**4. Conclusion**

**2.3. Commercial herbal products with claims of stem cell rejuvenation**

function and artery support [59].

94 Herbal Medicine

from mainly a plant of the berry family [62].

late initiation of laboratory investigations.

Many herbal products are commercialized with claims to be rejuvenating adult stem cells which are considered as stem cell supplements. The first stem cell enhancer was developed and patented by Dr. Sahelian of Stemtech HealthSciences, Inc. in 2005 [56] which included extracts of freshwater microalgae and marine macroalgae [57]. Stem Cell 100® is a patent pending product prepared from bioactive compounds of herbal plants *Astragalus membranaceus*, *Vaccinium*, Pine bark, *Camellia sinensis*, *Pterocarpus marsupium*, *Polygonum multiflorum*, *Schisandra*, Fo-Ti root and *Drynaria* rhizome mainly derived from TCM [58]. ProxyStem is another patent pending nutraceutical stem cell supplement with claims to be working on proinflammatory pathways, endothelial cell health, oxidative stress protection, mitochondrial

Another product, NutraStem Active, was awarded a patent for claims of its ability to promote adult stem cells with its four ingredients—blueberry extract, green tea extract, L-carnosine and vitamin D3 [60]. Stem-Kine, a clinically proven stem cell supplement, includes ellagic acid which protects stem cells from free radicals [61]; it is a polyphenol compound extracted

Traditional herbal treatment provides a straightforward method to identify the link between plant/herbal remedies and their use in curing different diseases. Modern scientists now use the same strategy to identify herbal plants and their isolated compounds which could be used as stem cell stimulants for much needed stem cell therapeutic procedures. Studies were initiated in this line of research in developed countries as well as in the developing countries acquiring their own traditional herbal treatment knowledge. China seems to be much ahead in this hybrid system of research using Chinese traditional herbs/isolated compounds and cutting-edge screening technologies. Although there is a plethora of internationally published research by research groups from China, many clinical trials and small population studies seem to be concealed from the rest of the world as these reports are published in local journals in their native language [35]. China is not alone in this exercise. Other countries such as Iran and Pakistan too with rich traditional medicine cultures and also into stem cell research are posing the same issue, as the data they produce are not communicated to the international scientific community. This is an unfortunate situation which could be rectified to be more

In certain instances, developing countries offer their knowledge of traditional herbal medicine together with their rich local plant diversity to collaborate with developed countries to obtain cutting-edge technologies to achieve high potential results in their research. However, the strict local regulations and policies on shipping indigenous plant material or their compounds in developing countries, in order to protect their own plant species, had restricted this productive collaborative research frame work, as this process is lengthy which would lead to

**3. Pros and cons of using herbal remedies to stimulate stem cells**

productive through collaborative research with the rest of the world.

Herbal medicine has at all times been a trusted treatment method from ancient eras. The paucity of the use of herbal medicine or related treatment methods in allopathic medicine practices or other types of therapy using cutting-edge technology may pose the 'missing part of the puzzle' which scientists and clinicians have strived to solve. However, in recent years, both traditional medicine and novel technologies in synergy have resulted in beneficial outcomes advantageous to the patients. Examples presented in this chapter provide a glimpse of recent studies where herbal medicine and stem cells have been amalgamated in search of treatment against 'incurable diseases'. Although the use of medicinal plants in stem cell research is in its infancy, with small population studies within local communities, with low numbers of related patents and many complexities in application in a clinical setting, the attraction of this area of research has never ebbed due to the promising results emerging from basic scientific research. Preliminary trials leading to the initiation of in-depth studies may well result in inexpensive, available, nontoxic drugs, stimulants and supplements useful in stem cell therapy.

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