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Sustainable Utilization of Important Medicinal Plants in Africa

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Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ((SDEB,volume 32))

Abstract

Humans have relied on medicinal plants for food, housing, clothing, and medicine since the dawn of humanity. However, following World Health Organization's support for herbal medicine development, increased awareness of their social and economic significance, and research validation of herbal remedy efficacy claims, there appears to be a renewed increase in demand for medicinal plant resources over the last few decades. This increased exploitation has resulted in the depletion and endangerment of some of Africa's most significant medicinal plant species, making it unsustainable. This chapter focuses on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants as well as the variety of important medicinal plants in Africa, contemporary trends in their use, and issues of their unsustainable exploitation. It also proffers suggestions for remedies and a path ahead to achieve a more sustainable use of medicinal plant species in Africa.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, School of Applied Sciences, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

    Odangowei Inetiminebi Ogidi

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  1. Department of Microbiology, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

    Sylvester Chibueze Izah

  2. Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development, Living Learning Center, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    Matthew Chidozie Ogwu

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Ogidi, O.I. (2023). Sustainable Utilization of Important Medicinal Plants in Africa. In: Izah, S.C., Ogwu, M.C. (eds) Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 32. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6974-4_12

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