PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS:

By

Mohamed El-Mouelhy

A number of pharmaceutical products can be obtained from various animal tissues, especially from glands like pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, pineal as well as organs like liver, stomach, lungs, and also blood as well as other fine chemicals obtained from animals like bovine serum albumin and gelatine which is Classified under protein. Bovine serum albumin is sometimes used as a component of moisturising cream and lotions.

Classified under hormones are products like insulin, glucagon, pituitary gland powdered extract, adrenocorticotropin, thyroid and parathyroid. Insulin is used for the treatment of diabetes. The pancreas gland of the pigs and cattle are used as the main source of insulin although in recent years, insulin of microbial origin has been used. Glucagon is also obtained from the pancreas gland. It raises blood sugar levels and helps counteract insulin shock resulting from an overdose of insulin. Adrenocorticotropin's most important medical use in restoring the activity of malfunctioning adrenal glands in humans. It can also be used in the treatment of rheumatic disorders such as arthritis, and eye inflammation due to allergies.

Other products are enzymes like pepsin, pancreatin, trypsin, chronotrypsin, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease and rennet (used in cheese making), while hereupon come under the anticoagulant group. Another group of products known as steroids include cholesterol, chalice acid and deoxycholic acid.

Many of these products are made from animals that may pose problems to Muslims. The relevant religious authorities are aware of such situations. The food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries should be aware if they want to increase their market share in Muslim countries.