The Inheritance and Innovation of Plant Extracts in Pharmaceuticals Industry
Throughout the long history of humanity's fight against diseases, traditional Chinese medicine has always played an important role in the prevention and treatment of diseases. From herbal formulas recorded in ancient books to modern innovative drugs, plant extracts occupy the prominent position in the pharmaceutical industry due to their natural active ingredients and unique pharmacological effects. Nowadays, with continuous advancements of technology, plant extracts are transitioning from traditional applications to a new phase of innovative development, injecting fresh vitality into global healthcare.
Plant Extracts—The Traditional Foundation of the Pharmaceutical Industry
In the field of drug development, plant extract products play a crucial role.
Icaritin, extracted from the natural herb Epimedium, has been approved for marketing in China for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma through rigorous controlled clinical trials.
Camptothecin, a representative anticancer drug raw material, extracted from the roots of Nothapodytes pittosporoides (Oliv.) Sleumer, its mechanism of action is to inhibit the proliferation of tumour cells and induce apoptosis by inhibiting topoisomerase I (TOPO I), and its derivative, 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin, serves as a key intermediate in the production of the antineoplastic drug Irinotecan Hydrochloride (CPT-11). Chenlv Herb has achieved industrial-scale production of camptothecin with an annual output exceeding 3,000 kg.
Palmatine chloride is an alkaloid extracted from the stems of Fibraurea recisa Pierre. with good antiviral and antibacterial effects, and also enhances the phagocytosis of leukocytes, and it is commonly used to treat gynecological inflammation, enteritis, and surgical infections. Clinical studies have shown that palmatine chloride combined with levofloxacin achieve a cure rate of up to 87.23% for endometritis.
Diosmin has intravenous anti-inflammatory effects, combination of diosmin with other flavonoids, particularly hesperidin, have found to be very effective in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and haemorrhoids, thus setting a good example of drug synergism.
Innovative Breakthroughs of Plant Extracts in the Pharmaceutical Industry
To avoid bacterial infections and toxic side effects associated with the use of biomaterials for repairing bone defects, a dual drug loaded composite microsphere of berberine-naringin with antibacterial and osteogenic properties was invented in the study. Berberine hydrochloride, a natural ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Coptis chinensis Franch, Berberis soulieana Schneid. or Phellodendron chinense Schneid. , which has broad spectrum and potent antibacterial functions. Naringin is the main active ingredient of Drynaria fortunei（Kunze）J.Sm. , a traditional Chinese medicine for tonifying kidneys and strengthening bones, which can effectively regulate bone metabolism and promote bone injury repair. This drug loaded composite microsphere achieves dual antibacterial and osteogenic effects by slowly releasing the active ingredients of the above two traditional Chinese medicines, providing a new material for the clinical treatment of infected bone defects.
Development Trend of Plant Extract Industry
The future of plant extracts in the pharmaceutical market will show three major trends:
1. Personalized formulations will increase to 35% of the market share;
2. Cross-innovation between natural medicines and synthetic biology;
3. AI-powered active compound screening will reduce R&D cycles by 50%.
With the advantage of 30,000 kinds of plant resources, China is poised to develop global competitiveness in fields such as anti-tumor and neurodegenerative diseases. By 2030, the application scale of plant extracts in the pharmaceutical field will exceed 15 billion dollars.