The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly know as Siam, lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, covering the area of 200,148 square miles. Neighboring countries surrounding Thailand are Myanmar to the west and the north, Laos and Vietnam to the north and the northeast, Cambodia to the east, and Malaysia to the south Thailand is divided into four regions: the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plain the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast and the Southern Peninsula. Shaded by green forests alternated with blue oceans, the country is a paradise on earth with its distinctive culture and civilization, has made Thailand one of the most fascinating destinations in the world.

Because of the geographic location in the tropical region not far from the equator, Thailand is naturally prosperous, rich in biological diversities, and abundant in natural resources, This gift from nature has country for centuries and is therefore an invaluable legacy of the nation.

Thailand is the home to various species of flora. Medicinal plants and herbs have been a part of everyday life of Thai people for long time since they have been used as spices in almost all Thai dishes. Thai food is as marvelous as the country. Lts taste earns world-class recognition. Adding various kinds of herbs and vegetables into the food has long been the Thai cooking style. By including these herbs and medicinal plants in the recipe, Thai food is the example of harmonious combination between nature and health in Thai way of life.

Thai herbs have also constituted a great part of Thai tradition medicine and natural means of health and beauty care of Thai people. Knowledge of the health benefits and the usage of herbal medicine have become an invaluable “heritage of local wisdom” whish has been inherited from generation to another within family community or even the country.

Thailand Natural Product Industry: Past, Present and Future

During the last decade, there has been a global renaissance of both herbal medicine and traditional health practices. Consequently the use of herbal remedies as dietary supplements has remarkably increased. As a large natural resource of medicinal plants and herb medicine Thailand is also alerted to this global trend. A large number of researches groups both from government institutes and private sectors have studied various medicinal plants and herbal medicine to obtain scientific evidence to support their safe and effective applications and to develop these intriguing Thai herbs into modern herbal products with reliable quality and efficacy.

As a result of extensive research and development and Thai herbs have currently been manufactured into a wide range of products I.e., health foods and drinks dietary supplements herbal medicine as well as natural ingredients in cosmetics and these products have now become a part of everyday Thai life Thai herbal products have been manufactured with the aware-ness of the global trend of quality assurance system. Hence Thai natural product industry has observed the guidelines of “Good Practice” or 5G, namely, Good Agricultural Practice (gap) Good Harvesting Practice (GHP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), and Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), to ensure the consistency of their product quality.

Therefor, it can be seen that Thailand is now ready to bring Thai herbal products to the global arena and share our knowledge with the world. The followings are some examples of “Thai Herbal Product for the World Health” that we are proud to introduce to the world to satisfy the needs of people who are serious about taking care of their health and beauty in a natural way.

Pueraria mirifica
A Popular Rejuvenating
Thai Herb for Women

Pueraria mirifica is an indiginous herb of Thailand, know in Thai as “Kwao Kreu” or “Kwao Kreu Kao” (White Kwao Kreu). Similar to soybean it belongs to the same subfamily and possesses several compounds that act as phytoestrogens. For over a century local Thai people for enhancing endurance and vigor has used the tuberous root of Pueraria mirifica.

Currently capsules and tablets of powder from the tuber have proved to be popular dietary supplements among Thai middle age women. Lt. serves as an anti-aging solution and a way to improve their vigor and eradicate age-related health problems e.g.

Peri-and post-meno-pausal symptoms wrinkles of the skin poor eyesight and memory loss of appetite and sleep disorder. The efficacy of the products is believed to result from a synergistic activity of miroestrol the unique potent phytoestrogen found only in Pueraria mirifica and other isoflavones phytoestrogenic ingredients. This natural combination is available not only as a dietary supplement but also as a standardized extract in cosmetics for topical application as day cream night cream eye gel and breast cream for improving the complexion nourishing the skin removing wrinkles and breast nourishment.

As regards the safety, toxicity study conducted by Medicinal Plant Research Institute Department of Medical Sciences Thailand Ministry of Public Health as well as preliminary clinical data indicated that Pueraria mirifica should be taken at the dose of 50-100 mg per day.

Butea superba
A Rejuvenating Thai Herb for Men

While Pueraria mirifica is popular among Thai women, Butea superba, a related species, is increasingly occupied hearts of Thai men for rejuvenation and health promontion purposes. This herb is locally called “Kwao Kreu Dang” or Red Kwao Kreu.Lts name comes from the red sap coming from the long tuberous root when it is cut.

According to Thai traditional medicine, the rejuvenating power of the tuber of Butea superba is more potent than that of Pueraria mirifica

Local Thai people in their middle age and over use this herb to regain physical and mental strength and to provent age-related health problems, e.g., Wrinkles of the skin, poor eyesight and memory, loss of appetie and sleep disorder. Currently, Butea superba products are very interesting among Thai men. They are available in the form of dietary supplement and cosmetics.

Clinacanthus nutans
Clinically-Proven Herb With Antiviral and Anti-inflammatory Activities

Clinacanthus nutans, or payayor in Thai, has been traditionally used in Thailand for the treatment of Herpes infections. Laboratory investigation in Thailand headed by the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, indicated that a systematic extract from this herb exhibits antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). Clinical investigations showed that cream or gel developed from this extract was as effective as acyclovir in relieving pain and healing herpes simplex and herpes zoster without causing burning sensation, which was the side effect experienced by some subjects using acyclovir. Hence Clinacanthus nutans topical products have currently been used in many Thai hospitals to replace topical acyclovir for herpes simplex and herpes zoster without causing burning sensation which was the side effect experienced by some subjects using acyclovir Hence Clinacanthus nutans topical products have currently been used in many Thai hospitals to replace topical acyclovir for herpes simplex and herpes zoster patients.

In addition this herb also exhibits an excellent and rapid-acting anti-inflammatory activity which makes Clinacanthus nutans topical product a good natural product for the relief of minor skin inflammation and insect bites well.

In the latest development Thai scientists have isolated and identified the active ingredients of Clinacanthus nutans making possible the preparation of standardized refined extract and the stability monitoring of any products further developed from the extract.

Garcinia atroviridis
Thai Dietary supplement for Weight Control

From the fruit of Garcinia atroviridis traditionally used as a condiment in Thai cooking Thai scientists have developed super Hi-Sol containing over 70% of hydroxycitric acid in a readily bio-available from. This formulation with the highest percentage of active ingredient over those produced anywhere has been clinically proven in multi center clinical study to be efficacious in slimming body figure reducing body fat content and blood triglycerides without any undesirable side effects. In addition all volunteers in the study reported an improvement in their stamina and endurance.

Super Hi-sol is now incorporated into many forms of beverages and is popular among the figure and health-con-scious people in Thailand. Recently we FDA have approved one of Super Hi-sol-containing products for import and distribution in the United States.

Glucomannan Dietary Supplement for Weight Control

Glucomannan is a hydrocolloidal polysaccharide that server as a soluble dietary fiber and contains no calories. Glucomannan products from Thailand come from the root of the plant called “Konjac” (Amorphophallus Konjac). When taken orally Glucomannan can absorb water up to 200 times of its weight and induce a feeling of fullness: therefore it has been used as a dietary supplement for weight control.

Clinical studies showed that Glucomannan has several other health benefits serving as a weight loss aid. Glucomannan has also been proven clinically to lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In term of the benefit to the gastrointestinal tract, Glucomannan consumption has been shown to enhance the growth of bifidobacteria, which are the beneficial bacteria in the gut and to relieve constipation without causing diarrhea or bloating In addition clinical studies show that Glucomannan helps control or lowers blood sugar levels after meal probably by slowing the absorption of glucose from the gut.

Long history of the use of Glucomannan for cooking by the Japanese and people in other Asian countries should prove that Glucomannan is a very safe dietary supplement for weight control and helps maintain blood lipid and sugar levels.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
For Healthy Stomach and Beautiful Ccmplexion

Turmeric, or Khamin-Chan in Thai, which can be grown almost anywhere in Thailand, has been a part of Thai life for centuries as one of the most commonly used spice herbal edicine and cosmetics.

Thai turmeric is renowned for its higher content of curcuminoids and volatile oil, which is the active constituents of the rhizomes than those of other countries are.

While WHO monograph of Curcuma longa rhizome specifies the amount of curcuminoids and volatile oil to be not less than 3.0 % and 4.0% respectively turmeric monograph of Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia sets the amount of those compounds to be not less than 5.0% and 6.0% respectively. Hence the quality of Thai turmeric is regarded as one of the best in the world.

Extensive pharmacological studies show that turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory anti-ulcerogenic anti-peptic ulcer and powerful antioxidant activities. Clinical studies conducted in Thailand indicate that turmeric is effective for the treatment of dyspepsia and peptic ulcers. Hence turmeric capsules are now popularly used in Thailand for dyspepsia and stomach discomfort and as an antioxidant.

In addition Thai people have been using turmeric for skin care purpose for a long time. It is now an important ingredient in Thai cosmetics e.g. bodies lotion and bathing soap.

Fa-Thalai-Jone Extract Tablet (Andrographis paniculata) Dietary Supplement for Cold and for Healthy Liver

The Creat or Andrographis paniculata is another plant that has been with Thai people for a long time. It can be grown in almost all kinds of soil. Traditionally this herb has also been widely used in other regoins in Asia i.e. China and India for fever, sore throat oral ulcers, dysentery, urinary tract infection and carbuncles. During the past 15 years Andrographis paniculata has been subjected to extensive multidisciplinary research in Thailand to prove its efficacy and safety as well as to establish appropriate procedure for quality assurance of its products.

Active principles of this herb are a group of diterpene lactones, of which andrographolide is the main constituent. It is found that lactone-containing extracts possess various biological activities i.e. anti-inflammation, immuno-stimulation, and Hepatoprotection. Clinical studies by Thai researchers indicate that Andrographis paniculata is effective for the relief of fever and sore throat associated with cold as well as for non-infectious diarrhea. The beneficial effect of Andrographis paniculata to relieve symptoms of cold its immunopotentiating effect and hepatporotective action makes it a good alternative dietary supplement of Echinacea and Milk Thistle.