RICHNESS AND SCIENTIFIC VALUE OF TRADITIONAL PHARMACOPOEIAS: THE EXAMPLE OF WEST AFRICA

Abstract

Traditional African pharmacopoeias are associated with a rich cultural heritage, as traditional practitioners have been using medicinal plants for centuries to treat patients. The use of traditional medicine is increasingly regulated by national health policies and is guided by WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations. The scientific evaluation of these practices is a vast undertaking. The regulatory approaches should not be the same for improved traditional medicines, manufactured on an industrial scale and registered by health authorities, and for artisanal preparations. In both cases, optimizing the quality of products should be a priority.