Pharmacognosy: Much Ado About Plant-based Drugs

PHARMACOGNOSY:

This is the branch of knowledge concerned with medicinal drugs obtained from plants or other natural sources.

INTRODUCTION:

In recent times especially in Africa, plant-based drugs had been preferred as protective, preventive and even supplement drugs against synthetic drugs.

PLANT-BASED DRUGS:

These are drugs made majorly from plant only or in addition to other chemical substances.

SYNTHETIC DRUGS:

These are drugs made from man-made chemicals rather than natural ingredients.

WHY PLANT-BASED DRUGS:

Africans from the early times loved and explored their environment for shelter, food as well as drugs. This tradition was passed from years to years till today. Moreover, several researches had been carried out on this subject using various plant specimens and the results showed the easy metabolism these substances undergo in the human body system basically because they are also made up similar chemical compounds as found in humans. This is not much seen in synthetic drugs as its toxicity to the human system had been recorded even in recent time. Having that in mind, it is worthy to note that some plants are toxic to the human system and may cause death if its consumption is not stopped at once.

DOSAGE ISSUE IN PLANT-BASED DRUGS:

Much of the questions surrounding the consumption of plant based drugs when used for any reason remained the dosage in consumption. Many local herb drug dealers had argued this fact saying it inflicts no much harm while researches on this subject revealed a dosage dependence of these drugs both in effect and toxicity.

USEAGE OF PLANTS:

Plants had been used for several millions purpose ranging from food to shelter. We would major on its usage as drugs. Plants posses a lot of important biochemical needed by human and other animals. The drugs made from these plants are prepared in different several forms e.g. aqueous extract and other extracts, raw form as in vegetables or in capsule form as in various plant supplements.

RESEARCHES ON THIS SUBJECT:

As I said earlier on, the attention of pharmacists, medical scientists and botanists had been drawn more to these plants mostly in Africa and Asia. Several researches had been conducted which yielded great results which resulted to the production of these plant-based drugs and plant supplements.

PLANT-BASED DRUGS IN THE WRONG HANDS:

Unlike what experienced in synthetic drugs which is handled by professionals, the striving of plant-based drugs in Africa has suffered a lot of setback because they are prepared and handled by illiterates, some who never acquire a formal education. This led to the abuse of these drugs. The most annoying of them all is the idea that a particular drug made from a particular plant can cure numerous ailments even those that are not related. It has also been proven that most of these drugs have effect on the blood mostly in decreasing blood volume.

MY OPINION:

Though am in support of the use of these drugs (plant-based), I advocate that more researches should be encouraged so that much can be explored. Also, the regulatory body should make every quack practices on this field to stop, investigated and the violators punished, which would stand as an example to others.