The first day of the Teknolusugan event conducted by the UP Manila Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) on Nov. 25 saw the presentation of six herbal medicine preparations before technology developers and industry representatives. The event was part of the Science and Technology Week celebration from Nov. 25 to Dec. 4, 2020.
Ophthalmic Solution for Prophylaxis and Treatment of Ocular Infections
In response to the shortage of ophthalmologists in the country, Dr. Leo D.P. Cubillan, Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) director, reports a collaboration with DOH in the creation of a service program which is integrated into the universal healthcare system for use in all municipal health office clinics by primary eye care physicians.
The frequently used initial treatment for eye conditions is fluoroquinolones which may cause bacterial resistance. An ophthalmic solution being developed by his team can be used instead before referral to an ophthalmologist.
This product was registered as a utility model on 27 April 2020 and has several prototypes. Currently, the team is working on another prototype that will undergo test for efficacy, safety, and stability to make it commercially viable. Once the test is done, it will undergo a clinical trial with the final prototype before manufacturing and distribution. He added that this product has less bacterial resistance compared to fluoroquinolones.
Natural Preservatives for Food and Other Preparations
The current available solution to prevent food-borne diseases and microbial spoilage makes use of synthetic preservatives for various kinds of food and pharmaceutical products; however, studies demonstrated that synthetic preservatives cause undesirable effects such as allergic reactions, carcinogenicity, behavioral changes, and even mental outcomes.
Dr. Erna C. Arollado, Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences shared numerous reports demonstrating the antimicrobial property of extracts of common Philippine plants that may become sources of affordable, accessible, and safe alternatives to existing chemical preservatives. The studies utilized natural antimicrobial preservatives sourced from plants for products particularly liquid oral pharmaceutical preparations. Preservative capacity of their formulated suspensions was evaluated and a decrease in the number of E. coli and S. aureus colonies was seen which indicates their potent preservative qualities.
Tsaang Gubat Tablet for Biliary and Gastrointestinal Colic
Mr. Essel N. Tolosa, Senior Researcher of the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP) reported that clinical trials comparing the anti-spasmodic effect of Tsaang gubat oral tablet and dicycloverine among patients with mild, moderate, or severe biliary colic or gastrointestinal spasm showed comparable results. Based on the total pain relief, it was found that the relief of pain by Tsaang gubat was within 30 minutes with complete relief of all pain within two and a half hours. He emphasized that the competitive advantage of Tsaang Gubat tablet over other synthetic drugs is that it is cheaper with no unwanted side effects such as stomach ulcers, heart failure, dry mouth, trouble urinating, or allergic reactions.
Yerba buena as Analgesia
Post-operative pain management aims to improve pain relief, early mobilization of patients, reduce the risk of complications, and timely or early discharge of patients; thus improving clinical outcomes.
Dr. Jaime M. Purificacion, NIRPROMP Researcher and Research Faculty of UP Manila, presented Yerba buena, scientifically known as Mentha cordifolia Opiz., a herbal plant that contains menthalactone, beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosteryl, and beta glycoside which has been shown to have analgesic or pain relieving activity. Clinical trials 1-3 showed that it is safe and effective in relieving post-operative moderate to severe pain after circumcision, dental extractions, and childbirth; which is equivalent to the analgesic effect of paracetamol. Its onset of action is within 10 minutes with total pain relief in 30 minutes to 1 hour. Its competitive advantage over other pain relief drugs is that it is cheaper with no unwanted side effects like bleeding, stomach ulcers, and renal injury which are seen in synthetic preparations.
Ulasimang bato, an Herbal Medicine for Gout and Hyperuricemia
Stage one gout starts with uric acid build up in the blood and crystal formation around the joints, while stage two is the acute gout causing a painful gout attack. Uric acid is a chemical produced when the body breaks down food high in purine such as poultry, red meat, alcohol, etc.
Dr. Cecilia Nelia Maramba-Lazarte, Institute of Herbal Medicine Director, presented the NIRPROMP developed solution for gout and hyperuricemia, the Ulasimang bato tablet, also called pansit pansitan, Peperomia pelucida. In the randomized double-blind clinical trials conducted, the Ulasimang Bato tablet was prescribed at a high dose during the first two weeks and was decreased to half the dose thereafter. Results showed that after two weeks of treatment, more than 85 percent had satisfactory pain relief and did not experience any rebound hyperuricemia or flare reaction which is sometimes seen in patients treated with allopurinol. Ulasimang Bato is cheaper compared to other anti-hyperuricemia agents and one need not take additional NSAIDs for pain and inflammation relief.
Mentha cordifolia in the Treatment of HIV Infection
The Philippines has an increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS in recent years. Fortunately, Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is currently given for free in DOH treatment hubs; however, the availability is limited and recent reports show increasing drug resistance to current treatment regimens.
To help address these issues, Dr. Sheria Laine M. De Paz- Silava, physician scientist and UP College of Public Health Associate Professor, presented a product developed by her team which they called NP. NP is a medicinal plant that is widely distributed in Philippine communities and approved by the DOH for medicinal use. They conducted experiments in Japan to test the bioactivity of its crude and semi-purified forms against HIV and latently infected cells. The findings present a natural product that inhibits virus production in HIV latently infected cells and targets the later stages in gene expression where virus resistance strains are amplified. The patent application for the methods and preparations of NP in the treatment of HIV infection has been applied in February 2020.
Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 20 (30 November 2020)
