The health care system in African countries is widely based on the natural world of herbs and medicinal plants. A vast traditional knowledge that has been accumulated for centuries are transmitted through generations. Southern Africa is reputed to be the store house of 10 percent of the world’s plant species. But knowledge about them unearthed or substantiated with scientific research has been few. Fewer have been commercialized. But initiatives in research, publication of their results and application for patents have seen an increase in recent years.
These medicinal plants are available in the local markets. These markets are part of the informal economy. The people largely depend on these markets for buying them to meet their health care needs. The market for medicinal plants is becoming organized into becoming a part of the formal economy with increasing commercialization. The demand for these products from the industries has increased with the increasing consumer demand locally among the more affluent. Export too of some of these medicinal plants has increased. Natural remedies are gaining acceptance and increased popularity globally. These medicinal plants are used by cosmeceutical, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries for production locally as well as globally. Often these are also based on the traditional knowledge about their use. This information is based on what are reported in field documentation and research in African countries which are now widespread. These documentation and researches are the main source of information on the indigenous knowledge, folklore medicine and traditional knowledge of the people of Africa, particularly the tribal peoples who have vast knowledge on these plants.
The traditional plant knowledge of southern African people is a source for the development of products. There is a rise in research activities. The recent trend indicates that there is a rush for documenting such knowledge. These ethno-medicinals are marketed globally. Hoodia gordonii is a tender plant from the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa that has grabbed global attention. This has become popular as an appetite suppressant. It is marketed in many forms such as pills, capsules, and shakes. The pure Hoodia gordonii liquid is said to be more powerful than the pills and capsules.
The global market for such products present rising opportunities for these African countries that could raise the income levels of these impoverished peoples. At the same time there is a threat of exhaustion of these plants from its natural habitat as a result of uncontrolled collection. Scientific conservation management practices are required to ensure that the extraction of these herbs is sustainable.
Because of the wide variety of weight loss products all over in today’s market, making a choice is quite hard. However, natural remedies should be preferred over the chemical ones.
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