I was reading papers on plant secondary metabolites and their applications and many of the papers/books I read, have the point that plant-based medicines which are the result of application of phytochemicals/PSMs, have little to no side effects. How much truth is there in this statement?
Which "plant-based medicine" (and which plants) vs. which "no-plant medicine"?
Plants can have rather serious side effects:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23472485/
Article Efficacies and side effects of medicinal plants used by pati...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_herbs_with_known_adverse_effects
So, no simple yes/no answer
It is necessary to differentiate between herbal medicinal products (HMPs) also called phytopharmaceuticals and on the other side the phytochemicals
HMP are standardized extracts that have been approved and registered by the relevant drug agency in each country. In most cases, these products are proven to be safe, effective, and of high quality, with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. Regardless of whether they are a single agent or extract or a fixed combination product, HMP are always composites of different substances. In the regulatory sense, the extract is the active substance. However, the second category comprises phytochemicals, which are isolated compounds of the plant extract. These do not belong to the herbal drugs or phytopharmaceuticals. They are pure compounds with often highly pharmacologically active properties and, as a result, may have side effects or interactions. It is important to differentiate these categories.
Sonakshi Srivastava Please cite the references that you have read.
Herbal products are NOT safer than other medicines and can have as many, or more, side effects.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027869152100795X
This cites an earlier study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4954321/pdf/417a.pdf
Many medicines are derived from natural sources but have been modified by medicinal chemists to improve specificity to their biological targets. Lack of specificity is one cause of side effects. Chemists also make modifications to improve efficacy so less medicine is needed, which also reduces side effects.
The crude extracts, being mixtures of compounds, have more potential for side effects.
It is evident that if the product in question is not of the requisite quality as defined by the Pharmacopoeia and has not been approved by an appropriate state agency, there is a possibility that it may have side effects. However, they typically exhibit fewer adverse effects than their synthetic counterparts. It can be reasonably assumed that a chamomile extract will not have the same side effects as a glucocorticoid. It is evident that valerian extract differs from alprazolam, while thyme extract differs from a penicillin antibiotic. This should be self-evident. The incorrect classification of products as novel foods, the sale of herbal extracts as supplements without adequate control, and the potential for adverse effects are among the issues that must be addressed.
Secondary metabolites are found in plants. These metabolites are responsible for the medicinal effects of plants against diseases. These substances also constitute the lethal dose of a medicinal plant extract. Sometimes the lethal dose of the plant extract is very far with a great margin from the therapeutic dose which also may be far from the threshold concentration for side effects. Additionally, the compounds are from natural sources, hence they are easily metabolized and detoxified in the liver. This may be one of the reasons, some think that herbal products are without or little side effects.
Some plants contains several anti-nutritive compounds, thus when consumed in large amounts can cause severe damage to the body.
"Sola dosis facit venenum" 'the poison is the dose, not the substance in itself' is universal also for plants.
Plant-based medicines derived from secondary metabolites may have fewer side effects due to their complex composition, this claim is an oversimplification. Some plant secondary metabolites can still be toxic or cause adverse reactions, especially in high doses. Additionally, herbal products can be adulterated with harmful substances, leading to serious side effects. Rigorous clinical trials are necessary to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of plant-based medicines, as many traditional herbal medicines lack robust scientific evidence.
“All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous”
i.e., “the dose makes the poison”. Paracelsus.
The plant-based medicines loss most of their safety when extracted. This can be a major problem. When taken in the right dose plant base medications are safer. The problem i tend to see is that someone is trying to discredit plant-based medications. If they are proven, certified, properly prepared they are best. After all one man's meat is another's poison. All drugs depend on the individual taking it. Some persons are allergic to the same drug's active ingredient that works well for others.
It is accurate to conclude that plant-based medicines are, by definition, one of two categories: herbal medicinal products, which are standardised extracts produced to European pharmacopoeia standards, or traditional herbal preparations. Both have official market authorisation and are subject to rigorous safety regulation, although the latter may have a higher risk of adverse reactions due to the inherent variability of natural products. The examples cited in this context are exclusively those originating from Europe.
On the other hand, plant-based medicinal natural compounds (secondary metabolites) are also a factor to consider. These compounds, such as alkaloids, glycosides, and phenolics, are pure chemical isolated compounds and, as such, are much more dangerous. However, they can be used medicinally, albeit in a manner similar to that of conventional synthetic drugs.
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