STUDY: To present data on these bitter species named quina and to discuss their potential as sources of bioactive substances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data about the plants were obtained from a survey of the literature and documents written by early naturalists and clinical doctors living in the 18th and 19th centuries in Brazil. Correlated pharmacological studies were obtained from different scientific databases. RESULTS: A total of 29 species were recorded. The largest number of species belonged to the Rubiaceae family (14), being Remijia ferruginea (A. St.-Hil) DC. the most representative. Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. (Loganiaceae), Hortia brasiliana Vand. ex DC. (Rutaceae) and Solanum pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. (Solanaceae) were also frequently mentioned in the historical bibliography. Pharmacological studies have shown the presence of bitter bioactive substances useful to treat digestive disorders and/or with antimalarial activities, in all of the recorded botanic families. CONCLUSION: This study shows that several bitter species named quina were used in the past as substitute of Cinchona spp. and studying these plants can lead to the development of new products.

Morpho-anatomy and chemical profile of native species used as substitute of quina (Cinchona spp.) in Brazilian traditional medicine. Part II: Remijia ferruginea

ABSTRACT This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as "quinas" and used as substitute of Cinchona species. In this study, we have performed the botanical characterization of the stem bark of Remijia ferruginea (A. St.-Hil.) DC., Rubiaceae, by morphological and anatomical description, and the analysis of its chemical profile. Stem bark is thin and has the color and the texture of its external and internal surfaces as diagnostic features. Types and sizes of sclerified cells in the cortical parenchyma and in the secondary phloem are important features for analysis of the transversal sections and in the macerate. Alkaloids, flavonoids and chlorogenic acid were detected in the chemical analysis for TLC. These standard references can be used in the quality control of the bark of quinas.

Morpho-anatomy and chemical profile of native species used as substitutes of quina (Cinchona spp.) in Brazilian traditional medicine. Part I: Polyouratea hexasperma

This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as quinas and are usually used as substitute of Cinchona species. The purpose of the present study was the botanical characterization of the whole and powdered stem bark of Polyouratea hexasperma (A. St.-Hil.) Tiegh., Ochnaceae, by morphological and anatomical description, and the analysis of its chemical profile. The external texture of the bark, the whitened pit in the inner bark and the presence of cristarque cells, as well as the shape and arrangement of other lignified cells, are the most important macroscopic and microscopic features for the characterization of the bark. Chlorogenic and cafeic acids were detected in the chemical analysis and can also be used in the identification of the bark.

Influence of the preparation method on the low efficacy of multi-herb commercial products: the example of João da Costa e Associações / Influência do método de preparação na baixa eficácia de produtos fitoterápicos: o exemplo do João da Costa e Associações

Native medicinal plants have been used for decades by Brazilian pharmaceutical companies to create commercial products. In this study, we have investigated the herb-combined product João da Costa e Associações® (JCA) commercialized for thirty years to treat dysmenorrhoea. JCA is prepared by decoction of Himatanthus lancifolius (Muell. Arg.) Woodson (Apocynaceae), Chondodendron platyphyllum Miers (Menispermaceae), Gossypium herbaceum L. (Malvaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) and Echites peltata (Apocynaceae), followed by addition of sugar. The efficacy of JCA was verified by antinociceptive studies. The chemical composition was determined by fingerprint analysis in HPLC/ DAD. A weak inhibition of the second phase of the nociceptive effect induced by formalin indicated an activity similar to those steroids and not-steroids anti-inflammatories. Despite being prepared by decoction of five plants, the fingerprint analysis showed only two peaks. None of them corresponds to the chemical compounds observed in ethanol extracts prepared with the same plant material. We argue that the methods of preparation of the formulas should be considered in studies of multi-herbs products, since they can be the responsible for inefficacy or low activity of such products.

Plantas medicinais nativas do Brasil foram usadas por décadas pelas indústrias farmacêuticas nacionais para criar seus produtos. Neste estudo, foi investigado o produto João da Costa e Associações® (JCA) comercializado por mais de trinta anos para o tratamento de dismenorréia e outros problemas relacionados à saúde da mulher. JCA é preparado pela decocção de Himatanthus lancifolius (Muell. Arg.) Woodson (Apocynaceae), Chondodendron platyphyllum Miers (Menispermaceae), Gossypium herbaceum L. (Malvaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) e Echites peltata (Apocynaceae), seguido de adição de açúcar. A eficácia de JCA foi verificada por meio da avaliação da atividade antinociceptiva. Já a composição química foi determinada por analises em HPLC/ DAD. Uma fraca inibição da segunda fase da nocicepção foi observada no teste da formalina, indicando uma ação semelhante aos antiinflamatórios esteroidais e não esteroidais. Apesar de ser preparado pela decocção de cinco plantas, a análise no HPLC apresentou somente dois picos, e nenhum deles correspondeu aos componentes observados nos extratos etanólicos preparados com as mesmas plantas. Os resultados sugerem que o método de preparação de JCA promove a perda dos componentes químicos das plantas e interfere consideravelmente na eficácia do produto.

Traditional uses of American plant species from the 1st edition of Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia / Usos tradicionais das plantas americanas presentes na 1ª Edição da Farmacopéia Brasileira

The first edition of the Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia (FBRAS), published in 1929, is a rich source of information about American medicinal plants, since it lists species used in both traditional and conventional medicine. In this study, we have performed a survey of the traditional uses of plants described in eighty-seven Monographs from the FBRAS in twenty bibliographies written from the 19th century to the 1970s. Eighty-six different traditional uses are described in three or more books; some of them were cited in ten or more books, illustrating their widespread use and importance in medicine. The species from the first edition of the FBRAS have a long tradition of medical utility, which is confirmed by historical records. In surveying these medically relevant species, we hope to encourage policy makers and the scientific public as a whole to engage in a strong debate in an attempt to improve and facilitate the pharmacological study of these species.

A 1ª Edição da Farmacopéia Brasileira, publicada em 1929, é uma rica fonte de informação sobre as plantas medicinais nativas das Américas, uma vez que ela lista as espécies usadas na medicina tradicional e oficial da época. Neste estudo, foi feita uma extensa revisão sobre os usos tradicionais de plantas descritas em oitenta e sete Monografias presentes na FBRAS 1ª Edição, em vinte livros publicados do século 19 até a década de 1970. Oitenta e seis diferentes usos medicinais foram citados e três ou mais livros; mesmos usos foram descritos em dez ou mais referências, mostrando seu amplo emprego e importância como medicamento. Os resultados mostram que as espécies nativas presentes na 1ª Edição da FBRAS têm longa tradição em uso, confirmado pelos dados históricos. É necessário, portanto, que estudos farmacológicos com essas plantas sejam estimulados, como forma de promover seu melhor aproveitamento.

Medicinal plants and other botanical products from the Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia / Plantas medicinais e outros produtos vegetais da Farmacopéia Brasileira

In this paper, we describe the results of a thorough survey in the four editions of the Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia (FBRAS), in a search for data about the plants and other botanical products included in them. The growth of the pharmaceutical industry since the second half of last century markedly affected the Brazilian official medicine. The paper analyses the transformation within the Pharmacopoeia, focusing on the presence of Monographs for Native medicinal plants. The result showed a strong substitution of Native American medicinal plants by industrialized medicine and foreign medicinal plants in FBRAS and confirms the necessity of investiments in research for the validation of Brazilian Native plants.

Este artigo descreve os resultados de uma extensa revisão efetuada nas quatro edições da Farmacopéia Brasileira, buscando dados sobre as plantas medicinais e outros produtos vegetais nela descritos. O crescimento da indústria farmacêutica internacional a partir da segunda metade do século passado afetou intensamente a medicina oficial no Brasil. O texto faz uma breve análise das transformações sofridas pela Farmacopéia, tomando como base a existência de Monografias para as espécies vegetais nativas. Os resultados do estudo demonstram uma intensa substituição das plantas nativas do Brasil por medicamentos industrializados e outros produtos vegetais estrangeiros, confirmando assim a necessidade de investimentos em pesquisa de validação das nossas plantas medicinais.