Prospects of Pharmaceutical Prospecting to Finance Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka

Pushpakumara, D. K. N. G.; Kotagama, H. B.; Marambe, B.; Gamage, Gayathri Babarenda; Silva, Kaid; Gunaratne, L. H. P.; Wijesundara, C.B.; Karaluvinne, Ssdk

doi:10.4038/sjae.v4i0.3483

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island with an area of approximately 65,610 km 2 . Despite its relatively small size, Sri Lanka possesses a high level of biodiversity due to its varied climate and topographical conditions [1]. Plants have been used for treating illnesses over a thousand years by four systems of traditional medicine in Sri Lanka called Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Deshiya chikitsa [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Herbal Cosmetic Production in Sri Lanka: Identifying Possible Interventions for the Development of the Herbal Cosmetic Industry

et al. 2021

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Although the herbal cosmetic industry has exponentially increased globally, manufacturing of herbal cosmetic products in Sri Lanka is still very limited. Therefore, objectives of the study were to recognize plants used in commercialized herbal cosmetic products and major constraints faced by herbal cosmetic manufacturers and to identify possible interventions for the development of herbal cosmetic industry of Sri Lanka. Information was gathered via a semistructured questionnaire by personal interviews with 11 large-scale multiple herbal cosmetic products manufacturers. Collected data were analyzed via frequency index for usage and descriptive statistics. A total of 115 plant species belonging to 56 families were identified. Extensive usage of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr., and Santalum album L. (90.91%) was reported among herbal cosmetic manufacturers. The highest number of plants or plant materials was used for manufacturing skin care products (54.78%) followed by hair care (19.13%) and oral care (6.96%). The majority of plants were reported from the plant family Fabaceae (16 species). Leaves (20.87%) were the widely used plant part, whereas 10 plant species were used as whole plants. Inadequacy of 7 plants/plant materials and importation of 8 plant materials for the production were also recognized. As major constraints faced by herbal cosmetic manufacturers, inadequate availability and poor quality of raw materials were emphasized. In conclusion, establishing proper cultivation system, implementing strategies for quality control of raw materials, and conducting ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological surveys to identify cosmetic potential of medicinal plants and partnerships with universities to transfer technology for product development to industries are possible interventions for the development of herbal cosmetic industry of Sri Lanka.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Herbal Cosmetic Production in Sri Lanka: Identifying Possible Interventions for the Development of the Herbal Cosmetic Industry

et al. 2021

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“…Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island with an area of approximately 65,610 km 2 . Despite its relatively small size, Sri Lanka possesses a high level of biodiversity due to its varied climate and topographical conditions [ 1 ]. As one of the most biologically diverse countries in Asia, Sri Lanka currently has 29.7% of forest cover [ 2 ] and 4,143 plant species distributed within 214 families.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Out of the total number of medicinal plant species, 174 (12%) are endemic to the country. As described by Pushpakumara et al [ 1 ], 250 species of medicinal plants are commonly used in traditional medicine of which 50 species are heavily used. Thus, it clearly implies the importance of medicinal plants in different systems of medicine in Sri Lanka.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnopharmacological Survey on Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Treatments in Traditional and Ayurveda Systems of Medicine in Sri Lanka

Gamage

Dharmadasa

Abeysinghe

et al. 2021

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Medicinal plants have been used for therapeutic and beauty applications in Sri Lanka with documented history of over 2,500 years. This inherited knowledge, which has been handed down from generation to generation, provides a largely unexplored source for the potential development of active ingredients for cosmetic formulations. Therefore, the present comprehensive survey was conducted to identify cosmetic potential medicinal plants species in Sri Lanka. Personal interviews were conducted via a semistructured questionnaire with randomly selected 30 traditional practitioners and 90 Ayurveda physicians in Sri Lanka. Data were collected on plants and specific plant parts used for the treatment of skin care, hair care, and oral care topically. The acquired data were verified using the Ayurveda authentic books and quantitatively analyzed using relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), relative importance (RI), and factor informant consensus (FIC). Results revealed about the usage of 133 different plant species belonging to 64 families in cosmetic treatments under the categories of skin care, hair care, and oral care. Majority of medicinal plants were used in skin care treatments (39%) followed by hair care (20%) and oral care (17%). Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. reported the highest RFC value (0.83) and UV (3.66). The highest RI value was reported from Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (1.67). The dominant plant family was reported as family Fabaceae. The most utilized plant part was stated as leaves (34%) followed by bark (14%). The survey further revealed about treatments for 17 skin-related, 9 hair-related, and 2 oral-related beauty issues. All RFC values were comparatively high for identified different beauty issues. Many herbal preparations were prepared using water as the medium whilst most common mode of application was reported as paste (37%). In conclusion, acquired information could ultimately be utilized for the development of the herbal cosmetic industry through the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from the documented plants while preserving the traditional knowledge.

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“…The Sri Lankans appeared to have developed a system whereby they select and continue to use plants that they find the most effective for health care purposes. Out of 1,414 medicinal plant species available in Sri Lanka, about 250 species are commonly used, while 50 species are heavily used (Pushpakumara et al 2002). Despite the country is blessed with a rich diversity of medicinal plants, commercial exploitation of the important species is yet to be developed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of the long reputed Sri Lankan species have however been extensively investigated in other countries and subject of several publications even with no reference to Sri Lankan participation. The recent example of Kothala himbatu (Salacia reticulata), a species widely known for its antidiabetic properties has been investigated in Japan and the United States and patented (Pushpakumara et al 2002). Though extensively investigated, it is unlikely that any commercial exploitation of their discoveries will result in the sharing of benefits with Sri Lanka.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Salacia reticulata</i> Wight: A Review of Botany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Arunakumara

Subasinghe

2011

Trop Agric Res & Ext

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Salacia reticulata is a large woody climbing shrub naturally found in Sri Lanka and Southern region of India. It is widely used in treating diabetes, a chronic disorder in metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fat due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin secretion with/without varying degree of insulin resistance. The decoction of S. reticulata roots is also used in the treatment of gonorrhea, rheumatism, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, itching and swelling, asthma, thirst, amenorrhea and dysmenorrheal. Presence of mangiferin (a xanthone from the roots), kotalanol and salacinol (from the roots and stems) have been identified as the antidiabetic principles of S. reticulata. Chemical constituents such as 1,3diketones, dulcitol and leucopelargonidin, iguesterin, epicatechin, phlobatannin and glycosidal tannins, triterpenes, and 30-hydroxy-20(30) dihydroisoiguesterin, hydroxyferruginol, lambertic acid, kotalagenin 16-acetate, 26-hydroxy-1,3-friedelanedione, maytenfolic acid have also been detected in the roots of S. reticulata. The antidiabetic property of Salacia is basically attributed to the inhibitory activity of intestinal enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase). Inhibition of intestinal enzymes delays glucose absorption into the blood and suppresses postprandial hyperglycemia, resulting in improved glycemic control. Furthermore, mangiferin has been reported to inhibit aldose reductase activity delaying the onset or progression of diabetic complications. Though diabetes has now become an epidemic affecting millions of people worldwide, neither insulin nor other modern pharmaceuticals has been shown to modify the course of diabetic complications mainly due to the multifactorial basis that involves both genetic and environmental risk factors. Therefore, effort is being devoted to find new therapeutics aimed at multiple targets, which has become a new paradigm in drug discovery. In this context, the discoveries on S. reticulata have lead to increase the consumption of the species across the world and it has now become a subject of broad studies for diabetes management.

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Prospects of Pharmaceutical Prospecting to Finance Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka

Abstract: ABSTRACT

Cited by 7 publications

References 15 publications

Emerging Herbal Cosmetic Production in Sri Lanka: Identifying Possible Interventions for the Development of the Herbal Cosmetic Industry

Emerging Herbal Cosmetic Production in Sri Lanka: Identifying Possible Interventions for the Development of the Herbal Cosmetic Industry

Ethnopharmacological Survey on Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Treatments in Traditional and Ayurveda Systems of Medicine in Sri Lanka

<i>Salacia reticulata</i> Wight: A Review of Botany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

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