Proving Traditional Medicines Becomes A Challenge To Prove Scientifically

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MAKASSAR - The empirical use of traditional medicine is said to be one of the challenges for researchers to prove scientifically through the scientific process.

"The use of medicines from natural ingredients in Indonesia is based only on empirical experience, making traditional medicine only a trend in people in areas where a touch of modernization is still lacking," said Professor of Hasanuddin University Prof. apt Subehan M Pharm as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 18.

However, he is optimistic that the discovery of new drugs from natural ingredients in Indonesia is very large.

Subehan said several compounds have been used for cancer treatment which is sourced from natural ingredients, such as vincristine from catharantus roseus.

Among the drugs used for cancer between 1940 and 2002, about 69 percent were sourced from natural sources.

One of the trials carried out was the use of sappan wood as a traditional bone medicine that has been used for a long time.

"Tests were carried out on the secang wood extract on the activity of osteoblast cells as cells responsible for calcium attachment to bone and osteoclast cells for bone remodeling," he said.

Subehan said that Indonesia's natural wealth potential is very large and has been used for a long time for empirically proven traditional medicine.

This is a source in the discovery of new drugs to treat various health problems.

Scientific evidence of its efficacy, safety and development still needs to be explored and is a challenge for researchers to be accepted by modern society and modern health care systems.