About this Research Topic
The practice of traditional medicine in Africa (African Traditional Medicine ATM) has a long history dating back thousands of years and has resulted in a wealth of therapeutic agents from plants and animals used in the treatment diseases. Most of the associated knowledge about these medicines has been passed down from generation to generation via oral folklore. However, as a result of westernization and globalization and the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity as well as the loss of oral traditions, the empirical knowledge associated with medicinal substances is at a risk of being lost forever.
A great deal of related research has been done and published in academic doctorate and master’s theses (most of which are available only as hard copies at the respective universities), in herbal texts and journals. Most of these works have not been published and made available to the international community. It is well acknowledged that the origin of many drugs can be traced back to natural sources, for example artemisinin, ephedrine, tubocurarine, digoxin, reserpine.
Some popular herbal medicines have their origin in African plants; for example Umckaloabo® (EPs® 7630), a standardized proprietary extract of Perlagonium sidoides used in some over-the counter medicines for upper respiratory infections. Other African plants have also offered medicines and/or, healthcare products and pharmacologically active compounds e.g., Prunus africana bark extracts for the management for prostate and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), yohimbe from Pausinystalia johimbe or Bitter Aloe or Cape Aloes (Aloe ferox).
This Research Topic is intended to highlight primary research on pharmacological and biological effects of plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals used in African traditional medicine for humans and livestock. We welcome articles on the documentation of indigenous knowledge on medicines and medical practices, the pharmacology and pharmacognosy of indigenous African medicines and the search for pharmacologically active principles of traditional African medicines.
Review articles covering the study areas delineated above should reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of ethnopharmacology.
The sub-topics to be covered within this Research Topic include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Pharmacological and biological effects of organisms (plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals) used in African traditional medicine.
• Indigenous knowledge on medicines & medical practices, ethnoveterinary, food and cosmetic uses.
• Pharmacology and/or pharmacognosy of indigenous African medicines.
• The search for pharmacologically active principles of traditional African medicines (antivirals, antibacterial, antifungal).
• Clinical trials using formulations based on ATM.
• Commercialization and R&D utilizing African bioresources.
All the manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here).). We also expect that the MS follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205.
A great deal of related research has been done and published in academic doctorate and master’s theses (most of which are available only as hard copies at the respective universities), in herbal texts and journals. Most of these works have not been published and made available to the international community. It is well acknowledged that the origin of many drugs can be traced back to natural sources, for example artemisinin, ephedrine, tubocurarine, digoxin, reserpine.
Some popular herbal medicines have their origin in African plants; for example Umckaloabo® (EPs® 7630), a standardized proprietary extract of Perlagonium sidoides used in some over-the counter medicines for upper respiratory infections. Other African plants have also offered medicines and/or, healthcare products and pharmacologically active compounds e.g., Prunus africana bark extracts for the management for prostate and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), yohimbe from Pausinystalia johimbe or Bitter Aloe or Cape Aloes (Aloe ferox).
This Research Topic is intended to highlight primary research on pharmacological and biological effects of plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals used in African traditional medicine for humans and livestock. We welcome articles on the documentation of indigenous knowledge on medicines and medical practices, the pharmacology and pharmacognosy of indigenous African medicines and the search for pharmacologically active principles of traditional African medicines.
Review articles covering the study areas delineated above should reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of ethnopharmacology.
The sub-topics to be covered within this Research Topic include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Pharmacological and biological effects of organisms (plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals) used in African traditional medicine.
• Indigenous knowledge on medicines & medical practices, ethnoveterinary, food and cosmetic uses.
• Pharmacology and/or pharmacognosy of indigenous African medicines.
• The search for pharmacologically active principles of traditional African medicines (antivirals, antibacterial, antifungal).
• Clinical trials using formulations based on ATM.
• Commercialization and R&D utilizing African bioresources.
All the manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here).). We also expect that the MS follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205.
Keywords: global, African ethnopharmacology, African pharmacology, #CollectionSeries
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
