Prakt. lékáren. 2020; 16(1): 48-52 | DOI: 10.36290/lek.2020.006

Newer plant sources of oils, fats, and waxes

Miloš Potužák

Lékárna, Bakov nad Jizerou

In the last 30 years, the import into the Czech Republic of both medicinal and useful plants from all over the world has increased. There has been a noticeable increased interest in healthy lifestyle and phytotherapy of traditional medicines from Asia, Africa, and South America. A requirement has emerged that selected drugs of traditional non-European medicines also be included in the European Pharmacopoeia. Pharmacological testing of medicinal plants has broadened its scope, and the data obtained are used by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) that documents and evaluates the efficacy and safety of medicines, or by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In the Czech Republic, herbal drugs are registered as medicines by the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) or as dietary supplements by the Ministry of Agriculture. Both public and professional awareness is increasing significantly, but at the same time, its quality is influenced by commercial goals. The present paper deals with new sources of oils, fats, and waxes.

Keywords: EMA, EFSA, SÚKL, Ministry of Agriculture, oils, fats, waxes.

Published: March 20, 2020  Show citation