Photo: P. Staniszewski

The forest that heals –

forest environment as a source of

herbal medicinal raw materials

Paweł Staniszewski1, Szczepan Kopeć1, Małgorzata Woźnicka1,

Emilia Janeczko1, Maciej Bilek2

Department of Forest Utilization, Faculty of Forestry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW1

Department of Food and Agriculture Production Engineering, Faculty of Biology and Agriculture, Rzeszów University2

PUBLIC RECREATION AND LANDSCAPE PROTECTION – WITH SENSE HAND IN HAND...

REKREACE A OCHRANA PŘÍRODY – S ROZUMEM RUKU W RUCE...

13. - 15. května 2019, Křtiny

Photo: P. Staniszewski

The growing fashion for a healthy lifestyle

The search for natural products

coming from the least contaminated ecosystems

Forests!

• forest fruits;

• edible mushrooms;

• ...

• medical herbs!

Photo: P. Staniszewski

Non-wood forest products!

Photo: P. Staniszewski

Aim:

to evaluate the usefulness of

medicinal plants found in Polish forest environment

in the context of herbal drugs and herbal drugs preparations

listed in the newest "European Pharmacopoeia 9"

in both the industrial/commercial context and in relation to

individual collection and use for collectors own needs.

Pharmacopoeia: official list of authorized medicines

(allowed for trading).

Herbal drugs (= herbal substances): medicinal plant

raw materials: whole, cut, fragmented, (fresh or dried),

selected unprocessed exudates/secretions etc.

Herbal drugs preparations: homogeneous medicinal

products of vegetable origin obtained by extraction,

distillation, pressing, fractionation, purification,

concentration or fermentation.

European Pharmacopoeia 9:

210 herbal drugs and 80 herbal drugs preparations monographs

(both native and exotic).

They come from 249 plant species, with 50 herbal drugs

and 17 herbal drugs preparations from 59 species

of medicinal plants found in Polish forest environment.

!

Forest:

Artemisia absinthium, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla vulgaris, Archangelica

officinalis, Arnica montana, Atropa belladonna, Betula pendula, B. pubsecens,

Polygonum bistorta, Chelidonium maius, Crataegus oxyacantha, C. monogyna,

Digitalis purpurea, Equisetum arvense, Filipendula ulmaria, Frangula alnus,

Fraxinus excelsior, F. oxyphylla, Hedera helix, Aesculus hippocastanum, Hypericum

perforatum, Juniperus communis, Cetraria islandica, Humulus lupulus, Malva

silvestris, M. neglecta, Menyanthes trifoliata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ononis spinosa,

Polygonum aviculare, Primula veris, P. elatior, Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q.

pubescens, Ribes nigrum, Rosa canina, R. pendulina, Salix purpurea, S.

daphnoides, S. fragilis, Sambucus nigra, Sanguisorba officinalis, Thymus

serpyllum, Solidago gigantea, S. Canadensis, S. virga-aurea, Taraxacum officnale,

Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos, Potentilla tormentilla, Urtica dioica, U. urens,

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Valeriana officinalis, Viola tricolor, V. arvensis.

Assignment of pharmacopoeial herbal drugs and herbal drugs preparations

from Polish forest areas (including the mid-forest clearings and the edge of

the forest) to the groups of phytochemicals

Photo: P. Staniszewski

Why this topic at this conference?

Collecting forest floor resources

is an element of recreation!

educational challenge!

Question:

It seems that there is nothing simpler than to gather

a plant from the forest and make a medicinal herbal

infusion from it, but...

...quite a lot of threats!

1. The risk of misdiagnosis

The main principle: correct diagnosis of the disease!

Threats

However, if the patient suffer from viral diarrhea, the use of

bilberry fruit is ineffective and also postpones the

implementation of the proper treatment.

Example:

Dried bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit is a tanning raw

material. It is often used, mainly for children, in mild bacterial

diarrhea.

Photo: P. Staniszewski

2. The right dose of medicine and time of treatment

The key to properly performed treatment is the right

dose and timing of the drug, also in the case of

herbal medicines.

Threats

However, if overdosed or used for too long, it may cause renal

irritation, haematuria, severe pain in the kidneys, irritation of the

gastric mucosa, uterine haemorrhage, convulsions, cardiac

disorders.

Example:

Semi-fruit of juniper (Juniperus communis), used in the right

dose, works diuretic and stimulates digestion.

Photo: P. Staniszewski

3. Necessity to consider contraindications

Each chemical substance and each herbal raw

material with therapeutic effect have their

contraindications.

Threats

However, due to the

irritating effect on the

mucous membranes

of the gastrointestinal

tract it cannot be

used in the presence

of gastrointestinal

bleeding, in acute

inflammation of the

stomach, gastric and

duodenal ulcer

disease, as well as

after surgery in the

gastrointestinal tract.

Example:

Primrose (Primula veris, P. elatior) root is used as an

expectorant in colds and inflammation of the airways.

Photo: P. Staniszewski

4. The need to take into account side effects

Herbal raw materials used even after correct

diagnosis and taking into account contraindications

may have serious side effects. Most often they are

harmless complaints from the gastrointestinal tract,

but sometimes they are more serious.

Threats

Photo: P. Staniszewski

Example:

Buckthorn (Frangula

alnus) bark used in

constipation may cause

irritation of the

gastrointestinal tract,

impaired absorption of

nutrients and well as

impaired absorption of

electrolytes (including

potassium), impaired

cardiac and muscular

function as well as

proteinuria and

hematuria. There is also

a risk of abortifacient

effects.

5. The need to consider the risk of interaction with

other drugs

Medicinal plants, even if used after accurate

diagnosis and did not cause side effects, may

interact with other drugs.

Threats

Example: Willow (Salix purpurea) bark intensifies the effect of

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants, which

may contribute to their side effects.

Photo: J. Adamczyk

6. So-called special precautions

When using a herbal medicine, attention should be

paid to atypical dependencies associated with a

particular drug.

Threats

Example:

The angelica

(Archangelica

officinalis) root

contains

components with

photosensitizing

properties. During

its use UV rays

cause

inflammation of the

skin, so you should

avoid sunbathing.

Photo: B. Łotocka

So... please, be careful !

The promotion of forest medicinal plants and the promotion

of the use of a herbal medicine cannot be carried out

uncritically.

Therefore, the use of medicinal plant raw materials without

consulting a doctor or pharmacist, should always be

considered as subject to health risks.

Photo: P. Staniszewski

The desire to spend free time in the forest is largely due to the

availability of mushrooms, fruit and other useful plants.

However, knowledge of the importance and proper use of

these goods is not satisfactory.

The education on non-wood forest products use,

conducted by foresters, is met with great public interest.

Conclusions

Popularization of the gathering of medicinal plants in the forest

environment, both for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry

and collectors own purpose, will allow the implementation of a

new and very attractive concept in forest education of society:

"the forest that heals".

Conclusions

However, it should be emphasized that the list of plants that

can be recommended for self-collection and use should be

limited. In practice, this applies to herbal raw materials with

safe prophylactic and not strictly healing effects. The key issue

is the safety of amateur users, whose knowledge about the

possible side effects of plant drugs, resulting from the multitude

of active substances presented in them, may be insufficient.

Of course, this does not exclude education in the field of

plants that are or may be used by the pharmaceutical industry -

but highlighting the risks associated with their improper use.

Conclusions

However, it should be emphasized that the list of plants that

can be recommended for self-collection and use should be

limited. In practice, this applies to herbal raw materials with

safe prophylactic and not strictly healing effects. The key issue

is the safety of amateur users, whose knowledge about the

possible side effects of plant drugs, resulting from the multitude

of active substances presented in them, may be insufficient.

Of course, this does not exclude education in the field of

plants that are or may be used by the pharmaceutical industry -

but highlighting the risks associated with their improper use.

Conclusions

!

So: education and promotion – YES!

But...

Photo: P. Staniszewski

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