New approach for the development of improved Antihyperglycemic Herbal Medicine from Laportea ovalifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Chew. (Urticaceae)

The world needs, as in the past, synergistic drugs more effective in the treatment of diseases and even the most complicated ones such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, sickle cell anemia, etc. A majority of Africans rely on synergistic traditional medicine as the primary form of healthcare. Yet most traditional medicine products have a short shelf life, especially for water-based formulations such as macerations, infusions and decoctions. Indeed, many of these water extracts become unfit for human consumption after five to seven days of conservation either because of the degradation or toxicity of active components, and/or the growth of pathogenic organisms. The purpose of this study was to develop a new approach for an improved traditional medicine (ITM) which is cheap, efficient, safe, available, affordable and easy to produce, and that can be conserved for a longer time. Hence, Laportea ovalifolia was selected from an ethnopharmacological survey in Cameroon, and was used to prepare an oral antihyperglycemic ITM. This preparation required 9 steps which permitted to a multidisciplinary team of scientists to  realized it standardization. Four galenic formulations of this antihyperglycemic ITM were produced. From October 2007 date of their preparation to 2018 they still undamaged. A relationship between these four formulations was described as follow: One spoon of oral suspension (10 ml) = one sachet of powder=2 tablets=3 capsules. Hence, our research provides new insight into a drug discovery approach that could alleviate the major problems affecting traditional medicine and enhance its effectiveness in addressing health care in developing and undeveloped countries.

Author(s): Tsabang Nolé

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