Herbaceuticals is a holistic approach to integrate evidence-based modern medicine: Dr V Prakash

Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru Friday, June 21, 2019, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

Herbaceuticals is a science with a holistic approach to integrate modern medicine with an evidence-based identity, said Dr. V Prakash, distinguished scientist, CSIR-India and former director, CFTRI, Mysore. There is considerable importance on the science of Herbaceuticals for the Indian pharma industry. In an age of integrated healthcare where Ayush therapies are being accepted along with the modern medicine, we see that these are separate compartments in theory and practice. However, there is an increasing need to combine modern and traditional medicine, he added. In his recently launched book titled Herbaceuticals, Dr. Prakash along with his co-editor Dr. DBA Narayana, expert member, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, stated that it was important to highlight the indispensability of Herbaceuticals which is also referred to as nutraceuticals and Ayushceuticals. “This book published by IFFRIFANS and Ayurvidye Trust offers a holistic approach in an integrated way where the basic concepts of Ayush perhaps is paving the way for a new acronym called ‘Ayusha’, where the last ‘A’ is Allopathy,” Dr Prakash told Pharmabiz. Through its 8 articles by experts in the Ayush and nutraceutical industry, the book takes the reader through science, tradition, wisdom and practice. For instance, Ashok D B Vaidya highlights the Indian Nutra-epidemiology and Reverse Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals/ Ayurceuticals. Similarly, MA Lakshmithathachar and MA Alwar provide a peep into the foundation of ayurveda and the traditional systems of medicine in today's bioactive substances. Dr Narayana too along with Saroja B and Praveen ME focuses on Nutraceuticals/supplements: Describing, Deciphering and Defending Label Texts and Claims. “I have along with VD Sattigeri provided a  global view of regulatory bodies. To this day, US too does not have norms for nutraceuticals. Hence the contents of the book only goes to show how advanced India is in the global regulatory landscape. Moreover, our regulations have become a reference point for many countries. The book too is a carefully documented science-backed with considerable evidence-based analysis,” said Dr Prakash. So long there has been no single point of reference for herbals and nutraceuticals. Now the book provides considerably insights to the pharma industry. Concepts of  reverse pharmacology offer considerable leads for drug development. Use of single molecule will soon take the multiple molecule pathway based on reverse pharmacology. For instance, anti cancer drugs are mostly combinatorial medicines with hardly any use of a single drug for most chemotherapy regimens. We see the book to open up new vistas where combination of molecules will actually synergize treatment protocols. “Take of instance if pharma scientists combine pepper with tetracycline to develop an antibiotic, only 60 percent of the chemical entity will be required. We will also see Tetracycline and  pepper to lower drug toxicity for patients. Hence pharma CEOs and R&D scientists  need to take a lesson from this book. It is a guidance to solve scores of problems that lie in the drug discovery pipeline”, said Dr. Prakash. Even Ayush sector can take a cue from this book. In an age of holistic medicine which combines Ayush with allopathy, Dr Prakash said that it would be ideal for India not to isolate modern and traditional medicine instead integrate the two based on the strengths of each science that complement each other.

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