Merge carefully-Herbal Medicinal Chemistry

Jakarta, Kompas - The use of modern chemical medicines and herbal medicines, including herbal medicine, simultaneously to treat certain diseases must be done carefully. The incorporation of a haphazardly can worsen health.

"It takes more knowledge and research to combine the use of herbal and medicinal chemistry together," said Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Arijanto Jonosewojo, the symposium "The Importance of Quality of Herbal Extracts as Skin Care and Therapeutics Agents" in Jakarta, Thursday (9/2).

Clinical trials conducted in Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, shows, the use of anti-cholesterol drug simvastatin or a blend of guava leaf, meeting buffoonery, and the Dutch identity (traditional medicine) gives good results when used alone. However, if combined, the result is bad.

The same thing happened on the use of metformin and black tea to treat diabetes. If both drugs were used alone, can lower blood sugar levels on average for 1-3 months (HbA1C) is almost the same. However, if combined, it is very small decrease in HbA1C.

"If you want to combine, modern medicine should be taken first. After 1-2 hours, a new herbal medicine, "he said.

Active substances in medicinal chemistry are generally more quickly absorbed by the body. The herbal medicine, but more slowly absorbed by the body, sometimes binding substances of medicinal chemistry. As a result, the effects of chemical drugs so it is not optimal.

Arijanto, who is also Head of Polyclinic Hospital of Traditional Medicine Soetomo Indonesia, warned, ginseng should not be combined with the drug digoxin (heart medicine) because it will aggravate heart conditions.

In addition, garlic is also an anticoagulant herbal medicine should not be combined with a chemical drug class or clopidopril asetasol. This will cause bleeding.

"People still think of herbal medicine is better than chemical drugs. In fact, no drug is 100 percent safe herbal and chemical drugs are not all bad, "he said.

Undeveloped

Although the Indonesian people to know and feel the benefits of medicinal plants for a long time, until now Indonesia's traditional medicine industry has not developed.

Director of Standardization of Traditional Medicine, Cosmetic and Complementary Product, National Agency for Drug and Food, Hary Revelation Triestanto Wibowo said, now newly registered six and 31 fitofarmaka standardized herbal medicine. The herbs amounted to thousands.

Jamu is the lowest level in the grouping of traditional medicine Indonesia. Followed standardized herbal medicine and fitofarmaka as the highest level.

To improve the status of herbal medicine into standardized herbal medicine, there must be nonklinik test. To be fitofarmaka, clinical trials should be conducted and the test nonklinik. Test process that takes a large investment costs.

Therefore, many manufacturers are reluctant to raise the status of herbal products because of the status of herbal medicine have been sold. "Manufacturers will only enhance the status of herbal medicinal products become standardized or fitofarmaka to assure the security of its products to consumers and export interests," he said.

Rudy Susilo of Evoria GmbH, Germany, said the processing of herbal medicine in Indonesia, many of which do not meet the standards. Business orientation of the larger manufacturers that pay less attention to aspects of drug safety for consumers.

To get a good herbal medicine, the whole production process, from cultivation of medicinal plants, care, harvesting, drying, extraction, storage, manufacture of pharmaceuticals, until distribution, can not be done carelessly.

Herbal medicine raw materials must be free of heavy metals, mold, or pesticides. The production process must be done in a modern, just as some Chinese herbal medicines.

According to Rudy, herbal medicines do not doubt its benefits. To be maintained is that herbal medicines are safe for consumption.

"Herbal medicine has been used since hundreds of years ago and showed his usefulness," he said.

Herbal remedies, such Arijanto, should be used to prevent disease, promote health, recovery, and reduce the suffering of patients.

To cure disease, it is still advisable to use chemical drugs. Doctors can prescribe herbal medicine to complement the existing chemical condition of the patient's written request. (MZW)
Kompas.com