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Ethnopharmacology studies how ethnic groups use traditional and pharmaceutical medicines, including their perception and use of medicinal plants. It involves pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and pharmacoepidemiology, and has led to the discovery of new drugs. It also extends to the study of food as medicine and has increased awareness and trust in natural products for healing.
Ethnopharmacology is the study of ethnic groups and their health, how their health is related to their lifestyle and their use of medicines — both traditional and pharmaceuticals — if that medicine is specific to the area in which does the group live and how long has that medicine been used by that group. The term ethnopharmacology was first coined in 1967, with the study of hallucinogenic plants. It is grouped under the broader branch of ethnopharmacy, which examines both the perception and use of traditional medicine within a society. Ethnopharmacology involves a diverse range of scientists from different specialties.
A related science to ethopharmacology is ethnobotany, the study of how different cultures use medicinal plants, in particular. In recent years, ethnopharmacology has become increasingly popular as more studies confirm the beneficial effects of plants on human health. The advanced development of pharmacognosy, the study of medicines derived from natural sources, has provided strong scientific support for further research into the medicinal properties of plants. New drugs are discovered through the study of ethnopharmacology. Many common drugs used in contemporary society come, at least in part, from natural sources.
Pharmacoepidemiology plays a role in ethnopharmacology, involving the study of the use of medicinal plants in large ethnic groups. The study of medicinal plants in this way helps to estimate the beneficial effects of the drug of plant origin and determines the existence of any adverse effects on the group of people studied. These are important studies in natural drug discovery.
An important aspect of ethnopharmacology is pharmacology itself, which involves the study of the actions or mechanisms of drugs. See how the drug works in a biological system and how that biological system responds to the drug. Pharmacology studies are done in the laboratory, sometimes using animals. Basically, if a compound is found to have medicinal properties, it is considered pharmaceutical.
Ethnopharmacology also extends to the study of food as medicine. Aspects of some foods are known to have medicinal properties; for example, resveratrol derived from red grapes is known to be a powerful antioxidant, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish have anti-inflammatory properties. The medicinal components of foods are often extracted and sold as dietary supplements, a category that is not regulated as a food or drug. They can also be added to food products, making the food a “functional food” – a food that is said to have health benefits beyond the basic nutrition of the food product.
Although people have been using natural substances in healing for centuries, only recently has this science become a well-recognized and accepted method of healing. The growth of science in this area is confirming what traditional cultures have practiced over time. This validation has led to increased awareness and trust in natural products in healing.
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