THE designation of Nigeria as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Centre of Excellence for Research and Development of Phytomedicine underscores the increasing recognition of herbal medicine in the country. Herbal medicine has for centuries been used across Africa in the treatment of ailments and often, with proven efficacy. What is however lacking is information and appropriate regulation to back its application. The renewed interest of WHO in the subject and its relevance to Nigeria should as well provide the tonic needed to spearhead a holistic attention on this, with the ultimate aim to make it truly an alternative to orthodox medicine.Many Nigerians, including the well-informed, strongly rely on herbal medicine for the treatment of certain ailments. Some revert to herbal medicine when they could get no remedy from orthodox medicine. The naming of the country as a centre of excellence in this regard is a good omento boost and formalise the development of herbal medicine, which for long has been dominated by quacks due to non-recognition.The African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics' Innovation (ANDI), an initiative of the World Health Organisation, named Nigeria as the regional centre of excellence in herbal medicine research, presumably, in recognition of the country's exploits in this area of medicine. Nigeria was also designated as the West African hub for the organisation's research and development activities in the West African sub-region. Specifically, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID), which is Nigeria's pharmaceutical research authority, is accorded a special recognition to act as the WHO centre of excellence as well as the hub for the West Africa sub-region. NIPRID has been there largely without much impact because herbal medicine is not accorded its rightful position in the scheme of medical development and research.The mission of ANDI includes the promotion and sustenance of African-led health product innovation in order to address public health needs through efficient application of local knowledge, assembly of research networks and building of capacity to support economic development. To achieve this, the network has established centres of excellence across the five sub-regions of Africa. The centres are responsible for conducting research and development, innovation on drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, medical devices and traditional medicines. The Nigerian centre will join the other centres in implementing ANDI's projects and capacity building on the continent.If properly harnessed, Nigeria's designation as WHO centre of traditional medicine will leverage herbal medical practice in the country. The scheme is capable of greatly reducing spurious claims and quackery of the drugs. One challenge that has plagued herbal medicine is lack of standardisation. What should be consumed to bring about remedy is not defined, which makes it easily abused. Besides, there is seemingly no universal formula, either for producing the medicine or its usage, which makes the practice doubtful and unpredictable. These are the main issues the country is expected to resolve using the instrumentality of its new status.Herbal medicine serves as a departure from the generic drugs from Western civilisation. The challenge is to make it competitive through methodical documentation and elimination of unaccredited vendors. That could avail it of a central position in treating some endemic ailments that appear to have overwhelmed orthodox drugs.Understanding the nature and composition of the drugs is critical in a country enriched with abundant green vegetal cover, which forms the basic ingredients for formulating herbal drugs. The country is an ideal place for herbal drug research, also for its cultural orientation in this part of the world.To facilitate research and standardise the drugs, funds are required; and government should be interested in the entire idea, although input from the private sector will be invaluable. Government officials should avoid the politics of destruction, such as those based on nepotism or religious affiliation, or over headship of the institution. The Ministry of Health ought to spearhead the quest for the development of herbal drugs.A formal research agenda will go a long way to formalise herbal medicine. In documenting the drugs, due regard should be given to their chemistry, their potentials, those that should be used locally and those to be exported. Their metabolism should be explicit, along with information on how they work and their side effects, as in orthodox medicine. Again, if properly channelled, the scheme could create jobs for thousands of people in addition to being a potential source of revenue for the country.Nigeria should take advantage of the WHO recognition by reactivating herbal drug research through NIPRID. The various universities' faculties of pharmacy should be incorporated into a collaborative research agenda for a wholesome result. Packaging and presentation of the drugs is important and should not be ignored. A formal recognition of herbal medicine, and subsequent regulation will eliminate quackery and abuse of the drugs.
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