practiced in India . It uses various active medicinal ingredients derived from plant based extracts and calcined minerals ( bhasmas ) either stand alone or combination . The herbal formulations available in the market primarily based on the ancient texts heavily relies on belief , lacks standardization and more over most of these products are not tested with modern pharmacopic methodology . Therefore , their working mechanisms are relatively ambiguous and selectivity to the particular diseases are not well defined . The application of the modern nanoscience methods to the traditional system of medicine enhances the potential of herbal drugs for treating chronic diseases such as cancer and various other ailments .
Nanotized or micronized active herbal ingredients are increasingly become indispensable in enhancing the efficacy of neutraceuticals and over the counter drugs . Chemotherapy is an important mode of treatment at any stage of cancer . Chemotherapy drugs lacks selectivity , which in discriminatively kills both healthy cells and cancer cells , which leads to serious side effects . Radiation therapy is the most commonly used technique used for solid tumor treatment . Given the serious side effects of standard anti-cancer drugs , there is a growing demand for herbal drugs to mitigate the drug toxicity and improve the therapeutic index . According to Cancer Research UK ( CRUK ) herbal medicine is one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative therapies by people with cancer . Some studies have shown that as many as 6 out of every 10 people with cancer ( 60 %) use non- standardized herbal remedies alongside conventional cancer treatments , which indicates the mass popularity of ayurvedic medicine . Recent research findings demonstrates that there is an evidence that herbal
Nanoparticles can penetrate any site of the body , even neurons . It means we can deliver drugs straight to cancer cells so the healthy cells are not affected
remedies may help to prevent or relieve the symptoms of cancer or treatment side effects .
An overview of our efforts to develop a nanoherbal drug for anti-cancer
With the goal of standardizing and enhancing efficacy of herbal drug actives in proprietary ayurvedic medicine , Oncocur India identifies and develops novel nano herbal drug targets and adjuvant drugs for the treatment of cancers . Adjuvant therapy with Oncocur ’ s nano herbal formulation BRECAN showed significant improvements in the tumor reduction as compared with chemotherapy alone . Adjuvant nanoherbal drug helps in improvement of immune cell count and reduced side effects as compared with chemotherapy alone . Our nano herbal medicine , BRECAN is also associated with a reduction in the risk of anaemia and a reduction in the risk of neutropenia . Nanoparticles can penetrate any site of the body , even neurons . It means we can deliver drugs straight to cancer cells so the healthy cells are not affected . Company is collaborating with Professor Andrew Wheatley in the Department of Chemistry from the University of Cambridge on developing novel drug delivery systems to deliver herbal actives selectively at the tumor .
Nanoscience has already redefined the pharmaceutical industry and currently herbal drugs and ayurvedic medicine industry is going through the nanotech revolution . Nanopreparations of herbal extracts and phytochemicals are an emerging platform for the efficient delivery of anti-cancer drugs such as Curcumin , Andrographolide and Taxol . To exploit various anti-cancer properties of the potential anticancer drug candidates such as Curcumin , Andrographolide , Kedros foetidissima various nanoformulation strategies being applied such as liposomes , micelles , nanoemulsions , cyclodextrin complexes , solid lipid nanoparticle conjugates .
Curcumin , a polyphenol compound extracted from turmeric , has been now widely used in proprietary ayurvedic medicines in India , USA and Europe . Curcumin has great potential for the development of a therapeutic and it is known for range of therapeutic functions such as anti-inflammation , anticancer , inflammatory bowel , wound healing , Alzheimers , rheumatoid arthritis , and diabetes . Curcumin has been tested for 120 for various clinical trials in the last decade . Despite its therapeutic potential , unfortunately Curcumin appears to lack the properties required for a good drug candidate ( chemical stability , high water
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