Development Of New Medicinal Products Research Articles

Correlation of total phenolic and flavonoid contents on the antioxidant activity of Psychotria gitingensis and Psychotria pilosella

The genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) possesses various biological properties, ranging from phytochemical and pharmacological properties of their chemical constituents to traditional medical applications. Most Psychotria species remain unstudied despite high diversity and endemism in the Philippines. Hence, this study investigates the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Psychotria gitingensis and Psychotria pilosella methanolic crude extracts, evaluates their antioxidant properties, and assesses their antibacterial properties. Results revealed that P. gitingensis fruit extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (254.45 ± 6.63 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid content (9.85 ± 0.49 mg QE/g). In addition, it also displayed the highest antioxidant activity (0.993 ± 0.041 mg/mg) in the ABTS assay. P. pilosella leaf extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH (70.53% ± 1.50), and P. gitingensis leaf extract showed the highest iron-reducing antioxidant power (86.06% ± 0.73) in FRAP. Paper disk diffusion tests, however, did not exhibit activity against selected nosocomial pathogens. The results of this study contribute to expanding the field of knowledge on alternative treatments and paving the way for the development of new medicinal products.

STUDIES ON THE ACUTE TOXICITY OF THE EXTRACTS OF GENTIANA ASCLEPIADEA L

The search and creation of new medicinal products based on plant raw materials is one of the important tasks of medicine and pharmacy. Toxicological studies are an important stage in the development of new medicinal products. Studies on the acute toxicity make it possible to obtain information about the danger of the studied drug in the conditions of short-term studies and the prospects for conducting further tests.
 Gentiana (G.) asclepiadea, which has long been used in traditional medicine, is promising for research and further creation of medicinal products.
 The aim is to study the acute toxicity of liquid and thick extracts of Gentiana asсlepiadea roots.
 Materials and methods. The objects of the study were liquid and thick extracts of the roots of G. аsсlepiadea, which were obtained from the crushed roots by the method of remaceration with 40% ethanol, followed by evaporation for a thick extract.
 The acute toxicity of G. asсlepiadea roots extracts in order to determine the LD50 was studied in accordance with the methodological recommendations of the State Pharmacological Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on male mice by a single intragastric injection. The animals were divided into four groups of 6 animals each. Animals of group I (intact animals) were given drinking water; animals of the II group were injected with 40 % ethanol; animals of III and IV groups were injected with liquid and thick extracts of G. asсlepiadea roots, respectively. The studied extracts, 40 % ethanol and drinking water were injected intragastrically at a dose of 25 ml/kg.
 The animals were observed for 14 days. The degree of toxicity of the extracts was assessed by changes in the general condition of the animals, lethality, the effect of the extract on the dynamics of the body weight of the animals, macroscopic signs of internal organs, their mass coefficients were calculated, hematological and some biochemical blood parameters were determined.
 Results of the research. No deaths of animals were noted, appearance and behavioral reactions did not differ from intact animals with a single intragastric injection of G. asсlepiadea roots extracts at a dose of 25 ml/kg. During the observation period, there was a physiological increase in the body weight of the animals relative to the initial data. Macroscopic examination of the internal organs of animals revealed no pathological changes, the mass coefficients of internal organs did not differ from intact animals, which indicates the absence of hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects when taking extracts of G. asсlepiadea. The lack of toxic effect of G. asсlepiadea extracts is confirmed by hematological and biochemical indicators, since the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin level, activity of ALT and AST in the blood of the animals of the experimental groups were within the parameters of intact animals.
 Thus, the maximum administered dose of the liquid root extract of G. asclepiadea in terms of dry matter was 5015 mg/kg, and the thick root extract was 5000 mg/kg.
 Conclusions. According to the results of the study of acute toxicity of liquid and thick extracts of the roots of G. asclepiadea when administered intragastrically to male mice in doses of 25 ml/kg and 5000 mg/kg, respectively, it was established that they have no toxic effect. This means that the studied extracts of the roots of G. asclepiadea can be attributed to practically non-toxic substances (toxicity class V, LD50 > 5000 mg/kg), according to the classification of substances by toxicity.

DYNAMICS IN COSTS AND THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS OF THE FIVE MOST RESOURCE-CONSUMING DISEASES PAID WITH PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND FOR HOME TREATMENT

On a global scale, health care costs are constantly growing, with a large part of them taking up the costs of medicinal products. The trend for the increase in the consumption of medicinal products is due to the following main reasons: the aging of the population, the possibility of medical treatment of more and more diseases and the development of new medicinal products. A challenge for the governments of individual countries is how, with limited financial resources, to ensure access for the widest possible range of patients to the best medicines. One way to contain health care costs is the reimbursement method. At the same time, a guarantee is needed that decisions to pay for publicly funded medicines are based on cost-effectiveness criteria.The purpose of the current study is to track the dynamics of the costs of medicinal products, medical devices and dietetic foods for home treatment and the number of sick health insured persons from the five most resource-intensive diseases, paid with public funds from the National Health Insurance Fund in Bulgaria for 2021 and 2022.Materials and methods: Documentary method - monthly statements of the National Health Insurance Fund for costs and number of patients for medicinal products, medical devices and dietary foods for home treatment, according to the ICD code of the disease; Economical analysis; Medical statistical methods; Tabular and graphical analyzes - to visualize the obtained results.Results and analysis: Based on the results obtained from the study, it is clear that for the observed period the total costs of medicinal products for home treatment reimbursed by the NHIF increased by 11.43%. Of the five most resource-intensive diseases, the disease for which the most public funds are spent on medicinal products for home treatment is Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, with neurological complications, and the highest rate of increase in spending in 2022 is Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, without complications – with 18.3%.Conclusion: In contrast to the upward trend in the costs of medicinal products, we observe a slight downward trend in the total number of sick persons with mandatory health insurance in 2022 compared to 2021. In the total number of patients for whom public funds were spent on medicinal products for home treatment by the NHIF, the reduction was 0.97%. Despite the general trend, with the most resource-intensive diseases under consideration, the number of patients slightly increased, with the exception of only one of them.

Pharmaceutical 3D-printing of nanoemulsified eucalypt extracts and their antimicrobial activity

Overcoming the health threatening consequences of staphylococcal infections and their negative socio-economic effects have become a priority in the medical, pharmaceutical, food and many other sectors globally. Staphylococcal infections are a big challenge for a global health care, since they are difficult to be diagnosed and treated. Therefore, the development of new medicinal products of plant-origin is timely and important, because bacteria have a limited ability to develop resistance to such products. In the present study, a modified eucalypt (Eucalyptus viminalis L.) extract was prepared and further enhanced by using different excipients (surface active agents) to obtain a water-miscible 3D-printable extract (nanoemulsified aqueous eucalypt extract). Phytochemical and antibacterial studies of the eucalypt leaves extracts were conducted as a preliminary investigation for 3D-printing experiments of the extracts. The nanoemulsified aqueous eucalypt extract was mixed with polyethylene oxide (PEO) to form a gel applicable for semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing. The key process parameters in a 3D-printing process were identified and verified. The printing quality of the 3D-lattice type eucalypt extract preparations was very good, demonstrating the feasibility of using an aqueous gel in SSE 3D printing also exhibiting compatibility of the carrier polymer (PEO) with the plant extract. The SSE 3D-printed eucalypt extract preparations presented a rapid dissolution in water within 10–15 min, suggesting the applicability of these preparations e.g., in oral immediate-release applications.

Zeolites as Ingredients of Medicinal Products.

Development of new medicinal products for particular therapeutic treatment or for better manipulations with better quality and less side effects are possible as a result of advanced inorganic and organic materials application, among which zeolites, due to their properties and versatility, have been gaining attention. This paper is an overview of the development in the use of zeolite materials and their composites and modifications as medicinal products for several purposes such as active agents, carriers, for topical treatments, oral formulations, anticancer, the composition of theragnostic systems, vaccines, parenteral dosage forms, tissue engineering, etc. The objective of this review is to explore the main properties of zeolites and associate them with their drug interaction, mainly addressing the advances and studies related to the use of zeolites for different types of treatments due to their zeolite characteristics such as molecule storage capacity, physical and chemical stability, cation exchange capacity, and possibility of functionalization. The use of computational tools to predict the drug-zeolite interaction is also explored. As conclusion was possible to realize the possibilities and versatility of zeolite applications as being able to act in several aspects of medicinal products.

Recommendations for the programme of clinical trials of medicinal products for the treatment of influenza

Scientific relevance. The development of new medicinal products to treat influenza is motivated by the limitations of existing treatment options, the emergence of drug resistance, and the health consequences of influenza epidemics associated with the highly contagious nature of the virus. Proper planning and implementation of clinical programmes providing reliable data on the efficacy and safety of medicinal products under development requires adherence to recommendations of the regulatory authorities. At the moment, the Russian Federation, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the European Union lack documented recommendations on conducting clinical trials of anti-influenza medicines. There is a need in national guidelines that will reflect the procedure for conducting clinical trials and establish the required amount of data to be submitted with marketing applications for new anti-influenza products.Aim. The study was aimed to analyse possible regulatory approaches to planning clinical development programmes for anti-influenza medicinal products.Discussion. The article pays particular attention to phase III studies, as the main studies confirming efficacy and safety. The authors described a clinical development strategy and the requirements for the volume and quality of efficacy and safety data. This article is based on the current Russian recommendations for the design and development of medicinal products and guidelines on their evaluation, as well as the recommendations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Conclusions. The analysis results demonstrate the necessity for elaborating Russian recommendations for clinical studies of medicinal products for the treatment of influenza that will take into account the national legislation and clinical development practices. Such recommendations will streamline the implementation of new effective anti-influenza medicinal products.

Optimization of Experimental Procedure for Determining Azelaic Acid in Cosmetics by Gas Chromatography Derivatized through Ethanol.

The quantitative evaluation of azelaic acid is becoming critical in the development of new medicinal products and in environment. A feasible method for the determination of azelaic acid in cosmetics by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS) with derivation was developed and optimized. The derivative effect was good, when azelaic acid was derivatized through ethanol at room temperature for 10 min with 800 μL of sulfuric acid as a catalyst. A good linear relationship of azelaic acid derivative was present from 10 to 1000 mg L–1 (R2 = 0.9997). Detection limit and quantitative limit of GC was 15 and 50 mg kg–1, respectively. The recovery rate was in the range from 87.7% to 101% with all relative standard deviation (RSD) values less than 4%, denoting the method meeting the requirement of the analysis. Therefore, this method has the advantages of strong anti-interference ability and accurate results. Among the eight samples nominally azelaic acid, only three were detected. The respective content was 78 133, 16 710, and 2431 mg kg–1. The results showed that the actual addition of the azelaic acid in the market was quite different with label identification, being worthy of further attention. Further, it also provided a favorable experience for the monitoring of azelaic acid in the environment.

UPLC-QTof-MS chemical profiling and characterization of antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory compounds from seven Hypericum species in China

Many Hypericum species have been used as medicinal plants, herbal teas, and dietary supplements around the world. A previous ethnobotanical survey found that seven Hypericum species in southern China (H. daliense, H. hengshanense, H. himalaicum, H. japonicum, H. petiolulatum subsp. yunnanense, H. seniawinii, and H. wightianum) have been used traditionally to treat inflammation and infectious diseases, but studies on the chemical compositions and bioactivities of these folk medicines are limited. The current study aimed to characterize bioactive marker compounds correlated with two in vitro bioassays for cytotoxicity and anti-inflammation. Methanolic extracts of these species were chemically profiled using UPLC-QTof-MS metabolomics, characterizing the 52 major components from these Hypericum species. To chemically differentiate these seven species, 112 chemical features were characterized as potential chemotaxonomic markers, out of which 89 were tentatively identified. Using a chemometric approach, antiproliferative activity was tracked with chemical markers. H. japonicum showed antiproliferative effects on SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line with an IC50 value of 59.8 μg/mL. Comparison of H. japonicum to six other Hypericum species revealed that betulinic acid, isojacareubin, and taxifolin are potential antiproliferative compounds. In addition, a primary in vitro anti-inflammatory assay revealed that all the seven extracts inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells at 100 μg/mL, indicating that anti-inflammatory compounds may exist in all the seven species. Out of the 52 major components identified from these species, 11 have been previously reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. These findings provide a scientific rationale for traditional uses of the seven Hypericum species in China and merit further study for the development of new medicinal products.

Dehydrobufotenin extracted from the Amazonian toad Rhinella marina (Anura: Bufonidae) as a prototype molecule for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.

Background:The resistance against antimalarial drugs represents a global challenge in the fight and control of malaria. The Brazilian biodiversity can be an important tool for research and development of new medicinal products. In this context, toxinology is a multidisciplinary approach on the development of new drugs, including the isolation, purification, and evaluation of the pharmacological activities of natural toxins. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity, as well as the antimalarial activity in silico and in vitro of four compounds isolated from Rhinella marina venom as potential oral drug prototypes.Methods: Four compounds were challenged against 35 target proteins from P. falciparum and screened to evaluate their physicochemical properties using docking assay in Brazilian Malaria Molecular Targets (BraMMT) software and in silico assay in OCTOPUS® software. The in vitro antimalarial activity of the compounds against the 3D7 Plasmodium falciparum clones were assessed using the SYBR Green I based assay (IC50). For the cytotoxic tests, the LD50 was determined in human pulmonary fibroblast cell line using the [3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay. Results: All compounds presented a ligand-receptor interaction with ten Plasmodium falciparum-related protein targets, as well as antimalarial activity against chloroquine resistant strain (IC50 = 3.44 μM to 19.11 μM). Three of them (dehydrobufotenine, marinobufagin, and bufalin) showed adequate conditions for oral drug prototypes, with satisfactory prediction of absorption, permeability, and absence of toxicity. In the cell viability assay, only dehydrobufotenin was selective for the parasite. Conclusions: Dehydrobufotenin revealed to be a potential oral drug prototype presenting adequate antimalarial activity and absence of cytotoxicity, therefore should be subjected to further studies.

Defining Endpoints and Biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Moving the Needle Through Clinical Trial Design

Defining Endpoints and Biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Moving the Needle Through Clinical Trial Design

Can the Concept Be Proven?

During clinical development of new medicinal products, phase II is one of the most important stages. The first phase II trial is typically a Proof of Concept (PoC) study with limited sample size. To reduce the bias, one needs to discount the phase II estimate of the treatment effect. Under some mild conditions, the estimated assurances are increasing functions of the per group number of patients and the scaled observed treatment effect of the phase II trial for the three cases (no, additive, and multiplicative bias adjustment); and for multiplicative bias adjustment, the estimated assurance is an increasing function of the retention factor. The theoretical assurances are increasing functions of the per group number of patients of the phase II trial and the scaled true treatment effect of the phase III trial. The numerical simulations illustrate the above theoretical results. After obtaining the results of the phase II trial, it is still difficult for the project team (and the company) to make the Go/No Go decision. Finally, in addition to the investment and the statistical points of view, the Go/No Go decision is also affected by many other factors.

Marketing research of the national antiarrhythmic drugs market

The purpose – marketing research of the national antiarrhythmic drugs market.Materials and methods. The State Register of Medicinal Products of Ukraine and Compendium-2019 were used as the research materials. Methods of system, marketing, statistical and content analysis. Results. The analysis of the range of antiarrhythmic drugs was conducted according to such criteria as composition, release form and originality. It showed the heterogeneity of this segment of Ukrainian pharmaceutical market. Thus, solid and liquid dosage forms, both original and generic could be found in the market. The analysis of the company structure of the studied market segment allowed to establish, that domestic pharmaceutical companies supply only 48 % of drugs (13 dosage forms) for this market segment, while foreign pharmaceutical companies prevail (52 %). In this connection, the development of new medicinal products of the specified activity and the mastering of their production on the territory of Ukraine is relevant. The calculated tension coefficient showed that the highest competition is observed among manufacturers of analog preparations containing amiodarone hydrochloride (Кvi = 0.93). Also, the specific weight of each of the manufacturers of antiarrhythmic drugs was calculated and it was established, that (LLC) Pharmaceutical Company Zdorovye has the largest share (dij = 0.1481).Conclusions. Conducted marketing studies of the range of the national antiarrhythmic drugs market showed the heterogeneity of this segment in terms of dosage forms and originality of drugs. The analysis of the company structure has established a high level of competition among the leading foreign pharmaceutical companies, whose share is 52 %. The coefficient of tension and the share of the segment, of each manufacturers of antiarrhythmic drugs, was calculated.

Method validation and preliminary pharmacokinetic studies on the new designer stimulant 3-fluorophenmetrazine (3-FPM).

Pharmaceutical research not only provides the basis for the development of new medicinal products but also for the synthesis of new drugs of abuse. 3-Fluorophenmetrazine (3-FPM), a fluorinated derivative of the anorectic phenmetrazine, was first patented in 2011 and appeared on the drug market in 2014. Though invented for potential medical purposes, pharmacokinetic data on this compound, crucial for interpreting forensic as well as clinical cases, are not available. Therefore, a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the detection of 3-FPM in serum, urine, and oral fluid was developed, validated for urine and serum, and used to quantify 3-FPM in samples obtained during a controlled self-experiment. The method proved to be linear, selective and sufficiently sensitive. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.1ng/mL, 0.2ng/mL, and 0.05ng/mL in serum, urine, and oral fluid. Inter-day precision and intra-day precision (RSD) in serum samples were below 6.3% and below 8.5%, respectively. The highest serum concentration (cmax ) of 210ng/mL was reached 2.5hours (tmax ) after ingestion. The elimination half-life and the volume of distribution were calculated to be approx. 8.8hours and 400L (5.3L/kg). 3-FPM could be detected in serum and urine up to 82hours and 116hours, respectively. It was still detected in the last oral fluid sample taken 55hours after ingestion. 3-FPM was mainly excreted unchanged. Main metabolic reactions were aryl-hydroxylation and N-hydroxylation. Interestingly, the product of oxidative ring opening (2-amino-1-(3-fluorophenyl)propan-1-ol) showed the largest window of detection in the self-experiment.

Preparative synthesis of N-acetyl-3-indolinones

Compounds that contain an indole cycle in their structure have biological activity and are a source for the development of new medicinal products. N-acetyl-3-indolinones are actively used as incoming substance for their organic synthesis. Preparative methods for the obtaining of N-acetyl-3-indolinones, used as incoming substances for the synthesis of condensed indole derivatives with high therapeutic activity, have been developed. Synthesis of N-acetyl-3-indolinone was performed by deacetylation and cyclization of N-(2-carboxyphenyl) glycine and its 4-bromo-derivative to form N,O-diacetylindoxyls followed by hydrolysis of the obtained compounds to target indolinones. It was established that brominated derivatives have increased stability as compared with the analogues which do not contain bromine on the benzene ring of the indole nucleus, resulting in the increase in the yield of desired products in the reaction.

P465 UC trial designed more than 5 years ago in the light of the EMA guideline on the development of new medicinal products for the treatment of ulcerative colitis

P465 UC trial designed more than 5 years ago in the light of the EMA guideline on the development of new medicinal products for the treatment of ulcerative colitis

A Foreword from the Editor

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Medicines Development Sciences. This new open access journal will publish articles on the entire process of discovery and development of new medicinal products, with a particular emphasis on translational research. This inaugural issue is devoted to “Open Innovation”, a booming concept that is starting to deeply change the context of medicines development.

A Foreword from the Editor

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Medicines Development Sciences. This new open access journal will publish articles on the entire process of discovery and development of new medicinal products, with a particular emphasis on translational research. This inaugural issue is devoted to “Open Innovation”, a booming concept that is starting to deeply change the context of medicines development.

Identification of Unknown Impurity of Azelaic Acid in Liposomal Formulation Assessed by HPLC-ELSD, GC-FID, and GC-MS

The identification of new contaminants is critical in the development of new medicinal products. Many impurities, such as pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, decanedioic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid, tridecanedioic acid, and tetradecanedioic acid, have been identified in samples of azelaic acid. The aim of this study was to identify impurities observed during the stability tests of a new liposomal dosage form of azelaic acid that is composed of phosphatidylcholine and a mixture of ethyl alcohol and water, using high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD), gas chromatography–flame ionisation detection (GC-FID), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods. During the research and development of a new liposomal formulation of azelaic acid, we developed a method for determining the contamination of azelaic acid using HPLC-ELSD. During our analytical tests, we identified a previously unknown impurity of a liposomal preparation of azelaic acid that appeared in the liposomal formulation of azelaic acid during preliminary stability studies. The procedure led to the conclusion that the impurity was caused by the reaction of azelaic acid with one of the excipients that was applied in the product. The impurity was finally identified as an ethyl monoester of azelaic acid. The identification procedure of this compound was carried out in a series of experiments comparing the chromatograms that were obtained via the following chromatographic methods: HPLC-ELSD, GC-FID, and GC-MS. The final identification of the compound was carried out by GC with MS.

Does the development of new medicinal products in the European Union address global and regional health concerns?

BackgroundSince 1995, approval for many new medicinal products has been obtained through a centralized procedure in the European Union. In recent years, the use of summary measures of population health has become widespread. We investigated whether efforts to develop innovative medicines are focusing on the most relevant conditions from a global public health perspective.MethodsWe reviewed the information on new medicinal products approved by centralized procedure from 1995 to 2009, information that is available to the public in the European Commission Register of medicinal products and the European Public Assessment Reports from the European Medicines Agency. Morbidity and mortality data were included for each disease group, according to the Global Burden of Disease project. We evaluated the association between authorized medicinal products and burden of disease measures based on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the European Union and worldwide.ResultsWe considered 520 marketing authorizations for medicinal products and 338 active ingredients. New authorizations were seen to increase over the period analyzed. There was a positive, high correlation between DALYs and new medicinal product development (ρ = 0.619, p = 0.005) in the European Union, and a moderate correlation for middle-low-income countries (ρ = 0.497, p = 0.030) and worldwide (ρ = 0.490, p = 0.033). The most neglected conditions at the European level (based on their attributable health losses) were neuropsychiatric diseases, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, sense organ conditions, and digestive diseases, while globally, they were perinatal conditions, respiratory infections, sense organ conditions, respiratory diseases, and digestive diseases.ConclusionsWe find that the development of new medicinal products is higher for some diseases than others. Pharmaceutical industry leaders and policymakers are invited to consider the implications of this imbalance by establishing work plans that allow for the setting of future priorities from a public health perspective.

Further consideration of Asian medicinal plants in treating common chronic diseases in the West

Ethnopharmacological knowledge is viewed as an increasingly relevant and important source for development of new medicinal products. Historically plants have been the basis of many medicines and are a major resource for human health care. This project critically examined the science-based medical evidence supporting use of traditional Asian medicinal plants for curative, preventive or palliative functions relevant to important chronic ailments in Western countries (eg. cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, dementia, asthma). Around 400 medicinal plant species were reviewed through 3,500 scientific references. There were more species associated with anticancer effects than any other chronic disease, suggesting that if Asian medicinal species are to make new impacts on Western health there is a strong chance that this will be as anticancer agents. However, conclusive positive results from randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled experiments with humans were only available for a limited number of crops. Garlic (Allium sativum), turmeric (Curcuma longa),green tea (Camellia sinensis), ginseng (Panax ginseng), Astragalusmembranaceus and Ginkgo biloba are important Chinese medicinal plants with strong support from medical efficacy trials. Other species backed by good data include Apocynum venetum, Codonopsis pilosula, Fallopia multiflora, Huperzia serrata, Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, Stephania tetrandra andTrichosanthes kirilowii. Key words: Ethnopharmacology, plant, chronic disease.