Revisiting African traditional medicine within the 21^st century context – past, present and future perspectives

Although Africa appears culturally heterogeneous with thousands of distinct tribes, dialects and languages, it is united by a common thread of traditional medical systems and spiritual attributes. African biodiversity, coupled with this deeply rooted African ethnobotanical heritage, has already contributed a number of novel chemicals entities resulting in potent pharmacotherapeutics, and Africa still remains a promising untapped reservoir for the discovery of more diverse chemical entities. African flora have already demonstrated their chemical diversity by providing a series of novel chemical entities [1].

The pharmacotherapeutic potential of the African biodiversity has not yet been realized since much of the research carried out is fragmented with little or no focus on drug discovery. African researchers are not only challenged by communicable and non-communicable diseases encroaching upon the continent, but they are also confronted with meagre financial resources, poor infrastructure and non-accessibility to modern technological platforms which are crucial elements for drug discovery. While the African continent is virtually considered as the epicentre of pathogens endemicity, the African scientific community is very poorly represented in setting the research agenda and priorities.

The recent initiative of GA to streamline African research is undoubtedly a move in the right direction, provided that concerted and concomitant efforts are made to maintain a sound scientific capacity in Africa. Such efforts are a major requirement for stopping the brain drain, further consolidate the African ethnobotanical heritage and building a critical mass of young African scientists to guarantee ownership and sustainability of long-term control programmes.

• References

• 1 Khalid SA. Natural products-based drug discovery against neglected diseases with special reference to African natural resources. In: Chibale K. et al. Drug Discovery in Africa. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin; 2012. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-28175-4_9