Why is homeopathy not used in the healthcare system?

Varför används inte hopeopati inom hälso- och sjukvårdssystem?

Herbal substances and preparations play a crucial role in healthcare systems worldwide. However, due to the wide variation in the origin, composition, and processing procedures of these products, it is important to have appropriate methods for quality assessment. The majority of herbal substances are administered as multicomponent mixtures, especially in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, but also in finished medicinal products. Quality assessment of complex mixtures of herbal substances using conventional methods is challenging. Therefore, this study was designed to focus on developing complementary methods to clarify the composition of mixtures of herbal substances and finished herbal medicinal products.

Purpose of the study

A prerequisite for the safe and effective use of herbal medicines is the unambiguous identification of the medicinal plants used in them. In this context, we investigated the potential of three different PCR-related methods for the characterization and authentication of herbal substances.

Methods used
A multiplex PCR assay and a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay were developed to analyze defined mixtures of herbal substances such as Quercus cortex, Juglandis folium, Aristolochiae herba, Matricariae flos, and Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizoma, as well as a finished herbal medicinal product. Furthermore, a standard cloning technique with universal primers targeting the ITS region was established to enable the examination of herbal mixtures with unknown content.

Results
The cloning method had some limitations regarding the detection/recovery of components in defined mixtures of herbal substances, but the complementary use of two sets of universal primer pairs increased the detection of components from the mixture. While multiplex PCR could not trace back all components in the defined mixtures of herbal substances, the established qPCR resulted in simultaneous and specific detection of the five target gene sequences in all defined mixtures.

Questions and Answers

Why is it important to assess the quality of herbal substances?

Answer: It is important because their composition and how they are processed. Assessing quality ensures that products are safe and perform as intended, and herbal products can vary greatly in their origin.

What challenges exist in assessing the quality of herbal substance mixtures using traditional methods?

Answer: Traditional methods can struggle with the complex mixtures often found in herbal products. It is difficult to accurately identify and measure all ingredients when there are many different components in a mixture.

What three methods were investigated in the study to control herbal substances?

Answer: The study investigated three methods: multiplex PCR, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and a cloning technique using universal primers.

What is a PCR analysis?

Answer: A PCR analysis is a technique that makes many copies of a specific DNA sequence. It helps researchers identify and study small amounts of DNA by creating millions of copies of that particular part of the DNA.

What is a quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis?

Answer: A quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, or real-time PCR, is a technique that not only makes copies of DNA but also measures the amount of DNA produced in real-time. This allows for the quantification, or counting, of the amount of specific DNA in a sample.

Why did the study use a cloning technique with universal primers?

Answer: The study used this technique to investigate mixtures of herbal substances where the content is unknown. Universal primers can identify many different plant components, making it easier to see what is in the mixture.

What herbal substances were included in the mixtures analyzed in the study?

Answer: The mixtures analyzed contained Quercus cortex (oak bark), Juglandis folium (walnut leaf), Aristolochiae herba, Matricariae flos (chamomile flowers), and Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizoma (salvia root).

What problems did the cloning technique have in the study, and how was the detection of components improved?

Answer: The cloning technique had problems detecting and recovering all components in the mixtures. Detection was improved by using two different sets of universal primers, which increased the chance of finding more components.

Why is it beneficial to use several PCR-related methods simultaneously to analyze herbal mixtures?

Answer: It is beneficial to use several methods simultaneously because they can complement each other and provide a more accurate and reliable identification of the medicinal plants in the mixtures. This ensures that the products are safe and effective to use.

Conclusion

These data indicate that for authentication purposes, complementary PCR-related methods are highly recommended for the parallel analysis of herbal mixtures. This study underscores the need to use several complementary techniques to ensure accurate and reliable identification of medicinal plants in complex herbal preparations, which is crucial for their safe and effective use in healthcare systems.