Lecture 23 Flashcards
(23 cards)
What do herbal medicines often contain?
Complex mixtures of active compounds
What is a major concern worldwide regarding herbal products?
Safety and quality
How do regulatory standards for herbal medicines vary?
Greatly between countries
What is a challenge in identifying the active ingredients in herbal medicines?
Difficulty in distinguishing active constituents
Give an example of a challenge in herbal medicine identification.
Distinguishing paracetamol in Panadol vs. active constituents in St. John’s wort
What can complicate quality assessment of herbal products?
Variable composition
What can poor quality herbal medicines lead to?
Hazards to health
Name a factor that can compromise the quality of herbal medicines.
Contamination
What are patients unable to reliably assess before consuming herbal products?
Quality
List some consequences of poor quality herbal medicines.
- Therapeutic variability or outright treatment failure
- Possible worsening of disease conditions
- Increased adverse drug reactions
- Development of drug resistance
- Loss of public confidence in healthcare
What is Quality Assurance (QA) for herbal products?
A systematic approach to monitor and control product quality
Where is QA applied in herbal product development?
Throughout development, manufacturing, and distribution stages
What is the goal of Quality Assurance?
Guarantee consistent product quality for safety and efficacy
Does QA apply to synthetic medicines, natural products, or both?
Both
What does Pharmacopoeia provide?
Official standards/specifications for drugs and their formulations
Name an example of a pharmacopoeia.
- USP
- BP
- EP
- JP
- NF
What do WHO guidelines for herbal medicines include?
- Good Agricultural Practice (GAP)
- Good Collection Practice (GACP)
What is one aspect of Good Collection Practice (GACP)?
Correct botanical identification
What is a common issue with quality control in natural products?
Contamination
What is adulteration of natural products?
Intentional addition of undeclared substances
What is a widespread problem with herbal products sold online?
Fraudulent labeling or false claims
What are counterfeit medicines?
Illegally produced medicines that may contain incorrect or harmful ingredients
Why are counterfeits and adulterated herbal medicines problematic?
- Serious health risks to patients
- May cause toxicity or therapeutic failure
- Undermine trust in healthcare systems
- Contribute to drug resistance
