Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit and Senior Researcher Essel Tolosa

The Yerba Buena (Mentha x villosa Huds Fam. Lamiaceae) (Photo courtesy of Senior Researcher Essel Tolosa)

In a groundbreaking development in herbal medicine, researchers from UP Manila have successfully formulated a Yerba Buena tablet as a natural alternative to commercial analgesics. 

This innovation, which aims to provide a safer and more effective solution for pain management, was presented by Senior Researcher Essel Tolosa during the 2nd Philippine Pharma and Healthcare Expo and was developed by the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP) in collaboration with the Institute of Herbal Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. 

Institute of Herbal Medicine (IHM) Senior Researcher Essel Tolosa presented Yerba buena as a natural alternative to managing pain during the 2nd Philippine Pharma and Healthcare Expo.

Harnessing the Power of Yerba Buena in Addressing Pain 

Pain is prevalent in the Philippines due to common medical procedures. In 2022, nearly 4,000 babies were born, with many mothers experiencing pain from vaginal birth and episiotomies. Over 90% of Filipino males undergo circumcision, often seen as a rite of passage, while minor surgeries like biopsies and incisions are routinely performed. Additionally, 85.2% of five-year-olds had dental caries in 2018, a persistent issue since 2011.

Yerba buena (Mentha x villosa Huds., Fam. Lamiaceae), also known as marsh mint or spearmint, has long been used in traditional medicine for its analgesic properties. It has been commonly utilized for ailments such as headaches, toothaches, arthritis, and dysmenorrhea. Now, with extensive research backing its efficacy, the Yerba Buena tablet is poised to become a viable alternative to synthetic pain relievers.

Scientific Validation and Clinical Trials

The development of the yerba buena tablet underwent rigorous preclinical and clinical trials led by a team of esteemed researchers: Dr. Nelia Cortes-Maramba, Prof. Cecilia Zamora, Prof. Ernesta Quintana, Dr. Romeo Quijano, Dr. Horacio Estrada, Prof. Clara Lim-Sylianco, Prof. Natividad de Castro, Prof. Leticia B. Gutierrez, Dr. Jaime Purificacion, Dr. Emmanuel Badiola, Dr. Caroline Polet, Dr. Nanette Gana, Dr. Miriam Cantilles, Dr. Fernando Cheong, and Dr. Godofreda V. Dalmacion. Their studies found that yerba buena contains β-sitosterol and β-D-glucoside—compounds with significant analgesic properties.

In preclinical studies using the tail-flick method in mice, results showed significant analgesic effects. For clinical trials (phases 1 to 3), findings revealed that the terba buena tablet had an onset of pain relief within 10 minutes, lasting up to 13 hours in relieving moderate to severe post-operative pain from circumcision, dental extraction, and childbirth—comparable to conventional analgesics like paracetamol. Moreover, it did not exhibit common side effects such as gastric irritation or liver toxicity, which are associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Paracetamol, although widely considered safe, still poses risks, particularly liver damage due to its metabolite NAPQI, or N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, a toxic byproduct produced during the xenobiotic metabolism of paracetamol when taken in high doses.

A Game Changer in the Herbal Medicine Market

Despite the herbal drug market in the Philippines being valued at around P1.2 billion annually, it remains small compared to the country’s P138 billion synthetic drug industry. However, with the increasing demand for natural alternatives, the yerba buena tablet has the potential to make a significant impact due to its proven efficacy and safety, making it a potential game changer in the field of pain management.

The yerba buena tablet also offers a competitive advantage with regard to its cost and efficacy. Compared to common pain medications, it is priced at P4 to P7, making it an affordable alternative. As for natural pain management, it contrasts with aspirin and NSAIDs like ibuprofen which are effective, but often come with gastric irritation. 

“Filipinos have long trusted herbal medicine, and with the Yerba Buena tablet, we now have a clinically proven natural alternative that can rival synthetic analgesics,” said Tolosa during a recent presentation.

A Call for Commercialization

The yerba buena tablet was previously included in the Philippine National Formulary in 2008 but was removed due to the lack of a commercially available product. Now, with the technology reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9, it is fully developed and ready for mass production.

The innovation has also secured its intellectual property rights, ensuring its protection and opening doors for investors and pharmaceutical companies interested in bringing the product to market.

With its remarkable benefits and market potential, the researchers behind the yerba buena tablet are actively seeking partnerships for its commercialization. Tolosa emphasized that this Filipino innovation, if fully adopted, could provide a more affordable and safer alternative for pain relief while promoting the country’s rich heritage in herbal medicine.#

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For those interested in collaborating or investing in this breakthrough, UP Manila encourages stakeholders to contact the TTBDO for further discussions.

UP Manila Technology Transfer and Business Development Office
2/F UP Manila Main Building, Joaquin Gonzales Compound,
Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, Philippines

ttbdo.upm@up.edu.ph

For other inquiries, contact:

UP Manila – Information, Publication, and Public Affairs Office (UP Manila-IPPAO)

Email address: upm-ippao@up.edu.ph