The first quarter of 2013 ended on a very exciting note with significant advances in our product pipeline. The South African National Biodiversity Institute has concluded work of the identification of the 23 plants which we submitted to them, the final report being delivered on 2nd April 2013. As we get absorbed in the exciting subjects of botany, phyto-chemisty and phyto-pharmaceuticals , Dr Rajen Misra, the Medical Director and I are like little fellows who have just unpacked a new video game. Move over Nintendo Wii, X-box, Playstation and the like! Literature review, in collaboration with our partners the Centre for Industrial and Scientific Research (CSIR) has revealed clear direction of development for some of our remedy sources and I will enumerate some of them below. However, a good number simply have no existing literature on any facts of interest and with those, compiling a cost-efficient developmental strategy will be a challenge, we have our work cut out for us. I outline some of our top order products in development below but first I will share the basis for some of our codes;

Pharmaceutical division:

CO: Consumer
CV: Cardiovascular
DC: Dental care
DE: Dermatology
GI: Gastrointestinal
GY: Gynaecology
MU: Immunology
OP: Ophthalmology
PR: Respiratory
PS: Psychiatry
TX: Toxicology
UR: Urology
VM: Veterinary medicine
WC: Wound Care
AB: General antibiotic

The figures are inventory codes so typically a developmental product will be coded in this fashion; WC 01/001 and so forth.

1. CV 01/002 is a herbal tea which is made from 2 trees. The trees are indigenous to Southern Africa and are non-threatened species. The herbal tea, to be marketed as an “over-the-counter” product has been known to us for decades. It will be labelled with a warning that it may cause low blood pressure.
2. WC 01/001 is derived from a small shrub which is a unique (probably yet unnamed ) sub-species of a known plant. This shrub is indigenous to medium rainfall areas of Sothern Africa, but related species are found on several continents. It is not a threatened species. We have first-hand experience and testimonials of the use of this shrub in the treatment of fungating breast cancer and osteosarcoma as a topical preparation. WC 01/001 will be put through the formal drug development process because identification of the active ingredient(s) is highly probable.
3. DC 01/004 is a herbal mouthwash and toothpaste derived from the leaves 2 trees. The trees are indigenous to many Sub-Saharan Africa countries. This product has a strong pain-relief effect and clears tooth and gum infections. We will develop it initially as a “Consumer” product.
4. CO 04/046 is a weight loss ready meal which can be taken as a light meal or a soup. It is made from fixed proportions of some common vegetables and more exotic herbs. This product is 100% herbal and has; fat-burning and satiety inducing properties, high fibre content, balanced calories and high palatability.
5. VM 01/028 prevents Newcastle disease in chicken with a dramatic life-saving effect during epidemics. It is derived from a sub-species of a shrub known to have numerous remedial properties. The related shrub is found on several continents but the sub-species we use has subtle recognisable differences. It is not a threatened species. We are confident that immune-modulatory and anti-microbial properties of VM 01/028 will be established at a fairly early stage.
6. PS 01/022 is a “herbal tea” made from the leaves of a perennial weed growing in wet and warm climes of the Southern African Highveld. We have experience and knowledge of its traditional use as a “calming drink” either before facing a dangerous situation or before delivering bad news. This exciting product has huge potential in psychiatry and “tonic” drink market.
7. GY 04/021 is a female “intimate health” product for development into a douche, a cream or a soap product. Developed from small amounts of the root bark of an easy to cultivate tree which is indigenous to Mpumalanga, northern KwaZulu Natal and regions to the north, this product promotes vaginal mucosal health, increases vaginal muscular tone and has lubricant properties. GY 04/021 will initially be developed as a consumer product.
8. MU 03/041 is a powerful antidote to severe urticarial and other skin reactions. We have personal experience and an abundance of testimonials on this critical highly efficacious remedy which is an important part of the bush survival kit. MU03/041 is made from the paste of the crushed leaves of an exuberant deciduous fruit tree found in the extreme north of South Africa and higher rainfall regions further north.
9. TX 01/035 is a potent anti-snake bite antidote which has saved thousands of lives. It is made from the bulb of an easy-to-cultivate tuber indigenous to Southern Africa. The timely application of an the crushed tuber to a snake bite wound aborts the toxic consequences of this dangerous snakes, specifically Puffadder and other vipers.
10. Antibiotics pipeline: UR 01/007,UR 04/030, WC 01/001, VM 01/028, WC 01/042, WC 05/039, WC 04/037,AB 01/033,VM 02/031,DC 02/037,DE 01/020,UR 02/019,GY 01/008 are among our highest potential products for development into antibiotics. All these products are derived from plants the majority of which are not threatened species and some of which have are successfully cultivated. All of these remedies have been used in humans and animals for centuries and we have personal experience and testimonials with all of them. As is well known, there is a dire global need to develop new antibiotics for human and animal use. Our pipeline has more than 20 products for development as antibiotics.

This is only a small part of our growing “bush apothecary” of exciting potential remedies. We shall deliver our next batch of 20 plants for botanical identification to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, shortly. Please feel free to contact Rajen (misrar@buschapothecary.co.za) or myself (zivanai@buschapothecary.co.za) with any queries or comments.

All the best.