Treatment for hepatitis C is done with drugs whose prices are quite expensive. Meanwhile, the trend of getting back to nature who makes flaming pharmaceutical industry benefit from herbal innovation as a treatment of this disease.
"By using herbs, hopefully increasing the price of drugs can be pressed," said Executive Director Dexa Laboratories of Biomolecular Sciences (DLBS) PT Dexa Medica Raymond R. Tjandrawinata DLBS speaking after the inauguration event, Tuesday (20/08/2013) in Cikarang, West Java.
Raymond says, certain bioactive fractions from plant crown god (Phaleria macrocarpa) can be a potent hepatitis C virus drug. Currently, the drug is still being developed by researchers at DLBS.
Hepatitis C is a disease of inflammation of liver cells caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (VHC). Hepatitis C among those with chronic illness, but can be cured with treatment.
Raymond explained that certain bioactive fractions from the crown god has the ability to prevent cystic posed by VHC. To prevent fibrosis, the fraction is also able to prevent inflammation of the liver.
According to Raymond, the principles of modern pharmacology, the materials can be used as medicinal herbs with equal effect even better than synthetic drugs (chemicals). "With the rise fractionation process, it is possible to simply take the activated substance from a natural material shall not be defeated until the usefulness of synthetic drugs," tuturnya.
Herbal medicine, he added, has a level based on the process that has dilewatinya. When only through the process of extraction medium, then still categorized medicinal herbal remedy. Furthermore, after passing through preclinical testing, the category increased to Medicinal Herbs Standardized, and if it passes clinical trials, herbal remedy called Phytopharmaca.
"We are developing herbal ingredients, including crown god, to head up to Phytopharmaca," said Raymond.
The use of medicinal herbs as raw materials, according to Raymond, it may suppress drug production costs compared to using raw materials imported chemical drugs. This is what makes even sale price is much cheaper.
"For some specific medication, even herbal drug prices from only 10 persennya chemical drug prices. Whereas the same quality," he recalls.
