April 24, 2006	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1427

The last decade has witnessed a great revival of interest in the use of herbal medicines both in the developed and developing countries for the treatment of human ailments. About 50 per cent of the medicines we use today are derived straight from plants and 25 per cent of the prescription drugs have the gene of tropical plants.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) about 80 per cent of the world population rely chiefly on plant-based traditional medicines, especially for primary health care needs.

Life and diseases in human history go together. Dependency and sustainability of man and animal life revolves around plants. As ailments and medicinal plants vary, hence their nature, frequency and methods of administration can change in relation to geography, time and knowledge.

Different plants cured one or several diseases in the beginning but by the middle of 20th century the contribution of such plants to medicine was reduced by about 1/4th as research and development favoured the use of synthetic chemicals.

Now, the trend is reversed in favour of it. Such plants have been discovered to possess natural products that are chemically balanced, effective and least injurious with none or much reduced side effects of synthetic chemicals. Safety, lack of adverse reactions and side effects are found to have influenced the use of such medicines. Historical and cultural background, besides different factors promote their use in developing countries.

Plants are essential components of the universe. After experiments, many were identified as a source of medicine, beginning its use in early human civilization. Although many new developments have taken place in the field of medicine but the treatment through herbs and traditional system is on the progress. Over 50 per cent of the Pakistani population is being treated by almost 78,000 traditional herbal practitioners, hakims etc. In rural areas, household remedies are in use for centuries.

Tibb-e-Nabvi provides base for the traditional Unani system of medicine in Pakistan. Plants used by the practitioners are available in forests, mountains, valleys, gardens and agricultural fields. This system of treatment is relatively cheap and near to nature. Every medicinal plant has supplementary food items with no side effects.

Countries like India, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh have introduced the traditional medicinal systems all over the world. Today, India and China are key players in the promotion of traditional medicines.

Plant parts such as roots, stem, bark, gum, leaves, fruits, seeds, flowers are used for the purpose. While providing food for humans and animals, these also contain a wide range of chemical compounds which perform a variety of functions such as in pharmaceuticals for flavours, fragrances, colours and insecticides. Pakistan occupies a unique position as it has good potential due to varied climates which reflects the diversity and valuable plant heritage.

It is estimated that 20,000 plant species are used for medicinal purposes throughout the world. There are about 6,000 plant species in Pakistan.

Among these, there are about 3,200 species, which have medicinal uses in Unani, allopathic and homeopathic medicines. Many species have multi-purpose uses in nutrition, ornamental and local cottage industries.

About 300 species are used in traditional medicines which are prescribed by hakims mostly in rural areas.

Approximately 70 per cent of homeopathic drugs are prepared from fresh plants and more than 90 per cent of Tibbi medicines from herbs. Though the availability of such plants is sizeable but their collection, storage and marketing are limited.

Companies producing herbal products purchase raw herbs from India, China and Eastern European countries. Trade in medicinal plants is growing in volume in the US, France and Germany.

Research on medicinal herbs is in progress for which a nationwide survey should be carried out to update the inventory of existing natural drug plant resources.