Quantitative Systems Pharmacology: Lessons from Fumaric acid and Herbal Remedies

Fumaric acid esters, now often used for treatment of psoriasis and multiple sclerosis, have been identified as bioactive constituents of Fumaria indica used in traditionally known system of medicine as a liver tonicor for treatments of diverse inflammatory conditions, itches and pain. Observations made during efforts to quantify their roles in therapeutically interesting bioactivity profiles of its extracts strongly suggest that their hydrolysis inside the digestive tract to fumaric acid are involved in their protective effects stress triggered alteration in growth rates and behavior of laboratory rodents. They also reaffirm that repeated daily low oral dose studies is necessary for deciphering the roles of fumaric acid or other food chemicals with bactericidal activities, in quantitative systems phytopharmacology of therapeutically used herbal extracts. Our current knowledge on low dose pharmacology of some such phytochemicals commonly consumed with every day meals, or with herbal remedies, is summarized in this report. Aim of this overview is to point out the necessity of better understanding of quantitative systems pharmacology of food phytochemical not only for more rational medicinal uses of traditionally known herbal remedies, but also for increasing the possibility of success in drug discovery and development ventures. Potential uses of bioassays procedures evolving from efforts to better understand quantitative systems pharmacology of fumarates and other food phytochemicals for such purposes are also suggested.