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Advice on Publications Available.Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre
Department of Pharmacy
The University of Sydney
The area of herbal and complementary medicines is a major industry in Australia, and is being increasingly recognised in the health policies of the Federal and State governments.
There is a growing demand from the community and health-care professionals for education and research on herbal and complementary medicines.
Complementary medicines are not a homogeneous or even closely linked group of substances or treatments.
They include herbal remedies of Western or Eastern origin, homeopathic remedies, vitamins, minerals and other nutrient substances.
Herbal medicines are a major component of complementary medicines in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. In a broad sense, 'herbal' or 'natural' medicines encompass pharmaceutical and nutritional products of plant, animal, micro-organism and mineral origin.
They include materials and products used by pharmacists, TCM practitioners, acupuncturists, herbalists, natural therapists, nutritionists, homeopaths and medical practitioners, as well as materials used in Australian Aboriginal medicines.
In the Alternative Medicines Summit held in Canberra in 1996 it was pointed out that education, research and government involvement in herbal and complementary medicines are needed.
In addition, a recent review on the practice of Chinese medicine in Australia has also put forward recommendations related to education, scheduling and research on Chinese herbal medicines.
The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney has a long tradition in teaching aspects of therapeutic natural products and in research on pharmacological active substances from herbal medicines.
It has expertise and facilities in pharmaceutical chemistry, complemented by strengths in pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice, all required for the study of herbal medicines. However, the study of herbal medicines is a new and expanding field in Australia, and extra resources are required to perform various academic activities needed in this area.
The Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre (HMREC) was established at the University of Sydney in July 1997 to carry out high quality research and education on herbal and complementary medicines.
Sponsors of the Centre include Bionax, Blackmores, Herbal Medicines Supporter, Pan Laboratories, Shimadzu and The University of Sydney. Thursday Plantation Laboratories Ltd is a benefactor.
The vision of the Centre is to promote high quality scholarship and research excellence in herbal and complementary medicines for the benefit of the community through research, education and international linkage.
The specific objectives are:
Research and Development plans include:
Specific research projects currently in progress at the Centre include:
A number of specific research projects are referred to, below.
Plans for Education on Herbal Medicines include:
The major subjects of study may include:
The staff comprise:
In terms of Quality and Safety, plans include:
In terms of Regulatory Activities it is planned to carry out studies relevant to the scheduling of herbal products.
Objectives in terms of Information Services include:
It is planned to establish international linkages and collaboration in herbal medicines research and education.
Structure of the Centre
The management of the Centre will be through the Executive Board, supported by the Development Board, the Advisory Committee and other specific committees
The Executive Board comprises:
The Development Board comprises the Directors with:
For further information, contact:
Dr George Q Li
Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre
Department of Pharmacy
The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Telephone: 02 9351 4435
Facsimile: 02 9351 4391
Email: gli@pharm.usyd.edu.au
Or consult the Web Site:
http://www.pharm.usyd.edu.au/hmrec/
Specific research projects being conducted by the Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre:
1. An Investigation into the Popular Use of Pennywort, Centella asiatica, for the Treatment of Arthritis
An investigation commenced on the pennywort (Centella asiatica) for treatment of arthritis.
A network of mostly elderly arthritis sufferers has been using the fresh leaves of the wild pennywort to treat arthritic conditions, resulting in anecdotal reports of its efficacy.
The herb has a long history of traditional use, particularly in India, although treatment of arthritis is not the common traditional use.
The present study aims to scientifically investigate properties of the herb that may relate to the reported relief of arthritic symptoms.
As several chemically distinct varieties of the herb are recognised, initial studies will focus on the chemical and biological definition of the herb.
Studies will then proceed on selected herbal varieties, with chemical analyses and biological assays to identify active extracts or active components.
Further studies on the possible clinical relevance of any biological activities identified are planned.
2. Cultivation and Development of Herbal Products from Plants Introduced from China
Many herbal products originating in China are used extensively in Australia and there are opportunities to cultivate herbs and develop new products for both economic and social benefit.
Herbs considered for cultivation and development may be those with a long history of traditional use or may be those with potential for the development of new products to treat modern diseases.
A medicinal plant used to treat hyperlipidaemia in China has been introduced from China for cultivation and development of herbal products in Australia.
3. Potential Anticancer Drugs from Medicinal Plants
Many anticancer drugs are derived from nature. In a search for new anti-cancer agents the focus has been on plants in traditional use in China.
The aim of the project is to discover new cytotoxic or immuno-potentiating agents from such medicinal plants.
Herbs studied include a series of medicinal plants from a remote part of China, other Chinese medicinal plants, as well as Australian plants related to Chinese species yielding cytotoxic or immuno-potentiating agents.
4. Antioxidant Action Mechanisms
Oxidative degradation of components of a biological systems may occur by a number of different mechanisms, many of which can be inhibited by a variety of naturally occurring compounds.
The aim of this project is to develop a range of test systems for comparison of the strengths of putative antioxidants derived from plant material.
The first test system involves measurement of the extent of inhibition of the free radical oxidation of an unsaturated fatty acid.
The second employs potassium superoxide as a source of superoxide anion.
Both systems have been calibrated and standard procedures established for their use as antioxidant comparators.
5. Cardiovascular Drug Discovery - the Activities of Ilex Species on Calcium ATPases
Ilex asprella and Ilex rotunda are Chinese herbs used for cardiovascular disease.
The objective of the project is to study the activity of the herbs on various enzymes which may control cardiovascular activity, in order to understand their mechanism of action and to isolate active components.
6. Comparative Phytochemical Studies on Flindersia
Flindersia is an unique Australian genus of the Rutaceae family. It contains indole alkaloids which are similar to yuehchukene, a potential anti-implantation agent originally isolated from Murraya of the same family.
The purpose of this study is to search for a new anti-implantation agent from Flindersia. Five species of the genus have been collected from the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney for comparison.
7. Effects of Phyto-oestrogens in a Population with Breast Cancer
Phyto-oestrogens are plant-derived sources of oestrogen activity. These compounds are weaker than the body's natural oestrogens and are found in various natural sources, predominantly in soybeans, bean curd, linseed and certain vegetables.
Previous epidemiological studies on the effects of soy on cancer risk have been overall inconclusive.
The present clinical research assesses a phyto-oestrogen user population with breast cancer to compare the course of the illness and the course of treatment(s) against a non-user population. Patients will be fully investigated regarding their habits in respect of all medication usage. Urine analysis will be used as a cross-sectional 'snap-shot' of phyto-oestrogen load.
Thus any difference in objective outcomes between the groups can be more confidently assigned to phyto-oestrogens, since the presence of phyto-estrogens will have been objectively demonstrated.
8. Cardiovascular Activity of Phenolic Components from Australian Native Plants of the Grevillea Genus
Plants of the Grevillea genus has been used in traditional aboriginal medicine to improve wound healing.
Research into the Grevillea robusta and Grevillea striata has identified a plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) inhibitor, striatol.
This finding has led to the development of a series of phenolic substances which exhibit a novel inhibitory activity towards the PMCA.
Inhibition of this enzyme was considered as a target for cardiovascular activity, through the modulation of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis.
9. Pharmacological Activity of Ginger and Gingerol Analogues
Ginger has been used in herbal medicine to ameliorate or cure many ailments such as cold, cough, fever, rheumatism and motion sickness.
Among these, anti-emetic and anti-inflammatory activities of ginger are clinically considered to be the most significant effects.
Research into the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ginger is under progress to improve the efficacy of the ginger and new derived synthetic analogues of gingerol.
The research project is in collaboration with an industry partner, Thursday Plantation Laboratories Ltd and is funded by an ARC SPIRT grant.
International Herb Association
The International Herb Association is a professional trade association providing education, services and development opportunities for those in herbal endeavors.
The International Herb Association was begun in 1985 when a group met in Lebanon, Ohio, USA to discuss ideas and goals for their businesses.
Organizers expected some 25 businesses from Ohio and Kentucky to attend but 92 people from seven states, representing 56 businesses arrived.
A steering committee was formed and the following year at Purdue University, the International Herb Growers and Marketers Association was organized, becoming the International Herb Association in 1994.
Since 1986, educational conferences and business meetings have been held on an annual basis.
The conferences have addressed the diverse range of concerns of herb growers, marketers and researchers, such as packaging and labeling, sourcing of supplies, mail order, computers, display and design, taxes, employee relations, stress management, business budgets and projections.
From its inception, IHA has encouraged herbal entrepreneurs. Every conference offers guidance for new business owners as an association of peers supporting herbal endeavors.
For further information, contact:
International Herb Association
PO Box 317
Mundelein, IL 60060-0317 USA
Email: ihaoffice@aol.com
Telephone: 1 847 949 4372
Facsimile: 1 847 949 5896
Web site: http://www.herb-pros.com/index.html http://www.IntHerbAssoc.org
Hobler-Mann Pty Ltd
Hobler-Mann Pty Ltd, Consultants and marketers of medicinal herbs is now owned by:
Mediherb Pty Ltd
124 McEvoy Street
Warwick
Queensland 4370.
Center for Medicinal Plant Farming and Traditional Medicine
The center is a small electic bunch of folks who formed a practical applied natural science non-profit center working in sustainable organic cultivation and simulated wild crafting of medicinal herbs, fine herbal medicine making and fair trade.
Michael Spencer is a taxonomist, formerly at the Smithsonian, and ethno botanist, who has more than 20 years commercial horticulture experience.
Ean St-Claire is from a fifth generation farm family, has more than 28 years in the marketing and distribution of research-backed herbal and natural products.
Claire Spector has spent more than 28 years in co-ventured business, sustainable economy, and is a teacher of food as medicine and Chinese medical self-care.
We all three grew up in small towns, are concerned with agricultural land preservation, the continuing availability of high quality medicinal herbs, and the ongoing viability of smaller farms and rural economy.
We started in 1997, established a demonstration medicinal plant farm project on a 48 acre agricultural land preserve in rural Maryland, 30 miles NW of Washington, D.C.
We are practical in our applied natural science orientation and focussed more on long-term relationship development between farmers and with the responsible herbal products makers and marketers.
Now well into our first year, we are harvesting, making herbal medicines, and herbal food as medicine products and facilitating direct fair trade relations between growers and fine medicine makers.
The Center can be contacted on: Cgspector@aol.com
Bamboo Society of Australia (BSA)/
Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation
Following months of preparation, and evolving from a preliminary meeting held in October 1997, over one hundred enthusiasts and visionaries in bamboo converged on Brisbane at the end of August, 1998.
Their intention was to have their say in the setting up of both the Bamboo Society of Australia (BSA) and the Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation (ACBC).
The BSA has been set up to promote all aspects of bamboo interests in Australia, by way of a newsletter and annual meetings.
The ACBC has been set up to focus on the commercial aspects of bamboo shoot and timber production, supporting research, development and marketing.
The voting in of each of these new organisations was unanimous at the inaugural meetings.
Organised by Central Queensland University (CQU), with Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) support, the one day meeting and one-day field trip provided a fine venue for formal and informal linkages between bamboo growers from Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
As an emerging industry, bamboo (for culinary shoots and for timber) offers attractive financial returns to growers after the three to five year investment period.
RIRDC encourages the establishment of industry corporations, preferring where possible to fund research through them rather than with individual growers. CQU, with RIRDC support, has been researching the production of bamboo for four years.
Following the formal voting in of the BSA and ACBC, and their respective Boards and Committees there were a number of presentations.
Dr Volker Kleinhenz of CQU presented recent findings on the microbial loads and storage characteristics of bamboo shoots (see Pages 94-95).
Dr Jeff Barnes of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Bundaberg followed this by providing data on success rates for vegetative propagation of bamboo.
Mr Victor Cusack of Bamboo World related Thai experiences with the cultivation of Dendrocalamus asper, a popular culinary and timber species grown in Thailand and China.
The first day concluded with a presentation by Mr Kevin Blackburn (Northern Territory Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries) on the varietal comparisons and nutrition/irrigation trial set up at the Coastal Plains Research Station in the Northern Territory.
The second day attracted participants to two commercial bamboo properties north of Brisbane.
At Crystal Waters, Mr Hans Erkin of Earth Care Enterprises showed his highly productive and well managed Phyllostachys puhescens running bamboo patch, his Bambusa oldhamii clumps, and his range of other special-purpose bamboo species.
At Belli Park, Mr Durnford Dart of Bamboo Australia guided visitors through plantations of the same two species plus younger groves of Dendrocalamus latiflorus.
For further information contact:
Bamboo Society of Australia (BSA)
Shane Nicholls
Bamboo Australia
Telephone: 07 5447 0299
Facsimile: 07 5447 0299
Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation (ACBC)
Victor Cusack
Bamboo World
Telephone: 02 6689 7214
Facsimile: 02 6689 7214
Bamboo Research
Professor David Midmore
Central Queensland University
Plant Sciences Group
Rockhampton Queensland 4702
Telephone: 07 4930 9770
Facsimile: 07 4930 9255
Web site: http://science.cqu.edu.au/psg/
The proceedings of the Preliminary Meeting are available as:
Bamboo for shoots and timber
Edited by Professor David Midmore
Published by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
RIRDC Publication 98/32 1998, 66pp
Available from:
RIRDC, PO Box 4776
Kingston, ACT 2604
Telephone: 02 6272 4539
Facsimile: 02 6272 5877
Email: rirdc@netinfo.com.au
Web site: http://www.rirdc.gov.au
New Crop Development Unit
Stan Blade
Director
Crop Diversification Centre North (CDCN)
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
17507 Fort Road, R.R #6
Edmonton Alberta T5B 4K3 Canada
Telephone: 1 403 422 1789
Facsimile: 1 403 422 6096
Email: blade@agric.gov.ab.ca
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/7345
CDCN is a research station, supported by the Plant Industry Division of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD), which is actively involved in research associated with special crops, greenhouse production, vegetables, apiculture, entomology, seed potatoes, nursery crops, plant pathology and tissue culture and other diversification opportunities.
Stan Blade is also Leader of the New Crop Development Unit, responsible for the special crops program.
The Unit has the mandate to conduct production and processing research on a wide variety of potential new crops for the province and has scientists and technical staff based in Edmonton, Lacombe, Fahler and Brooks.
Research interests:
Pulses-field peas, lentils, fababeans, dry beans, chickpeas, cowpea
Spices-caraway, coriander, dill, fenugreek
Medicinal plants-ginseng, echinacea, feverfew, borage
Fibre crops-industrial hemp, flax
Alternate crops-canaryseed, sunwheat, proso millet, amaranth, quinoa
Indigenous Australians maintain the oldest continuous culture on earth.
Their understanding and utilisation of native species of plants and animals have sustained them for eons, yet apart from some interest by early European explorers, colonists and scientists, their incredibly diverse and nutritious diet has been ignored until the recent resurgence of interest.
Australian bushfoods provide an array of flavours, textures and nutrition that are exciting chefs of the world. The bushfood industry is developing rapidly.
After a series of conferences and seminars on indigenous food plants held throughout Victoria in 1995, it was decided by interested participants to form an organisation to represent the bushfood industry developing in Southern Australia.
The Southern Bushfood Association is an non-profit, incorporated body established to serve all sectors of the industry in southern Australia and participate in policy development at a national level.
The aims and objectives are:
For further information contact:
Southern Bushfood Association
Liz Burns
3 Frank Street
Box Hill Victoria 3128
Telephone: 03 9416 7150
Email: gilf@compost.apana.org.au
Peak Body for Australian Bushfood Industry
Ms Sammy Ringer
Editor, Australian Bushfoods magazine
38 Mountain View Road
Maleny, Queensland 4552
Telephone: 07 5494 3812
Facsimile: 07 5494 3506
Email: bushfood@hotkey.net.au
Web site: http://www/hotkey.net.au/~bushfood
At the First National Conference for New Rural Industries held in Perth last year, keynote speaker Dr David McKinna stated that the first critical success factor is an effective industry association.
He stated that such an association needs to represent the vast majority, if not all of the stakeholders.
It's been talked about, reported on, researched and canvassed - but a peak industry body (PIB) for the bushfoods industry has not yet happened.
We need one.
The time has come.
A date has been set.
The proposed body will represent as broad a cross section of people as possible. It will be open to individuals and regional producer groups.
It will encourage participation from such sectors as:
Payments to and voting power within this peak body should be based on an individual/individual business basis, either directly or via regional associations.
The body must have Aboriginal involvement, both as individuals and regional groups.
It will be formed as an incorporated association and interim directors elected.
A constitution, model rules, aims and objectives and a name will be agreed to.
In the first year, prior to the first Annual General Meeting and elections, it will carry out as many of the functions of a PIB as possible, concentrating on items for early action that are agreed on, which might include:
If possible, subcomittees will be formed to look at the following: standards and labelling aboriginal involvement marketing and media communication/information flows business planning promotion
Here, for discussion is a draft set of aims and objectives:
It is intended to utilise phone-conferencing, net-conferencing, previously submitted papers and proxies to make the meeting open to as wide a range of groups and individuals as possible.
Please contact Australian Bushfoods magazine for further information and/or a draft set of model rules.
The next issue of the magazine (last week in February) will contain a pro-forma for those wishing to be involved, as well as the venue, time and a listing of those attending.
Contact the magazine on:
Telephone: 07 5494 3812
Facsimile: 07 5494 3506
Email: bushfood@hotkey.net.au
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF