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

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 function and artery support [59].

Another concern is that of the withdrawal of traditional herbal practitioners from providing information on their herbal remedies to the scientists for investigations; it is the latter who have the ability to scientifically prove that these remedies are actually therapeutically potent. Traditional practices are said to be handed down from generation to generation within families, and most of these practitioners treat patients *pro bono*, as a social service. Since these practitioners claim to have satisfactory results from providing such treatment, they have no reason to give away their herbal remedies, which had been a family secret for over hundreds of years. However, the modern graduates of traditional medicine are more into scientifically validating their treatment methods, as it is beneficial for their practice to have scientifically proven results to compete with Western medicine practitioners. Most traditional medicine practitioners vary the constituents of herbal preparations and the ratios used in their prescriptions even for the same disease depending on the patient's individual constitution, indicative of the practise of 'personalized/precision medicine'. 'Ayugenomics' irrevocably established that a genetic basis did indeed exist to the said individual constitutions [63]; differential DNA methylation signatures in the three distinct 'prakriti' phenotypes (based on distinctly descriptive physiological, psychological and anatomical features of different individuals) demonstrated the epigenetic basis of traditional human classification in Ayurveda with relevance to personalized medicine [64]. Yet, allopathic medicine strongly believes in standard preparations where only the dose is varied among individual patients. Hence, there arises the question whether modern stan-

Application of Herbal Medicine as Proliferation and Differentiation Effectors of Human Stem Cells

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dardized herbal preparations would be universally effective on every patient.

applied to herbal stem cell stimulants which are to be used in therapy.

in stem cell therapy.

**4. Conclusion**

Nevertheless, herbal remedies that were scientifically investigated for their properties with elucidated mechanisms and pathways of action too may face further obstacles prior to their market launch. As mentioned in the review of Udalamaththa *et al*., a large-scale manufacturing process may reduce the crude properties of herbal remedies, solvents used to prepare extracts may produce adverse effects when used in therapy, complexity and variability of bioactive compounds may make clinical applications challenging [8]. As standardization of herbal products is a must prior to the market launch, similar and stringent regulations will be

Yet, despite all issues involved, pharmaceutical companies are competing for patents and commercializing herbal stimulants, supplements and many more drugs which could be used

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

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