An overview of traditional medicine and medicinal plant research in Malawi: achievements and priorities

An overview of traditional medicine and medicinal plant research in Malawi: achievements and priorities

 

Augustine C. Chikuni, Cecilia P. Maliwichi & Montfort L. Mwanyambo

National Herbarium & Botanic Gardens of Malawi

PO Box 528, Zomba, Malawi.

 

Abstract: Research in medicinal plants in Malawi focused on phytochemical analyses and ethnobotanical surveys. About 41 species have been chemically assessed and 90% of these have shown positive leads to the actual activity as claimed by the TMPs. An inventory of medicinal plants of Malawi, their uses, diseases treated have also been documented although the nationwide coverage is limited. Recognising the importance of medicinal plants, various workers have suggested traditional medicine research priorities. However, the priorities developed in the early 1980s are similar to those suggested in the late 1990s, indicating that little research has been done to address these priorities. This paper examines research priorities proposed so far and the way forward.

 

 

1.0       Introduction

1.0       In developing countries including Malawi, more than 80% of the population rely on traditional medicine and medicinal plants for local health problems mainly due inadequacy of modern health services (Msonthi & Seyani, 1986; Bullough, 1978). For example Peltzer’s (1983) data shows that even in villages within the catchmen of health units people consulted TMPs. However, de Silva (1995) observed that even where modern drugs are available people still prefer traditional medicine.

 

1.2       The Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and Christian Hospital Association of Malawi (CHAM) provides the bulk of health services in Malawi (three central hospitals, 21 district hospitals and a number of health units). According to Chaziya (1997) there are about 300 doctors for the 10 million people. This is in contrast to an estimated ratio of 1:138 TMP to population ration (as reported by Mwanyambo & Nihero, 1998). The high doctor to population ratio indicates that modern medical services are inadequate indicating most local health problems are handled by TMPs. This indicates that the efforts of the ministry of health are being supplemented by the services of TMPs. Chaziya (1997) reported that the policy of the ministry was to ensure that traditional and western medicine freely and peacefully coexist although some practice of traditional healing (e.g. false claims, lack of referring patients to hospital) need redressing. The ministry’s policy is illustrated by the formal integration of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) into the national health care services since the ministry trains and also provides the TBAs with basic equipment and drugs. The ministry is yet to integrate the TMPs into the health care services.

 

1.3       Although the art of traditional healing is a guarded secrete, TMPs in Malawi have organised themselves into associations so as to encourage collaboration between TMPs. Ndibwami et al. (1998) identified four well-established TMPs associations; Herbalist Association of Malawi (HAM), International Traditional Medicines Council of Malawi, Chizgani Ethnomedical Association of Malawi and International Traditional Health Practitioners and Researching Council of Malawi. Ndibwami et al. (1998) argues for creation of an umbrella association of TMPs. TMPs have recently formed an umbrella body to represent all the herbalist associations although its membership does not include all the stakeholders.

 

2.0       Research into traditional medicine and medicinal plants

Research on traditional medicine and medicinal plants in Malawi can be put into two main categories: phytochemical analyses and ethnobotanical surveys.

 

2.1       Ethnobotanical surveys

Williamson (1975) who documented 122 medicinal plants compiled the first ethnobotanical information on medicinal plants of Malawi. However, much of the this information was derived from sources outside Malawi. Morris & Msonthi (1991) produced a checklist of 516 medicinal whose data was largely gathered during field excursions into Brachystegia woodlands. Mwanyambo & Nihero (1998) documented medicinal uses of over 300 medicinal plants for two districts (Mangochi and Zomba) of the southern region of Malawi. Recognising that the patients with HIV/AIDs related conditions are increasing and that the majority use herbal medicines, the AIDs Control Programme documented and developed guidelines of herbal treatments for over 40 medicinal plant species.

 

The present ethnobotanical information is not comprehensive in terms of national wide coverage and as a result Morris & Msonthi (1991) recommended more ethnobotanical surveys especially in the northern region of Malawi. Furthermore, the present ethnobotanical information is scattered in various literatures and no effort has been to compile into a checklist of medicinal plants of Malawi.

 

2.2       Phytochemical analyses

Phytochemical assessment of medicinal plants in Malawi started in 1975 by the Chemistry Department, Chancellor College (University of Malawi). In collaboration with Lausane University, Rome University and Technical University of Berlin, the department managed to conduct phytochemical analyses of about 41 species, 90% of these gave positive leads to the actual activity as claimed by traditional healers (Msonthi, 1994). For example, a Glucoside isolated from Hypoxis nyasica Bak. showed some activity against uterine cancer and the formulation from this compound was patented (Msonthi, 1994). Msonthi (1994) also reported that the legroin extract of Psorspermum februfugum showed in vitro antimalarial activity.  Locally, Kamwendo et al. (1985) Msonthi & Seyani (1986), Chiotha et al. (1990) screened various plants (e.g. Strychnos spinosa, Securidaca longipedunculata, Tephrosia vogelli) for molluscicidal activities. Ironically, all research on bioactive assessment of medicinal plants stopped when the researcher (J.D. Msonthi) left the department in 1993. The consequence of over-reliance on foreign laboratories in the phytochemical analyses is that there was no room for infrastructural development within the department. Ndibwami et al. (1998) observed that scientific instrumentation to support traditional medicine research was lacking although some functional pieces of equipment (e.g. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Gas Liquid Chromatography) were available. Thus this lack of infrastructure contributed to the discontinuity of the phytochemical work. Recently there has been renewed interest by the Chemistry Department to screen medicinal plants for their bioactivity against major diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis etc.

 

2.3       Sustainable utilization and conservation of medicinal plants

No elaborate research on conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in Malawi has been undertaken. However, as a conservation measure the TMPs are encouraged to practice sustainable collection methods, grow their own medicinal plants and to use alternative species when the preferred ones become rare (Seyani, 1990). Seyani (1990) reported that the Herbalist Association of Malawi (HAM) established a medicinal plant demonstration plot in Zomba and also that most traditional healers had planted their own much needed medicinal plants. The garden started with 20 species, but is currently non-functional such that the garden is no longer a source of propagating material as originally intended. The International Traditional Medicines Council of Malawi has a medicinal plant garden in Mwanza district (southern region) which act as a reserve for herbal medicines. Mwanyambo & Nihero (1998) in collaboration with traditional healers propagated a total of 108 species in three nurseries (in Zomba and Mangochi). TMPs were free to transplant seedlings of their choice into their gardens although the majority of TMPs were not in favour of medicinal plant cultivation. Furthermore, the NHBG obtained seedlings of widely used medicinal plants for introduction in the botanic garden. To encourage sustainable utilisation of Nyika biodiversity, Nyika National Park collects and propagates seeds of a commonly used medicinal plant species (Berberis holstii Engl.). The seedlings are distributed to interested persons at no cost.

 

Although various stakeholders are actively propagating their own medicinal plants, there is no silvicultural information on cultivation of medicinal plants. There is therefore need to conduct silvicultural research on widely used medicinal plants of Malawi.

 

3.0       Traditional medicine and medicinal plant research priorities

3.1              Msonthi & Seyani (1986) observed that traditional medicine research should consider the possibility of integrating TMPs into the Malawi’s primary health care system; standardization of medicinal plants that had been already thoroughly investigated and also recommended establishment of a medical center for traditional medicine. Ndibwami et al. (1998) identifies six traditional medicine research priorities; a) development of traditional medicine pharmacopoeia; b) biochemical, clinical and toxicity studies; c) studies of specific diseases; d) needs assessment studies; e) industrialisation of traditional medicinal plants; and f) cultivation and re-afforestation of medicinal plants. Mwanyambo & Nihero (1998) reckoned that traditional medicine research should concentrate on ethnobotanical surveys, dissemination of ethnobotanical information; capacity building and networking; conservation through cultivation of medicinal plants and putting in place mechanisms for protecting the intellectual property rights of TMPs and traditional medicine. It is thus clear that medicinal plant research priorities that were proposed by subsequent workers were similar. For example, conservation priority of Mwanyambo & Nihero (1998) is similar to cultivation and re-afforestation of medicinal plant priority of Ndibwami et al. (1998). Ndibwami et al. (1998) recommended establishment of a strong research unit within the university of Malawi. This recommendation is similar to Msonthi & Seyani’s (1986) proposal to develop a center for Traditional Medicine in Malawi. This indicates that research into medicinal plants is not coordinated and has resulted in duplication of efforts. The lack of coordination is compounded by unavailability of government policy in medicinal plant research.

 

3.2              Research priorities in medicinal plants so far developed can be summerized into six broad categories, which are viewed in this paper as the way forward in medicinal plant research in Malawi. These are arranged in order of priority.

i)                    Nationwide ethnobotanical studies;

ii)                  Conservation of medicinal plants through cultivation, protection of habitats with high diversity of medicinal plants, sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, regulating importation of medicinal plants;

iii)                Establishment of a notional policy on traditional medicine and medicinal plants research. The policy should include issues on intellectual property rights, trade in medicinal plants, code of conduct for the TMPs;

iv)                Establishment of centre or a coordinating unit for medicinal plants research in Malawi;

v)                  Biochemical, clinical and toxicity studies, including evaluating and standardising herbal medicines;

vi)                Compilation of traditional medicine pharmacopoeia;

 

4.0       Conclusions

The value of traditional medicine in supplementing the health care services in Malawi has been recognised by the Ministry of Health as evidenced by the formal recognition of services of TBAs. The importance of traditional medicine is also recognised by researchers and as a result phytochemistry of medicinal plants has been carried. Phytochemical analyses of medicinal plants discontinued due to lack of infrastructure and qualified personnel. It is time that the existing phytochemical data is utilised to formulate safe and standardised herbal medicines.

 

Although ethnobotanical information about medicinal plants of Malawi is scattered in various literature this can be consolidated to provide background information on indigenous knowledge on traditional medicine. This information also provides baseline data for the long overdue traditional medicine pharmacopoeia although the total number of species used in herbal medicine is not known.

 

Lack of collaboration between researchers and lack of collaboration between researchers and TMPs, compounded the lack of government policy presents the main problems of traditional medicine research in Malawi. Development of a coordinating unit in traditional medicine and medicinal plants is recommended to improve collaboration and avoid duplication.

 

References

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