Critical Review of the Guidelines and Methods in Toxicological Research in Africa

摘要: In Africa, 80% of the population depends on traditional medicines for their primary healthcare. Although there has been a huge increase in ethnopharmacological publications African medicinal plants, healing values and bioactivity, most plants have never subject to exhaustive toxicological tests such as is required modern pharmaceutical compounds. Based use, long periods time they are often assumed be safe. However, scientific reports shown that significant cause hospital admissions some parts Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges importance herbal healthcare systems developing countries formulated guidelines assessment safety efficacy medicines. no specific methodological protocols evaluation medicine toxicity, majority studies done according Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) European toxicity testing. This chapter aims look at current efforts based recommendations WHO range methods used evaluate potential systems.