Beyond the African Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Recent progress towards new quality standards for African Herbal Products

The African Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AfrHP) published in 2010 consisted of quality control standards for 52 of the most important African plants used in both traditional and modern medicine (see www.aamps.org). One of the aims of this publication was to establish trading standards for these herbal medicines in order to promote the use and trade in African Herbal Medicines. The publication received very positive reviews from several continents. One of the aims of the AfrHP published by the Association of African Medicinal Plants Standards (AAMPS) was to develop a living database to constantly update new information on the selected species. Subsequent to the publication there has been growing interest in the preparation of similar high quality monographs about African herbal plants used not just as human medicine but in cosmetics, perfumery and veterinary care. In South Africa a project has been started to develop a South African Indigenous Knowledge Pharmacopoeia. Meetings have recently been held in Kenya and South Africa to discuss possible extension of the AfrHP to include plants used for animal health and productivity. This paper is a progress report summarising recent developments including Africa wide research of AAMPS associates to prepare additional monographs for the African Herbal Pharmacopoeia. These include such interesting plants such as Biophytum petersianum Klotsch, Galenica africana L., Ziziphus mauritania Lam., Acanthosicyos horridus Welw. Ex Hook.f. (! Nara), Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (Tsama Melon), Colophospermum mopane (J. Kirk ex Benth.) J. Kirk ex J. Léonard, Schinziophyton rautanenii (Manketti), Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. subsp. caffra (Sond.) Kokwaro (Marula), Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. (Camphorbush), Ximenia americana L. Ximenia caffra Sond. (Sour Plum), Tribulus terrestris L. Accurate monographs are required for Africa's rich biodiversity use human and animal health and welfare to attain its full potential.