African traditional medicines

NT580 Adesina, S. K. Studies on some plants used as anticonvulsants in Amerindian and African traditional medicine. Fitoterapia 1982 53 147-162. 

V Stenkamp, M. J. Stewart, and M. Zuckerman, Clinical and analytical aspeas of pyrrolizidine poisoning caused by South African traditional medicines , Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 22 (2000), 302. 

Neuwinger, H.D. African Traditional Medicine. A Dictionary of Plant Use and Application. 2000, MedPharm, Stuttgart, Germany. 

Cimanga K. Li Y. De Brayne T. Apers S. Cos P. Bakana P. et al. Pharmacy and Pharmacology Communications. 2000, 6 (7), 321-325. Appiah, A. A. In Proceedings of the Sixth OAU/STRC Inter-African Symposium on African Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants. Kampala. 1996, p 88-92. 

The chemistry and pharmacology of most African psychoactive plants are unknown. The safety and validation of these plants continues to be assessed with promising outcomes. There remains many opportunities where advances in this field could provide a better understanding of African traditional medicine and the mode of action of these phytochemicals. 

The trade in African medicinal plants is poorly regulated. The regulation includes three fundamental aspects quality, safety and efficacy. The adverse effects of African traditional medicines are not well documented in the hterature. Examples and case studies illustrate the current knowledge and future challenges relating to African traditional medicine. Pre- and post harvest factors which influence the safety and quality are discussed. 

Neuwinger, H.D. African traditional medicine. A dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific publishers Stuttgart, Germany, 2000, pp. 556. 

In recognition of the cmcial role African traditional medicine plays in health care delivery in Africa, in 2001, the Regional Strategy on Traditional Medicine for WHO African region was adopted. The Regional Strategy aims at promoting the development and institutionalization of traditional medicine into the public health care system. Furthermore, in 2001, the Summit of African Heads of States declared 2001-2010 the Decade for African Traditional Medicine. 

The immediate and urgent assignment is to document recipes held by genuine THPs using appropriate documentation tool prepared by WHO. The goal is to develop ethnomedical data which contains the best practices in African Traditional Medicine. A solid biodiversity policy which among others covers the cultivation and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants as well as appropriate instruments for combating bio-piracy needs to be developed by various African countries. Such a step will promote the enforcement of Intellectual Property Protection policy. 

Hatmoa klaineana Pkre et Engler decoctions are used in African traditional medicine against fever and intestinal diseases [61]. Two quassinoids glycosides 15-0-f3-D-glycopyranosyl-21 -... 

Sawhney, A., et al. "Studies on the Rationale of African Traditional Medicine. Part 2. Preliminary Screening of Medicinal Plants for Anti-Gonoccoci Activity." PakJSci IndRes 21(5/6) 189192, 1978. Abstract. 

Elgorashi, E.E., J.L. Taylor, A. Maes, et al. 2003. Screening of medicinal plants used in South African traditional medicine for genotoxic effects. Toxicol. Lett. 143(2) 195-207. 

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