Abstract

Ethnopharmacological knowledge is viewed as an increasingly relevant and important source for development of new medicinal products. Historically plants have been the basis of many medicines and are a major resource for human health care. This project critically examined the science-based medical evidence supporting use of traditional Asian medicinal plants for curative, preventive or palliative functions relevant to important chronic ailments in Western countries (eg. cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, dementia, asthma). Around 400 medicinal plant species were reviewed through 3,500 scientific references. There were more species associated with anticancer effects than any other chronic disease, suggesting that if Asian medicinal species are to make new impacts on Western health there is a strong chance that this will be as anticancer agents. However, conclusive positive results from randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled experiments with humans were only available for a limited number of crops. Garlic (Allium sativum), turmeric (Curcuma longa),green tea (Camellia sinensis), ginseng (Panax ginseng), Astragalusmembranaceus and Ginkgo biloba are important Chinese medicinal plants with strong support from medical efficacy trials. Other species backed by good data include Apocynum venetum, Codonopsis pilosula, Fallopia multiflora, Huperzia serrata, Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, Stephania tetrandra andTrichosanthes kirilowii.

Key words: Ethnopharmacology, plant, chronic disease.