Natural products and

phytomedicines used in pharmacy

and medicine
1. The Gastro intestinal and biliary
system
 a. diarrhoea
• Sudden onset and short duration is very
common, chronic diarrhoea should be treated
properly.
• Oral rehydration therapy (sugar salt solutions)
as treatment and also polysaccharides of rice
grains
 starch
• Used for rehydration purpose and may be
derived from Oryza sativa, Zea mays, or
Solanum tuberosum.
• Polysaccharides are hydrolized in the Gi tract;
sugars are absorbed . Rice suspensions
actively shift the balance of Na+ towards the
mucosal side, enhance water absorption and
provide the body with energy
• Opium extracts (kaolin and morphine mixture; codein
phosphate tablets) are also used but controlled by law.
• Loperamide (a synthetic piperidine derivatives with limited
systemic absorption) is used and highly effective.

decreases the tone of the

longitudinal smooth muscles but increases
tone of circular smooth muscles of the
intestinal wall. This increases the amount
of time substances stay in the intestine,
allowing for more water to be absorbed out
of the fecal matter. Loperamide also
decreases colonic mass movements and
suppresses the gastrocolic reflex.
 b. constipation
• Constipation is due to an inappropriate diet,
lack of physical activity, or psychological
factors.
 1. Bulk forming laxatives
• These are bulking agent with a high
percentage of fibre and often rich in
polysaccharides, which swell in the the GI
tract.
• Bulk forming laxatives are generally not
digested or absorbed in the GI tract, but pass
through it largely unchanged.
• Should be used for chronic, long term
conditions
• Isphagula (P. ovata; plantaginis
ovatae semen)
* becoming mucilagenous when
chewed, help regular bowel
movement. The swelling factor
should be > 9 for entire seeds and >
40 for the seed husk.

• Psyllium (P. psyllium; Psylliii semen)

*Swelling factor > 10
 • Linseed (Linum usitatissimum; Lini
semen)
*The swelling factor > 4

• Wheat bran (Triticum aestivum)

* Is less useful as a laxatives (contain
phytic acids which can complex with
and reduce the vitamins and minerals
Linseed (Flax)
taken at the same time).
 2. Osmotic laxatives
• Lactulose and lactose
• The bacteria metabolize this sugars  acids
(lactic acid and acetic acid)  osmotic effect
• Increase in the amount of faeces with increase
in GI peristalsis
 Stimulant laxatives
• Including anthraquinones
• Act directly on the intestinal mucosa,
increased peristalsis of the colon.
• It reduced transit time reduction in absorption
of water.
• Increase faecal volume with an increase in the
GI pressure.
 •Emodin and aloe-emodin 
genotoxic and mutagenic

•Cause colic and pains due to

increased spastic contractions
(Aloe and Senna leaves)

antrakuinon

Aloe emodin
• Senna, Cassia senna (Sennae fructus, sennae folium)
* Contain senidin A and B, aloe-emodin, rhein,

Sennae folium
• Frangula / Buckthorn (frangulae cortex, R. purshiani
cortex)
*Contain glucofrangulin, emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein,
cascaroside.

• Aloe and Rheum (Rhubarb) are used to a lesser

extent today

Rhubarb
frangula
c. Inflammatory GI: gastritis and ulcers
• Matricaria recutita (flos)
Essential oils containing bisabolol and
chamazulene provide anti inflammatory,
spasmolytic, antibacterial and anti fungal
effect.
Inhibits the formation of leukotrienes and
prostaglandins.
It is relatively safe, although allergic reactions
can occur.

Bisabolol
• Liquorice (G. glabra)
Contain glycyrrhizic acid (glycyrrhizin), also contains flavonoids
(chalcones and isoflavonoids), coumarins, and
polysaccharides which contributes to the activity
Glycyrrhizin is used to relieve gastric inflamation (peptic ulcers
and duodenal ulcers).
The dose < 200-600 mg of glycyrrizin daily (4-6 weeks)

glycyrrhizin
 d. Dyspepsia and liver disorders
• Are closely associated with eatinghabits and
very common complaints (nausea, pain,
cramps) after rich meals.
• Usually treated with cholagogue
 Arthichoke (Cynara scolymus; Cynarae folium)

• Contain sesquiterpene lactone cynaropicrin several flavonoids

and cynarin.
• It has liver protection, cholagogue activity and reduction in
cholesterol and TG levels.
• It is also used in IBS
• Gentian (Gentiana lutea; Gentianae radix)
• Contain glycoside (gentiopicrin and amarogentin)
• Stimulates the secretion of saliva and gastric
juices
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum; Absinthii
herba)
• Contain thujone, sesquiterpene lactones
(absinthin, artemitin) and flavonoids.
• Act via receptors on the tongue; increase
the saliva and digestive juices.
• Thujone is toxic and hallucinogenic in large
dose

thujone
 e. Nausea and vomiting
• Hyoscine (scopolamine)  as transdermal patch

• Ginger (Z. officinale)

Contain essential oil zingiberene and β-bisabolene, shogaol
provide hepatoprotective effects, warming effect, anti-emtic,
antiflatulent, etc.
Fresh rhizome (vomiting, coughs, abdominal distension, and
pyrexia) dried rhizome (abdominal pain, lumbago and
diarrhoea)
It is regarded as safe
g. Irritable bowel syndrome; flatulence
Peppermint (Mentha piperita folium)
• Contain essential oil (menthol, menthone), rosmarinic acid,
flavonoid
• Antispasmodic in the ileum
• Caraway (Carum carvi; carvi fructus)
• Contain essential oil (carvone, limonene)
Carvone has spasmolytic and antimicrobial
activity (dyspepsia, GI cramps, and
flatulence)

• Fennel (F. vulgare)

Contain essential oils (anethole and
fenchone).
Used as carminative, indigestion and colic in
children.
 f. Liver damage
• Liver damages should be treated under
medical supervision.
• Silybium marianum (sylimarin)
• Contain flavonolignan (silibinin,
isosylibin, silydiamin) exert
antihepatotoxic effects

Chemically modified silibinin, silibinin

dihydrogen disuccinate disodium (trade
name Legalon SIL) a solution for injection,
is used in treatment of severe intoxications
with hepatotoxic substances, such
as death cap (Amanita phalloides)
poisoning
silibinin