Abstract
In Supplement 9.4 to the European Pharmacopoeia, one of the newest pharmacopoeial documents, there are eight new monographs raw materials of plant origin. They are derived from both East Asian and South American species. The first two parts of the series of articles are devoted to the characteristics of plants, which are a source of saponin raw materials: Bupleurum sp. and Platycodon grandiflorus. The next parts: 3, 4 and 5 describe the East Asian species: Ligusticum huanxiong, Houttuynia cordata and Paeonia x suffruticosa, which provide raw materials rich in volatile oil, flavonoids and terpenoid-phenolic compounds, respectively. Two South American alkaloid-rich species: Paullinia cupana and Ilex paraguariensis are presented in parts 6 and 7. Part 8 characterizes Camellia sinensis, as a source of Camelliae sinensis non fermentata folia. This raw material is a rich source of polyphenols: catechins (e.g. epigallocatechin, gallocatechin and epicatechin gallates), purine alkaloids (mostly caffeine) and a unique non-protein amino acid, theanine. It has been proven that the raw material possesses among others a number of medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, hypolipemic, hypocholesterolemic, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic properties. The aim of the present article is to draw attention of pharmaceutical and medical community to the numerous therapeutic, health-promoting and cosmetic values of this raw material proven by professional scientific studies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
