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Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World – Africa

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Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3

Part of the book series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World ((MAPW,volume 3))

Abstract

The medicinal and aromatic plants of Africa are found in the continent from Cape Town to Cairo and have been used in the African people’s traditional culture of health for centuries. The declaration of Alma Ata by the International Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978 was a significant turning point in the development of health systems in the developing countries in Africa. This declaration provided for incorporation of traditional medicine in health systems. Medicinal plants and aromatic plants form the major component of African traditional medicine practice and these have become very important in the development of health systems in Africa.

Therefore, in 2001 the Regional Committee of the WHO African Region adopted a regional strategy on promoting the role of traditional medicine in health systems (WHO, Promoting the role of traditional medicine in health systems: a strategy for the African Region (Strategy documents, AFR/RC50/9 and Resolution AFR/RC65/R3). WHO Regional Office for Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2001). In 2013 the Regional Committee further emphasized the enhancement of the role of traditional medicine in health systems in the African Region (WHO, Enhancing the role of traditional medicine in health systems: a strategy for the African Region (Strategy documents, AFR/RC63/6 and Resolution AFR/RC65/R3). WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 2013). If medicinal and aromatic plants are to be incorporated in health systems then, their identity and quality must be assured in order to establish the safety and efficacy of the medicines they are used to manufacture.

This chapter contains monographs on 15 medicinal plants which are of major health and commercial importance in the world today. Each monograph provides the following information: Botanical name, Synonyms, Geographical Distribution, Description, Parts used for medicine preparation, Chemical constituents identified, Pharmacology and therapeutics and References.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Technologies and Innovation (HTI), Health Systems and Services Cluster, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

    Ossy M. J. Kasilo

  2. Consolata Hospital, P.O. Box 2005, 60200, Nkubu, Meru, Kenya

    Mawuli Kofi-Tsekpo

  3. Kenya Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 200412, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

    Francis Gachathi

Authors
  1. Ossy M. J. Kasilo
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  2. Mawuli Kofi-Tsekpo
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  3. Francis Gachathi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ossy M. J. Kasilo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arid Zone Research Institute, Médenine, Tunisia

    Mohamed Neffati

  2. Min of Agriculture, Range Ecology Laboratory, Arid Zone Research Institute, Médenine, Tunisia

    Hanen Najjaa

  3. Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University of West Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary

    Ákos Máthé

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Kasilo, O.M.J., Kofi-Tsekpo, M., Gachathi, F. (2017). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World – Africa. In: Neffati, M., Najjaa, H., Máthé, Á. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_4

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