Herbal Pharmacopoeia Research Articles

Determination of Specific and Non-Specific Parameters of Cempedak Leaf Simplisia (Artocarpus Integer)

Cempedak (Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr.) is a plant with the genus Artocarpus that grows in Kalimantan and has properties as antimalarial, antidiabetic, abdominal pain and anticancer. This study aims to determine the specific and non-specific parameters of simplisia. The method used refers to the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and General Standard Parameters of Extracts. Samples came from the South Kalimantan Province and Central Kalimantan Province. The results of the organoleptic test of simplisia are in the form of powder, light green in color, smelling typical of leaves and tasteless. Microscopic results show epidermis, sclerenchyma, xylem, phloem, air cavities, chlorophyll and stomata. The results of each test have a range, namely ethanol soluble juice content 17.80% - 25.40%, water soluble juice content 15.27% - 19.33%, total ash content 8.07% - 10.25%, acid insoluble ash content 2.32% - 3.82%, Pb metal contamination <0.001 - 0.004 mg/kg and Cd 0.160 - 0.178 mg/kg. A. integer leaf simplisia contains alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, glycoside, phenolic and anthraquinone compounds which are confirmed on the KLT profile with the same compound content. Total phenol content was 18.88% - 20.29% b/w EAG. The test results of specific and non-specific parameters of A. integer leaf simplisia from two different places have met the requirements set by the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and BPOM RI.

Peningkatan Kualitas Produk Paguyuban Jamu Manunggal Kota Cimahi Melalui Standardisasi Bahan Baku

The activity of the community of herbal medicine manunggal in Cimahi city, as the main partner, is to guide the processing of traditional medicines and the herbal medicine business. The proposing team held an initial meeting and socialization for members of the Jamu Manunggal community in the city of Cimahi on December 25, 2021, regarding counseling on planting, post-harvest processing, and the benefits of the cat's whiskers plant. From the results of these activities, several problems were identified: the raw materials for traditional medicines in the Jamu Manunggal Association needed to be better standardized. This activity aims to improve the quality of traditional medicinal products through standardization. The results of the drying shrinkage testing of the five medicinal raw materials met the standards in the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia. In testing the water-soluble ash content, the levels obtained were not too large illustrating the potential for minor contamination of traditional medicinal raw materials. The general conclusion is that the raw materials for traditional medicine in the Jamu Manunggal Association of Cimahi City have good quality.

Need for stable quality control and drug pharmacopeia in African pharmaceutical settings: a new way to independent drug production

For years now, Africa are on the verge of a shortage of drug production1,2, quality control of traditional/indigenous plants, and imported drugs due to limited stable pharmacopeia availability specifically for African herbs, drugs, and plants. Therefore, we write this piece to raise and put African Union stakeholders into action to see the need to have a stable quality control drug pharmacopeia in Africa. In the course of advancing sustainable drug discovery and development, many countries are making indelible efforts through the implementation of policies regulating medicines. Pharmacopoeia is a reverenced compendium of regulations and official standards for the qualitative and quantitative compositions of medicines and manufacturing of drugs3. Unlike the British Pharmacopoeia (BP), United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), and European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), the African Union (AU) has 2 pharmacopeias: the African Pharmacopoeia (169 traditional plants) and African Herbal Pharmacopoeia (51 traditional plants), which have detailed botanical description of medicinal plants and quality control protocols of traditional medicines that should be followed for chemical analysis and medicinal development of the selected African traditional plants4,5. However, this pharmacopeia does not have regulations and official standards for the quality and quantitative composition of other unlisted indigenous plants and imported drugs for quality control analysis in African settings. The limitations of the indigenous continental monograph silently promote the deindustrialization of pharmaceutical manufacturing and productivity in Africa. Lack of indigenous regulatory compendial influences poor manufacturing practice and inappropriate processes in the supply chain that support substandard and falsified medicines in many low-middle incomes countries in Africa6. The AU Commission and other indigenous pharma experts should take the lead and actions toward the development of full standard pharmacopeia for all indigenous/traditional plants to promote pharma industrialization and improve standardization of quality medicine7, and quality control of drug composition and traditional medicine in Africa, and for Africans without compromising on international standards. A collative review of the USP, Ph. Eur., and BP can provide the right direction for a start to look inward as Africans to provide a working draft that could advance the frontiers of good manufacturing practice, quality controls, proper marketing authorization and appropriate supply chain of medicines and herbal products in the AU. Regular training for experts or professionals would support the drive and sustainability of these regulations to help the government and other competent authorities in various African countries. Ethical approval None. Sources of funding None. Author contribution V.N.N.: conceptualized the study. V.N.N., A.T.A., and F.A.A.: draft manuscript, review editing, formatting, and referencing. Conflict of interest disclosure The authors declare that they have no financial conflict of interest with regard to the content of this report. Research registration unique identifying number (UIN) N/A. Guarantor Victor N. Nweze. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned, externally peer reviewed.

Anti-Bacterial Activity Test of Carrot Tuber Ethanol Extract Hydrogel Preparation (Daucus Carota L.) in Inhibiting the Growth of Bacteria and Their Ability in the Healing Process of Grade II Burns on Wistar Rat (Rattus Norvegicus)

Carrots are root vegetables that are very common in Indonesia. Carrot plant (Daucus carita L.) is a root vegetable plant that has a high content of beta carotene, rich in dietary fiber, natural antioxidants and high vitamin A which is 12,000 IU. The reddish-yellow color of carrots is due to the high content of carotene pigment. The sample used in this study was fresh carrot tubers. The tubers are separated from other impurities and then washed thoroughly and then drained and weighed. Next, the tubers are dried at a temperature of 30-40oC until the tubers are dry (marked when broken brittle). Simplisia that has dried (brittle) is powdered with a blender and stored in a tightly closed container and stored at room temperature. The preparation of the extract is carried out by maceration using 70% ethanol solvent. According to the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia (2008), as much as 1 part of simplisia dry powder is put into the maserator, added 10 parts of solvent. Soak for the first 6 hours while stirring occasionally, then let stand for 18 hours. Separate the maserat by filtering. Repeat the extraction process at least twice with the same type and amount of solvent. Furthermore, all the mafiber is collected, then evaporated with a rotary evaporator at a temperature of ±50oC until a thick extract is obtained. The results showed that ethanol extract of carrot tubers with a simplisia weight of 500 grams produced a yield of 3.78% with an extract weight of 68.9 grams. The results below show that carrot tuber ethanol extract shows phytochemical screening results that contain flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and steroids. The results of the measurement of the diameter of the inhibitory zone above showed that ethanol extract of carrot tubers (Daucus carota L.) can inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria at concentrations of 10-400 mg / mL. The measurement results obtained the diameter of the inhibitory zone with a strong inhibitory zone response category at all concentration variations. It was found that high concentrations had activity that did not differ significantly from low concentrations. Carrot tuber ethanol extract has a significant difference (p < 0.05) when compared to the positive and negative groups while the results of the measurement of bacterial killing power above show that carrot tuber ethanol extract (Daucus carota L.) can inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria at concentrations of 10 – 100 mg / mLl

Effects of extraction time on total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of a polyherbal drink

The effect of extraction time on the color, total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity of the polyherbal drink consisted of 10% turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), 20% Java tea (Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq.), and 70% seed-under-leaf (Phyllanthus niruri L.) crude drugs were evaluated in this study. The drinks were prepared by decoction at various extraction times. The drink color was read by LAB colorimetry. TPC and TFC were determined by the official methods in the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopeia (IHP). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The color of the extracts obtained from different extraction times was statistically equal in L*, a*, and b* of color parameters. The TPC, TFC, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and FRAP of the extracts were considerably increased during the first 15 mins of extraction. The TPC value started to decrease after being extracted for 45 mins. The value of TFC, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and FRAP of the drinks remained unchanged until the final extraction time. Thus, the recommended extraction time of the polyherbal drink was 15 mins to preserve the phenolic compounds and flavonoids and obtain optimum antioxidant activity.

Analysis of the components of commercially traditional herbal tea (Platostoma palustre) in Taiwan

Platostoma palustre jelly is a traditional food. It has been used as folk medicine and is effective against heat-shock, hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, the aim of this study was want to analyze the components of commercially traditional herbal tea (P. palustre) in Taiwan. The commercial herbal tea (P. palustre) was kindly provided by Yueta Agricultural Biotechnology Inc. The detection methods of the components of commercially traditional herbal tea (P. palustre) were followed the analysis protocols in Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopeia (IV). The levels of chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin were detected via using high-performance liquid chromatography / photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). The level of astragaloside was detected by using high-performance liquid chromatography / evaporative light scattering detectors (HPLC-ELSD). In this analysis, the levels of chlorogenic acid, astragaloside, and rutin were not detected. The levels of rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid were 46.96 μg/mL and 29.29 μg/mL, respectively. Taken all results together, the components of commercially traditional herbal tea (P. palustre) were detected via HPLC-PDA and HPLC-ELSD. The major components of commercially traditional herbal tea (P. palustre) were rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Based on the results of this assay, it is speculated that the herbal tea has the functional properties that are considerable potential for physiological function regulations.

Pharmacognostic and Physicochemical evaluation of Harungana madagascariensis Lam. Ex Poir fruit (Hypericaceae)

Medicinal plant materials are being adulterated and substituted in commerce due to many reasons such as similar morphological features, same name as written in classical text, presence of similar active principles in the substituted plant which may badly affect the therapeutic activity of the finished products. As a result, authentication of medicinal plants is of paramount importance in ensuring quality and safety of crude drugs and herbal products. This research was aimed to evaluate and document the pharmacognostic standards for the fruits of Harungana madagascariensis. The plant sample was identified, collected and authenticated by a Taxonomist. Pharmacognostic and physicochemical evaluation were carried out on the powdered fruits of Harungana madagascariensis using standard methods. The result showed the presence of starch grains, lignified tissues, cellulose, and proteins while calcium oxalate and mucilage were absent. The moisture content (8.8±0.02)%, total ash value (5.2±0.005)%, acid insoluble ash (2.5±0.0)%, water soluble ash (2.2±0.01) % and extractive value were obtained. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, ethanol and water soluble extractive values(3±0.00, 3.75±0.25, 4.50, 8.5±0.1, 6.25±0.25 %w/w respectively which were significantly different (at p set at 0.05). The revealed pharmacognostic features, physico-chemical and microscopy/chemomicroscopy properties of H. madagascariensis could be useful in the preparation of the herbal Pharmacopoeia.

Teh herbal terstandar simplisia bunga gemitir (Tagetes erecta Linn.) sebagai kandidat antioksidan baru

Empirically, gemitir flower (Tagetes erecta Linn.) has been used for generations as an alternative to treat whooping cough and eye pain medication. Gemitir flower is potential as an antioxidant because it contains secondary metabolites of phenolic groups, flavonoids, and alkaloids that have been shown to have antioxidant activity. As a pharmaceutical products, medicinal plants must be guaranteed quality and safety. This study aims to determine the suitability of the simplicia quality of gemitir flowers by standardization based on Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Indonesian Materia Medica, and also to determine the antioxidant potential of standardized herbal teas of gemitir flowers. This first step of this research were standardization of gemitir flower simplicia based on specific and non-specific parameters, followed by making standardized herbal tea of gemitir flower. Antioxidant activity test was carried out on tea preparations using the DPPH method. The results showed that the simplicia of gemitir flower met all the standard parameters of specific and non-specific standardization with an ash content value of 3,47%, acid insoluble ash content of 0,11%, water soluble extract content of 24,86%, ethanol soluble extract content of 21,67%, drying shrinkage content of 9,33%, moisture content of 9,23% and foreign organic matter of 0,3%. Standardized herbal tea simplicia gemitir flower was able to inhibit 50% of DPPH free radicals at a volume of 33,87 µL. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the empirical use of gemitir flower tea potential as a natural antioxidant.

Pharmacognostic Investigations of Impatiens balsamina Linn.

Herbal medicines are the first type of medical system ever developed for treatment. The increasing studies on medicinal plants influenced the construction of an unique herbal pharmacopoeia and transformed how it was processed and administered. The pharmacognostic study of plants is an important parameter for quick identification and authentication of plants with less time and cost. Impatiens balsamina (Balsaminaceae) was commonly called garden balsam or rose balsam, native to India and Myanmar. The studies were carried out to evaluate different parameters, including macroscopy, microscopic characters and physicochemical parameters, by performing standard procedures. The detailed characteristics of leaf, stem and root with intensive quantitative microscopy were performed. In physicochemical analysis, various parameters like ash values, foreign organic matter, extractive values, foaming index and loss on drying were performed. In the current study, pharmacognostic factors for quick plant identification and authentication macroscopic and microscopy were investigated, which will be helpful for further research on plant.

Dipsacus and Scabiosa Species-The Source of Specialized Metabolites with High Biological Relevance: A Review.

The genera Dipsacus L. and Scabiosa L. of the Caprifoliaceae family are widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and Africa. This work reviews the available literature on the phytochemical profiles, ethnomedicinal uses, and biological activities of the most popular species. These plants are rich sources of many valuable specialized metabolites with beneficial medicinal properties, such as triterpenoid derivatives, iridoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. They are also sources of essential oils. The genus Dipsacus has been used for centuries in Chinese and Korean folk medicines to treat bone (osteoporosis) and joint problems (rheumatic arthritis). The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Chinese Pharmacopoeia include Dipsaci radix, the dried roots of D. asperoides C.Y.Cheng & T.M.Ai. In addition, S. comosa Fisch. ex Roem & Schult. and S. tschiliiensis Grunning are used in traditional Mongolian medicine to treat liver diseases. The current scientific literature data indicate that these plants and their constituents have various biological properties, including inter alia antiarthritic, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities; they have also been found to strengthen tendon and bone tissue and protect the liver, heart, and kidney. The essential oils possess antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. This paper reviews the key biological values of Dipsacus and Scabiosa species, as identified by in vitro and in vivo studies, and presents their potential pharmacological applications.

The potential of the Peruvian anti COVID-19 herbal pharmacopoeia

The potential of the Peruvian anti COVID-19 herbal pharmacopoeia

System optimization and validation to improve thin-layer chromatography of roselle calyces (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) required by the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia Edition II

Context: Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is one of the traditional crude drugs monographed in the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia Edition II (IHP II). As per IHP II requirements, a TLC pattern should be used in its authentication. However, the TLC system described for this purpose does not produce a clear reference chromatogram, often leading to inconclusive results. Aims: To develop and validate TLC systems of H. sabdariffa calyces for a better-quality chromatogram than those listed in the IHP II, thereby facilitating crude drugs authentication. Methods: To optimize TLC for H. sabdariffa, sixteen systems, differing in stationary phase, mobile phase composition, and/or visualization reagent were tested. The TLC system was then validated using several parameters such as analyte stability during chromatography, analyte stability in the extract solution and on the TLC plate, stability of the derivatization result, and precision on a plate as well as intermediate precision. Results: Two systems (I and II) were successfully designed and applied to evaluate H. sabdariffa quality. System I used Si gel 60 F254 for the stationary phase, ethyl acetate-formic acid-glacial acetic acid-water (100:11:11:2) for the mobile phase, H. sabdariffa’s ethanol extract (5%, 20 µL) for the test solution, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (100 ppm, 4 µL) as a reference, no derivatization, and detection with visible light. System II combined Si gel 60 F254 for the stationary phase, ethyl acetate-formic acid-glacial acetic acid-toluene-water (80:11:11:20:19), H. sabdariffa’s ethanol extract (5%, 20 µL) for the test solution, chlorogenic acid (1000 ppm, 2 µL) and caffeic acid (50 ppm, 2 µL) as references, the visualizing reagent NP/PEG, and investigation under 366 nm UV light. Conclusions: Both systems are simple but have good stability and precision, thus facilitating H. sabdariffa calyx authentication and paving the way for developing content analysis methods for H. sabdariffa markers.

Evaluation of microbiological criteria and quality of packaged herbal medicinal products

The broad use of packaged herbal medicinal products has highlighted many issues associated with the quality, safety, and efficacy (QSE) of these products. Regardless of extensive applications of herbal medicines, this fact cannot be denied that the plant materials are exposed to various contaminants like toxic elements, pesticide residues, insects etc. But the main contaminants responsible for the deterioration of the herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are the microbes. They exert a bad impact on the overall quality and shelf life of the herbal products. The qualities of these products not only revealed changes in the physical appearance but could also pose a risk of acquisition of pathogenic microbial agents such as bacteria spores and mycotoxins to those taking these products. Exposure to these microbial agents can cause adverse health effect and toxicity. The integrity of composition depends upon the harvesting, handling, packaging, distribution, and storage conditions. In absence of good manufacturing practice, however, the nutritional richness of HMPs makes the product good medium for microbial growth, vehicle of microbial pathogens and associated complications. In Nigeria the issues of non-standardization, improper regulation and registration of these herbal products has raised a lot of questions about the inherent health risk associated with the consumption of these products, especially now there is increasing popularity of the use of herbal medicines. This paper addresses microorganisms and their agents as the major contaminants of herbal medicinal products. It reviews precise sources of microbial contamination and harmful effects of contaminated herbal medicinal products, when consumed by the consumers. It also reviews the methodological aspects regarding the influence of different commonly used pharmaceutical preparation techniques on the microbiological criteria of the products. And finally discussed the way forward to ascertain these quality, safety, and efficacy (QSE), of herbal medicinal products, quality standards which could be considered for guidelines and or possible inclusion in herbal pharmacopeia.

Pharmacognostic specifications and the antioxidant activity of Curcuma comosa Roxb. crude drugs

Curcuma comosa Roxb. is popularly used to treat gynecological problems but has no official monograph in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopeia (THP). This study characterized the selected pharmacognostic and physicochemical specifications and antioxidant potentials of C. comosa crude drugs. The pharmacognostic and physicochemical properties of two kinds of crude drugs were characterized according to the WHO quality control methods for herbal materials. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total phenolic content (TPC) were evaluated as per the standard method. The microscopic observation showed relatively large-sized starch granules, cortical parenchyma, vessel, and sclerenchyma fibre. The thin-layer chromatography (TLC) profile demonstrated distinct separation with two major spots. The physicochemical evaluations specified as follow: moisture (8.87±1.37%), total ash (2.35±0.12%), acid-insoluble ash (0.80±0.08%), volatile oil (1.01±0.03%), water-soluble extractable (16.01±0.95%), and ethanol-soluble extractable (17.74±1.56%). The DPPH scavenging activity, FRAP, and TPC of the crude drugs were 765.56±80.50 mM Trolox equivalent (TE)/g dry weight (DW), 505.42±22.44 mM TE/g DW, and 46.09±2.27 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW. This study specified quality parameters of C. comosa crude drugs that might serve as the reference for the quality control purpose.

The in-vitro Antioxidant Properties of Crude Drugs Traditionally Used for Diabetes Management in Northern Banyumas

Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.) leaves, Malayan cherry (Muntingia calabura L.) fruits, and Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H.Rob.) leaves are used for traditional diabetes treatment by Banyumas (Central Java, Indonesia) people. This study characterized selected quality parameters, evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant activity as the preliminary assay for its antidiabetic activity, and calculated the total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC) of those crude drugs. The plant materials of each species were collected from three different areas in Banyumas and dried into crude drugs. The quality parameters were determined according to the standard method in the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopeia (IHP) 2017. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while TFC and TPC were analyzed following standard methods in IHP 2017. The correlations between antioxidant activities and the TFC-TPC were analyzed by Pearson's correlation test. The values for acid-insoluble ash, loss on drying, total ash, ethanol extractable, and water-extractable of all crude drugs were quantified, with TPC and TFC proposed as the chemical content parameter for Malayan cherry fruits and Yacon leaves. Yacon leaves and Malayan cherry fruits contained the highest TFC and TPC at 8.01±0.72 mg Quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight (DW) and 11.54±1.44 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW, respectively. Malayan cherry fruits exerted the strongest DPPH scavenging activity (366.13±17.65 mM Trolox equivalent (TE)/g DW) and FRAP (1025.33±50.47 mM TE/g DW). Moderate to strong correlations were observed between DPPH radical scavenging activity – FRAP and TFC-TPC of Malayan cherry fruits and Yacon leaves. Hence, flavonoids and phenolic compounds of both crude drugs contributed to their antioxidant activity.

Determination of Quercetin in Extracts and Herbal Products of Phyllanthus niruri by TLC Densitometry Method

Phyllanthus niruri has many pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. Phyllanthus niruri has been widely developed from extracts into herbal products. The flavonoid quercetin became an analytical marker compound to ensure the quality of P. niruri extracts in the Indonesian herbal pharmacopeia II. This study aimed to determine the levels of quercetin in extract and herbal products using the TLC Densitometry method. TLC Densitometry method using chloroform: ethyl acetate: formic acid (5:4:1) as the mobile phase and silica GF254 as the stationary phase. The Rf value of the quercetin compound obtained is 0.50. The Rs quercetin is 1.56 in the extract and 2.55 in the product. The maximum wavelength for quercetin is 366 nm. The results of quercetin levels were 3.579% in the extract and 0.0412% in herbal products. The TLC densitometry method can analyze quercetin in extracts and herbal products.

PHARMACOGNOSTIC CHARACTERISTIC OF KAEMPFERIA GALANGA RHIZOME DRIED BY OVEN AND COMBINATION METHODS

Objective: The research objective was to determine the effect of the drying process on the pharmacognostic characteristic of dried Kampferia galanga produced in the Post-Harvest Processing Center of Medicinal Plants facility.
 Methods: The drying methods were oven-based drying in 80 °C temperature and a combination-based drying process, which included greenhouse drying for 6-8 h and transfered to 80 °C oven. The pharmacognostic characteristic of products were evaluated based on Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopeia standard, which included macroscopic and microscopic evaluation, thin-layer chromatography, water and ethanol soluble content, total ash and acid-insoluble ash content, volatile oil content, ethyl para-methoxycinnamate content, total plate count, and total yeast and mold count.
 Results: The result showed dried K. galanga from both drying methods met the quality standard. Interestingly, the combination-based methods possed 6-7 h quicker in drying time compared to oven-based methods despite lower temperatures was used at the greenhouse.
 Conclusion: It can be concluded that both methods could retain the quality of K. galanga rhizome.

Current Insights on Bioactive Molecules, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Other Pharmacological Activities of Cinnamomum camphora Linn.

C. camphora is a renowned traditional Unani medicinal herb and belongs to the family Lauraceae. It has therapeutic applications in various ailments and prophylactic properties to prevent flu-like epidemic symptoms and COVID-19. This comprehensive appraisal is to familiarize the reader with the traditional, broad applications of camphor both in Unani and modern medicine and its effects on bioactive molecules. Electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Research Gate were searched for bioactive molecules, and preclinical/clinical research and including 59 research and review papers up to 2022 were retrieved. Additionally, 21 classical Unani and English herbal pharmacopeia books with ethnomedicinal properties and therapeutic applications were explored. Oxidative stress significantly impacts aging, obesity, diabetes mellitus, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases. The polyphenolic bioactive compounds such as linalool, borneol, and nerolidol of C. camphora have antioxidant activity and have the potential to remove free radicals. Its other major bioactive molecules are camphor, cineole, limelol, safrole, limonene, alpha-pinene, and cineole with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anxiolytic, analgesic, immunomodulatory, antihyperlipidemic, and many other pharmacological properties have been established in vitro or in vivo preclinical research. Natural bioactive molecules and their mechanisms of action and applications in diseases have been highlighted, with future prospects, gaps, and priorities that need to be addressed.

In vitro assay of ACE Inhibitor, Antidiabetic and Antioxidants activities from Indonesia Traditional Medicine (Jamu)

Hypertension in people with diabetes causes accelerated complications of the heart and kidneys. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are the first choice managing of hypertension in patients with diabetes mellitus. Herbal medicine is a native Indonesian treatment that has been used since time immemorial to overcome various diseases, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus. This study aims to standardize and assay the in vitro ACE inhibitor, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities on Indonesian medicinal plants (jamu). Methods: Jamu was extracted by maceration using ethanol. Standardization includes non-specific and specific parameters. The activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibiting activity, and antioxidant activity using a spectrophotometer. The results showed that jamu met the requirements of both specific and non-specific parameters, had angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitors, and antioxidants activity with IC50 values 103.75 µg/ml, 49.95 µg/ml, and 11.4 µg/ml. Conclusion: jamu meets the requirements according to the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia standards and has antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities.

Lúpulo y valeriana en el manejo del insomnio. Opinión de expertos; recomendaciones para su uso en el primer nivel de atención médica

Introduction. Insomnia is a complaint of dissatisfaction with the quantity and/or quality of sleep. It may consist of difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep and waking up early in the morning, which leads to a significant deterioration in daily functioning. The breaking point between acute and chronic insomnia is three months duration. Occasionally there is an identifiable trigger. Insomnia is a frequent and commonly overlooked disorder in the primary care setting. It produces frequent complications such as anxiety, depression, decreased quality of life, diminished cognitive abilities and memory, accidents, lower productivity at work, increased risk of alcoholism, as well as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia and type II diabetes mellitus. Valeriana officinalis (valerian extract) has been used as a treatment for anxiety and insomnia since the Middle Ages. It is currently approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the EMA (European Medicines Agency) as a treatment for mild anxiety and insomnia. Likewise, Humulus lupulus (hops extract) has been traditionally used since ancient times for treating insomnia as part of the European herbal pharmacopoeia. Material and Methods. An interdisciplinary group of experts held several meetings to generate search terms, develop a literature search protocol to examine and weigh the evidence and create consensus recommendations for the use of a fixed and standardized dose of 250 mg of valerian extract and 60 mg of hops extract in the management of insomnia in primary care. Results. The evidence supports the effectiveness and safety of a fixed and standardized dose of 250 mg of valerian extract and 60 mg of hops extract in the management of mild to moderate insomnia. In order to support the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia, recommendations were generated for using these phytopharmaceuticals in the first level of medical care. Conclusions. The fixed combination of valerian and hops extracts helps manage insomnia in the practice of family and general medicine, as well as in obstetrics and gynecology at the recommended doses and duration. It is crucial to make a timely and correct diagnosis and refer patients with severe insomnia or associated pathology to a specialist.