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Innovative Medicines & Omics Herbal drug among non-health professionals

Keywords: Herbal medicine; Non-health professionals; Information accessibility; Usage
patterns; Nigeria; Regulation

1. Introduction and Ethnobotanical Databases under the United States
Department of Agriculture Data for Agricultural Plants
Herbal medicine has been an essential component of enable comprehensive searches of plants, chemicals,
traditional health care in Nigeria, with many individuals bioactivities, and ethnobotany using scientific or common
relying on plant-based remedies for various ailments. names. 7
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Despite the growing accessibility of modern health-care
services, herbal drugs remain a significant part of the In regions where there is a high burden of diseases,
health-care landscape, particularly among non-health whether communicable (malaria and tuberculosis) or
professionals. This continued use of herbal medicine is non-communicable (diabetes and hypertension), access
often driven by affordability, cultural beliefs, accessibility, to modern health-care facilities and medications may
and the perception that herbal remedies are safer or more be limited. Herbal medicine often provides an accessible
natural than conventional pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, alternative, as many communities may have traditional
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in the absence of sufficient health-care infrastructure, knowledge of local plants and their medicinal uses.
especially in rural areas, many Nigerians turn to herbal Some herbal treatments are believed to have preventive
remedies for self-medication, disease prevention, and properties, which can be appealing in areas with high
long-term management of chronic conditions. 3 disease rates. Individuals may use herbal remedies to
strengthen their immune systems or manage symptoms of
Nigeria has over 500 ethnic groups, each with unique
traditions of healing that involve the use of local plants, chronic diseases, thereby attempting to reduce their risk
of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
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animal products, and minerals for medicinal purposes. For
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many Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities, Non-health professionals – individuals who have not
herbal medicine remains the first choice for managing received formal training in medicine – are a significant
common ailments such as malaria, coughs, fevers, and demographic of herbal drug users in Nigeria. They typically
even chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. 3 obtain their knowledge of herbal remedies from various
informal sources, including traditional healers, family
While herbal drugs are widely used, the sources of 10
information about these remedies and their patterns of members, local markets, and increasingly, the Internet.
However, the lack of formal education in pharmacology,
usage among non-health professionals are not always toxicology, and health sciences may contribute to improper
well-documented or scientifically supported. Much of the usage, including incorrect dosages and unsafe combinations
knowledge about herbal medicines is passed down through 8
generations in a largely informal, oral tradition. In recent of herbal drugs with conventional medicines. Furthermore,
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years, however, the rise of digital platforms such as social while herbal medicines are often believed to be “natural”
media and online health blogs has made herbal drug and therefore safer, concerns about the safety, efficacy,
and quality control of these products persist. A significant
information more accessible, although this information
can sometimes be unregulated or unreliable. The National number of herbal medicines in Nigeria are produced without
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Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is standardized guidelines or regulation, raising questions
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a United States governmental agency that provides about their safety and potential for adverse effects.
information on herbal products, dietary supplements, and Given that many people are now using herbal medicine,
complementary health approaches. In addition, PubMed safety issues are also becoming a significant concern.
is a database of scientific articles, including research on Certain herbal medicines have been implicated in several
herbal medicines, where studies on the efficacy and safety critical adverse events relating to cardio-, neuro-, and
of various herbs can be found. The Herbal Medicine nephrotoxicities as well as cancers. 13,14 Toxicity due to
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Comprehensive database offers detailed monographs on herbal medicines may occur, and the severity may vary
hundreds of herbal products and supplements, including depending on the herb or herbal material, preparation, and
effectiveness, interactions, and potential safety concerns. user, ranging from minor to severe, and sometimes fatal.
The American Herbalists Guild provides resources Adulterations and concomitant use of herbal medicines
for herbal practitioners and those interested in herbal with conventional medicines constitute another area
medicine, including articles, webinars, and a directory of of attention; thus, there is a need for strict regulation,
clinical herbalists. Furthermore, Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical enlightenment, and control. 15

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 65 doi: 10.36922/IMO025080012