Iranian Scientists Study 20 Herbal Plants for Application as Natural Compounds in Treatment of Infection
“We have examined over 20 plants and medicinal compounds so far and published a number articles in the prestigious Iranian and foreign journals. In the meantime, the mentioned compounds are being tested on animals, and we are seeking the permission of the ethics committee to use these compounds in the human phase,” Bahman Rahimi Osbouyee, a PhD graduate in Medical Parasitology and Director of the Parasitology Research Group of Islamic Azad University’s Ton-e Kabon branch, told ANA.
“The main goal of our research group is to use natural compounds in the treatment of infection, therefore, we seek to replace herbal medicine with conventional medicinal compounds and prevent the imports of expensive chemical medicine to the country,” he added.
Rahimi Osbouyee also said that the parasitology research group is also trying to pave the ground for the exports of these medicinal compounds in the long term.
Figures show that Iran has exported more than $660 million worth of herbal medicines in recent years.
As a vast country with different climates, Iran is a suitable place for planting and growing different types of herbs, a report by the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology says, adding that as statistics show currently, about 90% of medicinal herbs are grown inside the country.
Despite the fact that growing herbs can generate a lot of revenues for Iran, the country’s share of exports of these herbal medicines in the global market is not good at all.
Available official reports indicate that the value of exports of medicinal herbs and herbal medicines in 2012 was about $350 million while the figure has reached more than $ 660 million in recent years. The total value of exports excluding saffron is estimated to have reached at $370 million.
According to the report, the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology’s Department for Development of Herbal Medicine and Traditional Medicine has made necessary planning to expand scientific and technological cooperation at the international level and provide more opportunities for exporting more herbal medicines to other countries.
Participating in International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH), sending knowledge-based, technological and creative companies to leading countries in the field of herbal medicines and preparing and presenting the capabilities of domestic companies in the field of equipment, processing and concentrated herbs (herbal beverages) and their introduction to foreign markets are some of the measures and planning made by the department.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) website, International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) is a global network of regulatory authorities responsible for regulation of herbal medicines, established in 2006. Its mission is to protect and promote public health and safety through improved regulation for herbal medicines.
4155/v
