Standardization, development of formulation and evaluation of therapeutic usefulness of Triticum Aestivum (wheat) grass in skin diseases and ulcer

Abstract

Herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about 75% of the world population, especially in the under developed and developing countries, for primary health care because of better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body and lesser side effects. However, in the last few years there has been a major increase in their use in the developed world. In Germany and France, many herbs and herbal extracts are used as prescription drugs. Herbal treatments are the most popular form of traditional medicine, and are highly lucrative in the international marketplace. The medicinal plants contribute to cater 80% of the raw materials used in the preparation of drugs. According to The National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, department of Ayush, India has 15 Agroclimatic zones and 17000-18000 species of flowering plants of which 6000-7000 are estimated to have medicinal usage in folk and documented systems of medicine, like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy. About 960 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in trade of which 178 species have annual consumption levels in excess of 100 metric tons. The domestic market of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy is about Rs. 4000 crores (2000), which is expanding day by day. The Ayurved drug market alone is to the order of Rs. 3500 crores. Besides this, there is also a growing demand for natural products including items of medicinal value/pharmaceuticals, food supplements and cosmetics in both domestic and international markets. Presently, India s export, from medicinal and herbal plants, is Rs. 3000 crores. India, with its diversified biodiversity has a tremendous potential and advantage in this emerging area. There are several stakeholders in the medicinal plants sector, right from herb collectors and growers to manufacturers and consumers. More than 700,000 practitioners of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy and Homeopathy are registered in the Indian systems of medicine.