DEVELOPMENT STANDARDIZATION AND PRECLINICAL EVALUATION OF A NEW HERBAL FORMULATION

Abstract

In general humans have been using many species of plants medicinally for centuries Through personal experience and knowledge passed down for generations indigenous people have learned which species of plants may help alleviate certain ailments1 Many patients look for complementary and alternative medicine options in coping with this debilitating disease Research has indicated that people suffering from chronic pain as in RA and those dissatisfied with current treatment are very likely to seek alternative treatments 2 The commonly used antiinflammatory agents are becoming less acceptable due to serious adverse reactions such as gastric intolerance bone marrow depression and water and salt retention resulting from prolonged use This necessitates the continued search for potent antiinflammatory agents with reduced or no side effects Studies based on the ethnobotanical use of plants have often proved to be a more efficient method of drug discovery than random plant screening Some plant secondary metabolites such as alkaloids phenols tannins