406 APBN • Vol. 6 • No. 11 • 2002

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Alternative MedicineChina

TCM Database Set up inChina

A multi-database information system for traditionalChinese medicine (TCM) has recently been set up in ahigh-tech zone in Shanghai, China.

Prof. Hui Yongzheng, director of the Shanghai TCMInnovation Research Center, said that the system containsdata on about 1200 common diseases established byexperts in western medicine and TCM, and all clinicalcases and prescriptions published in TCM journals in Chinasince 1950.

The system also includes comprehensive informationabout nearly 10 000 herbal plants, with their properties,places of origin, clinical use and chemical compositions.In addition, data on chemical compounds of 9500 TCMand their structural information in two and three-dimensional forms can be found in the system.

Information on the sequences of the proteins relatingto 149 diseases and prescriptions is also part of the system,said Prof. Hui.

The system can provide knowledge and informationfor the general public, medical workers, researchers andpharmaceutical companies. Researchers may useintelligent analytical software to discover more about TCMto develop new pharmaceutical products.

The center is currently cooperating with Phyto CeuticaCo. of Yale University to develop pharmaceutical productsand set up an English version of the system.

TCM Switches toSubstitutes for AnimalParts

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry hasoften been said to fuel trade in wildlife. However, someTCM companies have been using substitutes forendangered animal parts for a long while now.

Mr. Lee Jok Keng, Eu Yan Sang TCM development

Malaysia

manager, said, “The previous generation used toproudly display rhino horns and tiger bones in glasscases because it was important to show customersthat they had the real thing. When people see thisrepeatedly, they tend to think that this is what TCMis all about.”

Times have changed. Companies like Eu YanSang, one of the biggest outside China, are using dogand sailong rodent bones in place of tiger bones, andbuffalo horns instead of rhinoceros horns.

Animals are farmed, and rare plants like theginseng are cultivated where possible. Parts ofendangered wildlife that have been substitutedinclude the tiger bones, musk, rhinoceros horns,bear’s gall, pangolin scales, saiga antelope horns, seaturtle, sea horse and deer antlers.

Substitutes have come into use when wildlifelike the tiger become scarce and the cost of usingthem prohibitive. Being a listed company, Mr. Leesaid that Eu Yan Sang’s 62 outlets worldwide do notuse endangered animal parts, so as to protect theirreputation. Mr. Lee admitted that he could not speakfor the industry although the costs are too high formost to take a risk.

However, misconceptions about TCM aboundand one is connected to aphrodisiac properties ofwildlife.

The sea horse and a tiger’s penis both containedsuch properties, but one would need a very muchlarger dosage of tiger’s penis to have the effect that asmall amount of sea horse would. Moreover, ameasured dose would have to be consumed over aperiod of time to have a desired effect.

Another misconception is that every TCMproduct contains some endangered animal or other.Mr. Lee pointed out that 75 percent of Eu Yan Sang’s12 000 products are plant-based and only 15 percentanimal-based.

Despite changes, problems persist and thegreatest is convincing users to switch fromendangered wildlife based products to onescontaining substitutes. Mr Lee said, “It will happenif society is educated about TCM, and povertyeradicated, so that the rural poor stop trapping wildlifefor the pittance middlemen pay them.”

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407APBN • Vol. 6 • No. 11 • 2002

Alternative Medicine

Slimming Pill Withdrawnafter Adverse Reactions inUsers

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singaporehas recently ordered the withdrawal of a Chineseproprietary medicine (CPM) sold as a “slimming” agentfrom the shelves after reports of adverse reactions.

There is widespread use of the slimming pill, calledSLIM 10, since it is approved for the Singapore marketat the end of last year.

In its notice, the HSA requested that all adverseeffects with possible links to the consumption of thecapsules be reported to the Pharmacovigilance Unit ofthe Center for Pharmaceutical Administration

Defined as a CPM, SLIM 10’s registration with theHSA is mandatory. In addition to labeling regulations,suppliers of all CPMs must ensure that their productsare not tainted by synthetic western drugs or anyprohibited components. Any toxic heavy metals and/ormicrobial agents present must be below establishedsafety limits.

The declared composition of SLIM 10 is a uniquemixture of the following herbs: Herba GynostemmaePentaphylli, Folium Gemmae Camelliae Sinensis,Succus Aloes Folii Siccatus, Semen Raphani and FrutusCrataegi.

. The resulting symptoms are malaise, fatigue,yellowing skin due to hepatitis, nervousness, tachycardia(rapid heartbeat), tremor, palpitations, frequent bowelmovements (occasion diarrhea) due to hyperthyroidism.

SLIM 10 is found to contain an undeclared amount(about 16 mg) of nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) per capsule.This amount of B3 is within the recommended dailydose of between 15-20 mg. Excessive doses of B3 canproduce adverse effects like arrhythmia, diarrhea, fever,

Singapore

muscle ache. The detection of this undeclared additiveresulted in the immediate withdrawal from the market.

Further testing established the presence offenfluramine, a controlled substance under the PoisonsAct. Fenfluramine hydrochloride is an orallyadministered anorectic drug, with the followingchemical name: N-ethyl-alpha-methyl-3 (trifluo-romethyl) benzeneethanamine hydrochloride.

Fenfluramine is known to be a possible cause ofheart valve problems when ingested with other slimmingagents (phentermine or dexfenfluramine) over extendedperiods.

General Information & Statistics

Australia

Research Facility atMacquarie UniversityJoins InternationalProteomic Alliance

The Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF)at Macquarie University has recently joined the globalProteomeWorks System alliance between Bio-RadLaboratories of the US and Micromass of the UK.

The ProteomeWorks system is an integrated set oftools and technologies for the seamless, automated andhigh throughput discovery of proteins, which can bedisease, diagnostic and quality markers.

The Bio-Rad and Micromass alliance combines thestrengths of the world industry leaders in proteinseparations, biopolymer mass spectrometry andbioinformatics. APAF will add its expertise as a hands-on high throughput proteomics lab.

Facility manager at APAF, Dr. Brad Walsh, said,“APAF has been working with ProteomeWorks for sometime, contributing to the design and testing of some ofthe instrumentation for the ProteomeWorks system.”

“APAF scientists have already been presentinggroundbreaking results at conferences and seminars

Further testing established the presence of

fenfluramine, a controlled substance under the

Poisons Act. Fenfluramine is known to be a

possible cause of heart valve problems when

ingested with other slimming agents over

extended periods.

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