Glossary entry (derived from question below)
português term or phrase:
droga vegetal
inglês translation:
herbal substance / herbal drug
Added to glossary by
Muriel Vasconcellos
Aug 3, 2014 05:56
9 yrs ago
6 viewers *
português term
Estados Unidos
Each translation a gem!
Native in: inglês (Variant: US) 
Works in: espanhol para inglês, português para inglês
droga vegetal
português para inglês
Medicina
Medicina: farmacêutica
special medicinal products
I'm translating legislation on the registration of special medicinal products in Brazil. I've found the term "vegetal drug" in English, but most of the sources seem to be translations from Portuguese, Spanish, and French. I have the feeling that the English should be 'herbal medicine', as that category doesn't appear elsewhere in the document. I'm reluctant to use 'drug' as the tendency now is to avoid it in public health texts and say 'medicine' or 'medicinal product'. I'm transcribing the definition of **droga vegetal** below, plus the definitions of the other medicinal categories in the same document so you can see what it's being compared against. Bottom line: Is it 'herbal medicine' or something else other than 'vegetal drug', preferably without using 'drug'?
**droga vegetal**: planta medicinal, ou suas partes, que contenham as substâncias, ou classes de
substàncias, tesponsáveis pela ação terapêutica, após processos de coleta, estabilização, quando
aplicável, e secagem, podendo estar na forma íntegra, rasurada, triturada ou pulverizada;
Here are the other definitions in the document. Note that I'm not asking for translations of the following terms; I'm pretty comfortable with the translations and I'm only showing them for context.
First, I'm calling this one 'medicinal plant':
**planta medicinal**: espécie vegetal, cultivada ou não, utilizada com propósitos terapêuticos;
This one, 'raw plant material':
**matéria-prima vegetal**: compreende a planta medicinal, a droga vegetal ou o derivado vegetal;
This one, 'plant derivative':
**derivado vegetal**: produto da extração da planta medicinal in natura ou da droga vegetal, podendo
ocorrer na forma de extrato, tintura, alcoolatura, óleo fixo e volátil, cera, exsudato e outros;
This one,'plant-based pharmaceutical':
fitofármaco: sustância purificada e isolada a partir de matéria-prima vegetal com estrutura química
**droga vegetal**: planta medicinal, ou suas partes, que contenham as substâncias, ou classes de
substàncias, tesponsáveis pela ação terapêutica, após processos de coleta, estabilização, quando
aplicável, e secagem, podendo estar na forma íntegra, rasurada, triturada ou pulverizada;
Here are the other definitions in the document. Note that I'm not asking for translations of the following terms; I'm pretty comfortable with the translations and I'm only showing them for context.
First, I'm calling this one 'medicinal plant':
**planta medicinal**: espécie vegetal, cultivada ou não, utilizada com propósitos terapêuticos;
This one, 'raw plant material':
**matéria-prima vegetal**: compreende a planta medicinal, a droga vegetal ou o derivado vegetal;
This one, 'plant derivative':
**derivado vegetal**: produto da extração da planta medicinal in natura ou da droga vegetal, podendo
ocorrer na forma de extrato, tintura, alcoolatura, óleo fixo e volátil, cera, exsudato e outros;
This one,'plant-based pharmaceutical':
fitofármaco: sustância purificada e isolada a partir de matéria-prima vegetal com estrutura química
Proposed translations
(inglês)
References
| herbal medicine, herbal remedy |
Vitor Pinteus
|
Proposed translations
+1
1 dia 7 horas
Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães
Brasil
Brasil
Native in português
&
inglês
Specializes in field
Brasil
Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães 
Unparalleled accuracy for med/pharm
Native in: inglês 
, português (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: português para inglês, inglês para português, inglês, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
76
Selected
herbal substance / herbal drug
Hmm. This is a tricky one.
In my humble opinion, when translating regulatory documents, it's important to be mindful of the internationally accepted/used terminology and stick to it when possible. Furthermore, the wording of Brazilian regulatory documents, at least in this field, is rarely ever original--it's usually based on existing sources, such as the U.S. CFR or European Union law. So, I did a little digging and here's what I've come up with.
- The definitions Muriel cites come from a series of ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) resolutions, which date back at least to 2000 with this exact wording. I couldn't find earlier references to them.
- This particular definition of "droga vegetal" is pretty close to the WHO definition of "herb" that Muriel notes, but doesn't quite correspond to it. However, a quick SciELO search showed that many Brazilian journal articles that use the term "droga vegetal" clearly do use it to mean the herb itself, not to any preparation; one example: "a droga vegetal Matricaria recutita" meaning "the herb Matricaria recutita". This is in keeping with the WHO definition.
- Bearing all this in mind, the closest internationally accepted term I could find is "herbal substance". In a 2004 European Parliament Directive, a "herbal substance" is defined thus:
"All mainly whole, fragmented or cut plants, plant parts, algae, fungi, lichen in an unprocessed, usually dried, form, but sometimes fresh."
That's pretty darn close to the Brazilian definition used in the source text. The British Pharmacopoeia and Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration use a similar definition, and the European Pharmacopoeia uses "herbal drug" for the exact same definition.
If the source text uses "droga", I'd have no qualms about using "drug" in English, despite the tendency to avoid it in public health texts (this is, after all, legislation, and "droga" == "drug"), particularly as EU texts use "herbal drug". If you'd rather keep away from "drug" anyway, I'd go with "herbal substance": it fits the definition and sidesteps the drug vs. medicine issue neatly.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2014-08-04 13:06:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
P.S. Apologies for the wall of text :)
P.P.S. I'd personally go with "crude" rather than "raw" for "matéria-prima vegetal".
In my humble opinion, when translating regulatory documents, it's important to be mindful of the internationally accepted/used terminology and stick to it when possible. Furthermore, the wording of Brazilian regulatory documents, at least in this field, is rarely ever original--it's usually based on existing sources, such as the U.S. CFR or European Union law. So, I did a little digging and here's what I've come up with.
- The definitions Muriel cites come from a series of ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) resolutions, which date back at least to 2000 with this exact wording. I couldn't find earlier references to them.
- This particular definition of "droga vegetal" is pretty close to the WHO definition of "herb" that Muriel notes, but doesn't quite correspond to it. However, a quick SciELO search showed that many Brazilian journal articles that use the term "droga vegetal" clearly do use it to mean the herb itself, not to any preparation; one example: "a droga vegetal Matricaria recutita" meaning "the herb Matricaria recutita". This is in keeping with the WHO definition.
- Bearing all this in mind, the closest internationally accepted term I could find is "herbal substance". In a 2004 European Parliament Directive, a "herbal substance" is defined thus:
"All mainly whole, fragmented or cut plants, plant parts, algae, fungi, lichen in an unprocessed, usually dried, form, but sometimes fresh."
That's pretty darn close to the Brazilian definition used in the source text. The British Pharmacopoeia and Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration use a similar definition, and the European Pharmacopoeia uses "herbal drug" for the exact same definition.
If the source text uses "droga", I'd have no qualms about using "drug" in English, despite the tendency to avoid it in public health texts (this is, after all, legislation, and "droga" == "drug"), particularly as EU texts use "herbal drug". If you'd rather keep away from "drug" anyway, I'd go with "herbal substance": it fits the definition and sidesteps the drug vs. medicine issue neatly.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2014-08-04 13:06:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
P.S. Apologies for the wall of text :)
P.P.S. I'd personally go with "crude" rather than "raw" for "matéria-prima vegetal".
Note from asker:
| Thanks so much, Filippe! Verlow has now posted an interesting alternative that hadn't occurred to any of us. He has good references. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
liz askew
: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SHnRm5CE9dwC&pg=PT654&lpg...
7 horas
|
|
Thanks, Liz!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks for all your research, Filippe!"
+3
4 minutos
Mike Scott
Native in inglês
Specializes in field
Prompt, meticulous work
Native in: inglês
Works in: espanhol para inglês, português para inglês
herbal remedy
suggestion
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Vitor Pinteus
2 horas
|
| agree |
Claudio Mazotti
5 horas
|
| neutral |
liz askew
: apologies; I only agree with herbal medicine/drug though
14 horas
|
| agree |
Emma Cox
: I agree - I'm studying homoeopathy, and I like the term "remedy", which is used for homoeopathic prescriptions.
1 dia 15 horas
|
10 horas
Mario Freitas
Brasil
Brasil
Native in português
&
inglês
Brasil
32 years engineering/law/contracts
Native in: inglês (Variant: US) , português (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: inglês para português, português para inglês
Related KudoZ points
:
8
phytoterapic medicament/drug
Suggestion
1 dia 7 horas
VERLOW WOGLO JR
Brasil
Brasil
Native in inglês
Works in field
Brasil
translator-interpreter
Native in: inglês (Variant: US)
Works in: português para inglês, espanhol para inglês, inglês para português, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Botanical Drugs (FDA), Herbal Medicinal Products (EU)
Botanical drugs (FDA), USFDA Botanical Drug Products Guideline
Herbal Medicinal Products (EU)
These are the terms used by the FDA and EU Regulatory Agencies.
Definition:
A botanical drug is a plant-derived medicinal product that is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in humans. Often based on a complex botanical compound, botanical drugs can offer a multiple agent solution, selectively and differentially affecting various target tissues. These characteristics position botanical drugs as safe and effective therapeutic solutions.
Pioneering the field, in 2006 the USFDA has published the Botanical Drug Products Guideline, which provides guidance for clearance of plant based medications. Under the botanical drug guideline, botanical drugs are cleared for specific indications just like a regular drug, thereby coded and accessible for medication reimbursement plans. In the European Union and other countries, plant-based medications are classified as Herbal Medicinal Products either under national country by country guidance or through the European Medicines Agency, the EMEA.
Herbal Medicinal Products (EU)
These are the terms used by the FDA and EU Regulatory Agencies.
Definition:
A botanical drug is a plant-derived medicinal product that is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in humans. Often based on a complex botanical compound, botanical drugs can offer a multiple agent solution, selectively and differentially affecting various target tissues. These characteristics position botanical drugs as safe and effective therapeutic solutions.
Pioneering the field, in 2006 the USFDA has published the Botanical Drug Products Guideline, which provides guidance for clearance of plant based medications. Under the botanical drug guideline, botanical drugs are cleared for specific indications just like a regular drug, thereby coded and accessible for medication reimbursement plans. In the European Union and other countries, plant-based medications are classified as Herbal Medicinal Products either under national country by country guidance or through the European Medicines Agency, the EMEA.
Note from asker:
| Thank you SO much Verlow! Your answer is very well documented! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães
: Those are very well documented indeed, but neither corresponds to the "droga vegetal" definition... "Botanical drug" in the FDA definition applies only to finished products, and "herbal medicinal product" in the EU corresponds to ANVISA's "fitofármaco".
8 horas
|
Reference comments
1 hora
Vitor Pinteus
Portugal
Portugal
Native in português
Portugal
Native in: português (Variant: European/Portugal)
Works in: inglês para português, português para inglês, francês para português, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Reference:
herbal medicine, herbal remedy
1. According to "TheFreeDictionary": "homeopathic terminology is medicine or remedy rather than drug."
Link: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/drug
2. No. of occurrences in the Google search:
vegetal drug »» 23,900
vegetal medicine »» 1,470
vegetal remedy »» 149
vegetable drug »» 35,600
vegetable medicine »» 143,000
vegetable remedy »» 134,000
herbal drug »» 308,000
herbal medicine »» 3,050,000 (but also contains "herbal medicine" as "the science / treatment related to medicinal plants)
herbal remedy »» 524,000
plant drug »» 95,100
plant medicine »» 447,000
plant remedy »» 16,600
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2014-08-03 08:01:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The term "vegetal drug" occurs mainly in academic and scientific studies, perhaps because the interveners in this context are more comfortable with the word "drug", for they associate automatically and unconsciously with the scientific sense only.
Link: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/drug
2. No. of occurrences in the Google search:
vegetal drug »» 23,900
vegetal medicine »» 1,470
vegetal remedy »» 149
vegetable drug »» 35,600
vegetable medicine »» 143,000
vegetable remedy »» 134,000
herbal drug »» 308,000
herbal medicine »» 3,050,000 (but also contains "herbal medicine" as "the science / treatment related to medicinal plants)
herbal remedy »» 524,000
plant drug »» 95,100
plant medicine »» 447,000
plant remedy »» 16,600
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2014-08-03 08:01:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The term "vegetal drug" occurs mainly in academic and scientific studies, perhaps because the interveners in this context are more comfortable with the word "drug", for they associate automatically and unconsciously with the scientific sense only.
Note from asker:
| Thanks for the stats. As you can see, they are all over the map! |
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Claudio Mazotti
3 horas
|
| neutral |
liz askew
: apologies, I only agree wth "herbal medicine/drug though
12 horas
|
| agree |
Emma Cox
: I agree with both - "remedies" are the usual term within homoeopathy for example.
1 dia 13 horas
|
Discussion
I suppose I see "herbal" as a red herring here and fail to understand how it relates to "vegetal"...
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-669.h...
(h)ərb/
noun
plural noun: herbs
1.
any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume.
"bundles of dried herbs"
Herbal medicines:
Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations.
**Herbs: crude plant material such as leaves, flowers, fruit, seed, stems, wood, bark, roots, rhizomes or other plant parts, which may be entire, fragmented or powdered.**
Herbal materials: in addition to herbs, fresh juices, gums, fixed oils, essential oils, resins and dry powders of herbs. In some countries, these materials may be processed by various local procedures, such as steaming, roasting, or stir-baking with honey, alcoholic beverages or other materials.
Herbal preparations: the basis for finished herbal products and may include comminuted or powdered herbal materials, or extracts, tinctures and fatty oils of herbal materials. They are produced by extraction, fractionation, purification, concentration, or other physical or biological processes. They also include preparations made by steeping or heating herbal materials in alcoholic beverages and/or honey, or in other materials.
Finished herbal products: herbal preparations made f