Herb Comparison - Essay Example

Herb Comparison Herbal preparations are usually plant extracts which might contain the bark, leaf, root, fruit or any other part of the plant which contains the active ingredient. Standardized preparations are difficult to obtain although some marketers claim their products to be standardized in terms of purity and percentage of the active ingredient. The World Health Organization (WHO) has however published monographs of standardized preparations of herbal extracts. Information available on preparations of three herbal drugs viz.

Ginseng, Gingko and Aloe is as below: 1. Ginseng: The WHO monograph on Ginseng describes it as ‘Radix Ginseng’, which is the dried root of Panax ginseng. The dried extract of the root is recommended to be taken once in the morning at a dose rate of 0.5-2 gm. For its multifarious health benefits (WHO). For a preparation to be considered standardized, it should satisfy numerous purity criteria and freedom from contaminants which are described in the WHO monograph on the herb (WHO). Commercially available preparations (e.g. Korean Panax ginseng) however claim to contain 80% of the active ingredient which are recommended to be used at a dose rate of 2 capsules two times a day (Web, undated).

The manufacturer eulogizes the health benefits of the preparation but does not elaborate upon the manufacturing process, which may or may not be GMP certified. Price, depending upon quality and source of the plant extract varies from $ 8.50 to $ 19.95 per ounce (Web). 200 mg. per day dose of a standardized ginseng preparation has been shown to provide equivalent health benefits as 1200 mg. per day of a non-standardized extract (Leigh, 2001). 2. Gingko: Gingko leaf extract has wide popularity in its usage as a memory enhancer and blood circulation improving herb (Ehrlich, 2009).

Standardized extracts of the active ingredient should possess a ‘drug:extract’ ratio 35-67:1, containing 22–27% flavone glycosides and 5–7% terpene lactones, of which approximately 2.8–3.4% should consist of ginkgolides A, B, and C and 2.6–3.2% bilobalide (WHO Monograph). Commercially available preparations’ however have a high degree of variability, with one commercial preparation, ‘Cardio Crusaders’ selling a package of 60 capsules claimed to contain 60 mg. of the Gingko extract each, priced at $ 12.

50 for each carton (Web). Additional information on this particular brand reveals the ratio of the leaf extract to be 50:1 in a 60 mg. capsule, with percentages of the active ingredients such as Flavonglycosides, Terpene lactones and Gingkolide given as 24%, 6% and 0.8% respectively (Web). 3. Aloe: Aloe vera is a succulent plant yielding a gel which is claimed to have skin protection, laxative and other medicinal properties (Web). As it primarily contains water (up to 98%), which is in a mucilaginous form, it is primarily used as a laxative and an emollient for skin asepsis.

The recommended standardized preparation should ideally be fresh extracted juice as it deteriorates with aging, and should contain 10-70% of the fresh gel (WHO). Commercial preparations of the gel are available as softgel capsules, in a packing of 50 softgels each, and at a price of around $ 5 per package (Web). Supplement facts just mention the level of calories and fat per capsule. References Cardio Crusaders Product Store, Gingko Biloba, Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.cardiocrusaders.

com/Ginkgo-Biloba.html Ehrlich, S. D. (2009) Gingko Biloba, Retrieved July 6, 2011 from: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginkgo-biloba-000247.htm Korean (Panax) Ginseng Standardized Extract (80% Ginsenosides), Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.herbalpalace.com/bulk_herbs/Korean_Ginseng.html Leigh, E (2001) The Herb Research Foundation: Herb Information Greenpaper, Retrieved July 6, 2011 from: http://www.herbs.org/greenpapers/ginseng.htm Nature's Herbs Aloe Vera Gel-50 Softgels, Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Herbs-Aloe-Vera-Gel#IngredientFacts WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Volume 1, Accessed July 6,2011 at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/1999/9241545178.

pdf Wisconsin Grown Small Ginseng Root - White Ginseng, Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.onlineginsengstore.com/GinsengRoot.html