While the process of managing medicines during disasters did not differ greatly from non-emergency situations, the Haiyan experience highlighted the system's weaknesses. With the current gaps in implementation, as well as the logistical obstacles brought about by disasters, there is a need to have integrated mechanisms for medicines management in the Philippines. This assessment provided an important opportunity to review the medicines management policies at national and local levels.
Background and Objective. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide which is commonly used as a gelling agent for food preparations and pharmaceutical formulations. Currently, the Philippines imports 100% of its pectin requirement from other countries which adds to the cost of products that utilizes pectin. Hence, the aim of this study was to isolate and characterize pectin from ripe jackfruit peels.
Materials and Methods. Peels of ripe jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) were subjected to digestion with water and sulfuric acid at 90°C then purified using alcohol and acetone. The isolated material from the peels was subjected to pectin identification tests using the methods from the US Pharmacopeia (USP). To further characterize the isolate, the methoxy and anhydrouronic acid contents, degree of esterification, functional groups (through FT-IR), ash content, and swelling index were determined.
Results. Ripe jackfruit peels yielded 5.74% of brown-colored pectin which was verified using the US Pharmacopeia identification tests for pectin. The methoxy and anhydrouronic acid contents were found to be 4.05% and 1.77%, respectively, with results comparable with the standard pectin (p<0.05). The peel’s pectin has a degree of esterification of 26.34, 1.77% ash content, and swelling index of 9.09. FT-IR analysis of isolated pectin revealed functional groups identical to that of the standard pectin.
Conclusion. Pectin from the ripe jackfruit peels is reported to be a potential source of pharmaceutical grade pectin. However, the AUA content and methoxy content of the isolated pectin did not meet the USP specification. Thus, the authors recommend that future investigators must optimize the isolation procedure to obtain pectin which meets the specification of USP.
Background. Many of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the Philippines are controllable with naturebased products, either as agents of intervention, or prevention, as nutritional supplements, or for the control of side-effects of medications. The different R&D programs on nature-based products in the Philippines are usually conducted in isolation, or through silos. These often lead to products that are shortsighted, duplicate products, or products with minimal innovation, not readily applicable to population and environmental sustainability.
Objective. The study aimed to draft an internationally benchmarked and integrated blueprint for a population health- and environmental health-led nature-based product development and conservation for the Philippines.
Methods. The methodology consisted of review of literature; regional educational visits; and a series of consultative meetings with stakeholders.
Results. The study resulted in a stakeholder-validated blueprint which assigns the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to lead the way for Filipinos to produce more nature-based products that are of international quality and attuned with local health needs. The blueprint has identified “9 Optimizations” in the realization of this aspiration, including an expanded role for PITAHC, a national database, an ethical researchers list, and to produce at least five commercial products and 20 intellectual property rights within 5 years with an estimated total investment of approximately PhP 816 M.
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