From Proof of Effects to Proof of Efficacy for Compound–Drug Preparations

To raise the level of acceptance of phytotherapy we must target and enhance research studies of the effects and efficacy of herbal medicines and initiate a closer collaboration between clinical and experimental research. The special features of phytopharmaceuticals dictate a specific course of investigations: to the effects, the mode of action and the efficacy using in-vitro and in vivo experiments, human pharmacological studies and finally randomised clinical trials. Using the example of our own scientific work we demonstrate the meaningfullness of this strategy. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2010; 9(4): 355-360]