Experts in herbal medical products have said that compared to India and China, Nigeria is better positioned to manufacture herbal medicines and nutraceuticals.
‘Nutraceuticals’ is a broad umbrella term that is used to describe any product derived from food sources with extra health benefits, in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods.
Speaking at a press conference for the HerbFest 2015, a herbs, health foods and natural products expo scheduled to hold in October, Professor of Pharmacognosy, Maurice Iwu, said he and his colleagues made the claim because over 48 plants in Nigeria are of commercial value, while no less than 30 of them are food plants.
Present on the occasion are the Director General/Chief Executive of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Dr. Gloria Elemo; Director-General of the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, Mr. Sam Oghene, and other scientists.
Iwu said the focus of the HerbFest 2015 is on economic exploitation of Nigeria’s medicinal plants, towards making a positive impact on national health system.
He said, “We recognise the need for the sustainability of African plants and foods for medicine, with emphasis on good manufacturing process.
“Herbal medicine is an area in which Nigeria has competitive advantages over India and China, yet it is not being exploited to its full potential.”
The former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission urged orthodox physicians to recognise the use of natural herbal products in treating diseases and illnesses, saying it’s a global trend in which Nigeria must participate fully.
Extolling the praise of natural medicinal products, Iwu said the “African periwinkle plant (Catharantus roseus) is the number one plant used in the treatment of cancer;” adding that scientists in advanced countries have only repackaged herbal medicines and medicinal plants as orthodox drugs in western markets.
He revealed that towards this end, the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has also incorporated traditional medicine into its medical curriculum, with the aim of making trainee doctors acquainted with them.
In her speech, the DG of FIIRO, Elemo, said the research institute and the NNMDA collaborate annually to organise the HerbFest, with the sole aim of bringing together researchers, investors, scientists, natural products manufacturers, etc., to showcase the available natural products for use in Nigeria and beyond.
She said, “HerbFest is one of the forums we use to teach people how to commercialise nutraceuticals and herbal products, with the aim of improving the health of our people.”
Oghene the pharmacist said the United States of America reported annual growth rate of $200bn in the sale of functional foods (foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition), and that Nigeria’s herbal pharmacopoeia contains a description of drugs used in current medical practice, their formulae, analytical composition, physical constants, and main chemical properties, in line with global standards as recognised by the World Health Organisation.
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