Bangkok Post January 1 1999 HEALTH Hormone herb cause of concern Researcher calls for registration Aphaluck Bhatiasevi Differences have been raised among health experts on whether to permit commercialisation of kwaao khruea, a Thai herb believed to have high hormone content, while Public Health Minister Korn Dabbaransi has pledged support for its exposure to boost the nation's economy. At a recent meeting on the matter, Dr Wichai Cherdshewasart of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science urged the Food and Drug Administration to immediately approve the registration of two drugs made of white kwaao khruea (pueraria mirifica) and red kwaao khruea (butea superba). White kwaao khruea hit the news headlines last year when doctors identified that it enlarged the breasts of a monk who regularly consumed the herb. White kwaao khruea is believed to contain the female hormone oestrogen while the red kwaao khruea is believed to stimulate the male hormone. The prompt registration of the herb was urged by the Chulalongkorn University researcher, for fear that the patenting would be taken advantage of by foreigners who would then export the finished product made from Thai herbs for sales in Thailand at a much higher price. Assoc Prof Yuthana Samitasiri of Nakhon Ratchasima's Suranari Technology University said some 40 tons of kwaao khruea is trucked from the Northern provinces of Thailand to south China and Japan every month. "In many villages of Phayao and Chiang Mai, villagers are informed to dig-up for kwaao khruea for sale to the Japanese by the village main loudspeakers," he said. Most of the kwaao khruea processed by the Japanese are made into medicines and cosmetics commonly used for improving the skin, hair and firming the breasts. Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Mongkhol Na Songkhla said the FDA did not object to the registration of products made from kwaao khruea forwarded by Dr Vichai of Chulalongkorn University, but is still waiting for more research information to prove that it is scientifically safe. "We don't want to be in a haste because all of us would have to be responsible if its use is of danger to the public in the long run," he said. Dr Mongkhol said that since the use of the herb is new to doctors of modern medicine, it requires scientific evidence to prove that it does not have any toxicity. Dr Vichai said that what is of utmost concern is that the herbs are not only being exported to Asian countries, but are also being shipped to Germany from China. He said state authorities should take immediate action in controlling the export of the Thai herb by adding it to the list of seven protective plants that are not allowed to be taken out of the country. Institute of Traditional Thai Medicine director Pennapha Subcharoen however cautioned that Thailand may not be able to totally claim the plant as a Thai plant because it is also grown in neighbouring countries like Burma and Laos. She said instead of only promoting the commercial use of kwaao khruea as a food supplement or cosmetic product, it should also be developed into medicines. White kwaao khruea can be used to solve problems of ostreoporosis among aging women and white kwaao khruea can replace the use of Viagra for men with erectile dysfunction problems, she said. Comments to: Webmaster

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