Herbal-based Products Research Articles

Strategic innovation ambidexterity and the internationalization performance of small and medium enterprises: an insight into herbal-based small and medium enterprises (HbSMES)

Purpose This paper aims to explain the relationship between strategic technological and non-technological innovation ambidexterity and the internationalization performance of HbSMEs. Design/methodology/approach The theory of dynamic capability is highlighted as the main approach to enhance the internationalization performance of HbSMEs. It spells on the importance of continuous improvement, which can be realized by renewing and reconfiguring businesses competencies in response to the changing nature of business environment. The respondents composed of 310 HbSMEs that involve actively in international business activity. The data is analyzed using partial least squares. Findings The results indicate that only strategic non-technological innovation ambidexterity plays critical role in determining the internationalization performance of HbSMEs, while strategic technological innovation ambidexterity creates non-significant impact. Originality/value As resource-constrained enterprises, innovation activity imposed undue burden to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, since people are started to shift their preferences on herbal-based products, strategic innovation ambidexterity is critical for HbSMEs to respond to the global herbal market. This research may provide information in which area of innovation should be emphasized by HbSMEs. Here, strategic non-technological innovation ambidexterity has been observed to create positive and significant impact on the internationalization performance of HbSMEs. Therefore, exploiting the existing marketing capability and concurrently exploring new marketing capability are critical for HbSMEs so that businesses could improve its performance in the turbulent nature of international business environment.

Simultaneous analysis of antihypertensive drugs and diuretics as adulterants in herbal-based products by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

We developed an analytical method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for simultaneous determination of 13 antihypertensive drugs.

Significance of molecular markers in pharmacognosy: A modern tool for authentication of herbal drugs

Quality evaluation of herbal preparation is an elementary requirement of industry and other association dealing with Ayurvedic and herbal products. The growing use of botanical products now a days is forcing to assess these agents and to develop standards of quality and produce. An attempt has been made through this article to highlight the use of molecular markers for botanicals with special reference to Indian herbal medicine. As the desire for herbal-based products becomes ingrained in our society but standardization of botanicals offers many obstacles like the controversial identity of various plants, deliberated adulteration of plant material, ensuring quality is much more than discovery, specification, and process control. It also includes awareness of every aspect of a manufacturing process from research to shipping. Extensive research on DNA-based molecular markers is in progress for its great utility in the herbal drug analysis and widely used for the authentification of plant species of medicinal importance. DNA markers are reliable for information as the genetic composition is unique for each species and is not affected by age, physiological conditions, as well as environmental factors. DNA markers offer several advantages over conventional phenotypic markers, as they provide data that can be analyzed objectively.

Implementing Green Practices as Sustainable Innovation Among Herbal-Based SME Entrepreneurs

ABSTRACTThe need for policies to foster green practices, sustainable environmental management and conservation of biodiversity has been given priority by world leaders. Various factors causing environmental degradation such as global warming, pollution, climate change, deforestation and increasingly threatened biodiversity have triggered awareness among the upstream and downstream players in the manufacturing industry, providing impetus for industries to practice sustainable manufacturing and environmentally friendly management. As a result, consumers are now increasing their demand for products that are made from natural or traditional rather resources, such as herbal based pharmaceutical products, rather than chemical-based products. The sustainability issue not only places pressure on entrepreneurs to move towards green practices, but also to meet the increasing demand for herbal-based products that are produced in a sustainable environment. This article aims to assess herbal based SME entrepreneurs’ intention to adopt green practices in their business activities. Two hundred fifty six (256) herbal based entrepreneurs were interviewed via a structural questionnaire to gather information regarding their perception of green practices and their intention to adopt them. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as the theoretical framework to determine the relationships between TPB constructs. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the information. The results indicate that positive attitudes towards sustainability are being embraced by those who are concerned about the environment and the intention to adopt innovative green practices is realized by their possession of the caring attribute.

Biological Properties of Malaysian Tropical Seaweed for Topical Application

The increasing demands on anti-oxidant and skin lightening agents in Asia Pacific market have created vast excitement in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry to introduce robust and effective, yet safe invention of topical product. The emergence of various herbal-based products stimulates comprehensive study to evaluate the potential of various tropical plants. Seaweed is a marine tropical alga that has been claimed to possess good anti-aging and anti-pigmentation activity. Nonetheless, these claims are not supported by strong scientific evidences. Three species of Malaysian tropical seaweed, Turbinaria sp. (TR), Gracilaria sp. (G) and Padina sp. (PD) were studied for anti-oxidant and skin lightening properties. Crude aqueous extracts of the selected seaweed species (TRA, GA and PDA) were evaluated using ABTS and mushroom tyrosinase assay, for anti-oxidant and skin lightening activity, respectively. Amongst the extracts, TRA showed the most potent anti-oxidant activity. This extract displayed lower IC50 value of 0.063 ± 0.001 mg/ml, whilst commercial anti-oxidant agent, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) demonstrated better IC50 value at 0.008 mg/ml. In addition, TRA showed good skin lightening activity at 2 mg/ml with 50.11 ± 0.04 % inhibition against tyrosinase enzyme activity. Therefore, this study could underpin the dual inhibitory effect of the selected seaweed species as anti-oxidant and skin lightening agent for topical application. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) for quantifying the antioxidant activities will then further evaluate to measure the antioxidant potential of seaweed extracts. The cell based bioassay represents a promising analytical tool for potential biological activity.

Contact Vulvitis due to Pseudowintera Colorata in a Topical Herbal Medicament

Sir, Besides traditional topical and systemic pharmacological treatments for the therapy of vulvovaginal yeast and bacterial infections, numerous over-the-counter medicaments containing natural substances (e.g. tea tree oil, echinacea, sodium caprylate, propolis) are marketed. Patients often prefer alternative medicine and selfprescribe herbal-based products. We report here an unusual case of acute vulvitis that occurred in a young patient after prolonged topical use of an antifungal herbal preparation.

Effects of Different Plant Products against Pig Mange Mites

The objective of this study was to determine the antiparasitic efficiency of herbal-based products. Four medicinal plant species extracts in 10% ethanol solutions (hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden, mugwort Artemisia vulgaris L., tansy Tanacetum vulgare L., wormwood Artemisia absinthium L.), and seven essential medicinal ethereal oils used in 1% emulsions (garlic Allium sativum L., black pepper Piper nigrum L., juniper Juniperus communis L., citronella grass Cymbopogon nardus Rendle, pennyroyal Mentha pulegium L., eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus Labill., tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia Gheel) were tested a on pig farm in Estonia to control swine sarcoptic mange mites (Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis (L. 1758) Latreille, 1802). Trial groups (6 pigs each) were treated over the whole body twice, with one week interval in between; one group was left as untreated control. All the preparations used inhibited the development of and were more or less lethal to mange mites. Tea tree and citronella volatile oil preparations proved to be the most effective (viability of mites < 5% in 4 weeks). The most active extract of tested ethanol solutions was obtained from hogweed seeds: after two treatments of pigs, 57-93% of parasites died in 2-4 weeks. The extracts of local plants tansy and wormwood diminished the number of mites up to 44% within the first week after treatments. The results indicate that plant extracts may be further tested in practice as alternatives to drugs of synthetic origin.