Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Research scientists have been tasked to periodically research into available plants for their possible medicinal uses and develop methods for their conservation and utilisation. The World Conservation Monitoring Centre estimates that 25,000 species of the world's plants were under severe threat due to the rapid destruction and degradation of the environment.

Lepuwuara Mohammed N.D. Jawula, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health gave the task at the launch of the revised Ghana Herbal Pharmacopoeia on Wednesday in Accra.

The 295-page book is a compilation of scientific information on selected medicinal herbs in Ghana. It serves as a useful informational on medical uses of herbs, clinical constituents of the active ingredients and the illustrations of plants among other features. The herbal pharmacopoeia was complied and published by the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The first publication was in 1992 and the revised edition was to enhance its quality. The pharmacopoeia had dispelled the erroneous impression that medicinal plants in Ghana have not been subjected to scientific investigations

Lepuwura Jawula noted that traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants were documented and transferred orally but the skills and knowledge had been distorted and could easily be forgotten due to the dynamic nature and complexity of "our culture" and needed to be documented to forestall its loss.

"We need to add value to existing knowledge using the necessary scientific tools. The value of any pharmacopoeia rests in its ability to give distinct scientific information to the reader". This can be done by couching the information to suit the targeted users. He said plant materials were used throughout developed and developing countries as home remedies, over the counter drugs products and raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry whilst representing a substantial proportion of the global drug market and was therefore essential to establish international recognised guidelines for assessing their quality.

He called on the scientists to investigate the useful attributes of the plant resources whilst the communities ensured their conservation, adding, "The exploitation of our traditional medicine must be linked to Ghana's vision of wealth creation in the same way as China, India and other countries are doing".

Lepuwura Jawula challenged scientists to pursue further research into herbal medicines to come out with new knowledge for the treatment of local diseases as well as quality of administration of herbal drugs. Professor Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, Director-general of CSIR said Ghana's herbal pharmacopoeia would serve as an integral component of indigenous knowledge and would strengthen the knowledge base of traditional medicine.

He expressed concern about the rapid destruction and degradation of the environment and the lack of documentation of medicinal plants, which he said, continued to be a serious draw back to the traditional medicine heritage.

"We are living in a knowledge society and therefore it is important that we see knowledge as potential sources of wealth and I urge all investors to examine the potential in collaborating with STEPRI to produce more volumes of pharmacopoeia for mutual benefits", he added. Mr. Huna F.K. Hlortsi-Akakpo Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practitioners Council recommended that the book be included in the list of books currently being used in training traditional medicine practitioners at the appropriate levels.

He also recommended that the book formed part of the reference books to be kept in hospitals and clinics where traditional medicines were used as well as traditional medicine sales outlets and manufacturing units.

Mr. Hlortsi-Akakpo called for the need to translate the herbal pharmacopoeia into five Ghanaian languages-Akan, Ewe, Ga, Dagbani and Hausa since most of the traditional herbs emanated from those areas and would be better appreciated among the people. Professor Edward Ayensu, Chairman of CSIR who presided said over 70 per cent of the world population used traditional medicine as the alternative for health care and needed to inject professionalism into the industry.

He expressed regret that some medical doctors still looked down upon traditional medicine "forgetting that they have used it before they became medical doctors".

He explained that Ghana had many medicinal plants and needed to elevate traditional medicine "since we cannot avoid herbal medicine". Prof. Ayensu called on scientists to collaborate with other stakeholders to improve the industry and ensure its sustainability. Prof. Oteng Gyasi, President of the Association of Ghanaian Industry (AGI) who launched the book assured research scientists of AGI's collaboration in moving the industry forward. 8 Aug. 07