Medicinal plants and sustainable human health: a review

The importance of plants in traditional medicine and as raw materials in pharmaceutical industries cannot therefore be overemphasized. The use of herbs to treat diseases is almost universal among nonindustrialized societies. A number of traditions came to dominate the practice of herbal medicine at the end of the twentieth century. Many of the pharmaceuticals currently available to physicians have a long history of use as herbal remedies, including opium, asprin, digitals and quinine. The use of medicinal plants is increasing worldwide, in view of the tremendous expansion of traditional medicine and a growing interest in herbal treatments. Plants are used in medicine to maintain and augment health-physically, mentally and spiritually as well as to treat specific conditions and ailments.1 It has been found that countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America use traditional medicine to help meet some of their primary health care needs. In Africa, for example, up to 80 percent of the population uses traditional medicine for primary health care. In industrialized countries, adaptation of traditional medicines is termed “complimentary??” or “alternative” medicine. Traditional medicine has maintained its popularity in all regions or the developing world and its use is rapidly spreading in industrialized countries. The global market for herbal medicines currently stands at over US $80 billion annually and is growing steadily.1 In Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Zambia for example, the first line of treatment for 60% of children with high fever resulting from malaria is the use of herbal medicines at home. The plant kingdom contributes immensely to human health when no synthetic medicines were available and when no concepts of surgery existed. There is therefore need to conserve these plants associated with indigenous knowledge for human development and good health. Synthetic drugs gained popularity against green remedies because their fast-acting effects, however, people have begun to realize the benefits associated with natural remedies. Chemically prepared drugs may act quickly, but they have side effects which affect human body negatively in the long run, whereas, medicinal plants work in an integrated or probiotic with little or no adverse effects on the body.1 A number of plant species are being used in various human health around the world. Plant species contain active ingredients such as alkaloids, phenols, tannins, cryogenics, glycocides, terpeniods. These ingredients have been used and found effective as sweeteners, anti-infections and anti-bacterials. For instance, the bark of Alstonia boonei contains alkaloids and achistamine, which are useful in the treatment of fever, dizziness and high blood pressure. Ginger (Allium sativum) and Garlic (Zingiber officinale) are spicy addittions to food that has long been used to maintain human health. It is not an exaggeration to say that medicinal plants have a great role to play in sustainable human health.