Table 1 Problems and issues associated with the use of herbal medicines. Drawn from [7, 30]
Problem/challenge | Issues to be sorted out |
|---|---|
 1. Quality and purity | Adulteration, plants misidentification, drug preparations and formulations |
 2. Processing and harvesting | Poor harvesting practices and processing techniques, contamination |
 3. Quality control | Standardization, poor manufacturing practices |
 4. Administrative issues | Regulation and control, proper monitoring efforts |
 5. Infrastructure | Processing techniques, trained personnel, product approval, post-market surveillance |
 6. Pharmacovigilance | Adverse reactions, contraindications, drug interactions |
 7. Clinical trials | Safety and efficacy |
 8. IPR and biopiracy | Proper documentation of TK and folk knowledge |
 9. Research and development | Mode of action of drugs |
 10. Others | Unethical practices, quacks (incompetent TMPs), inadequate funds, poor marketing, knowledge sharing, biodiversity protection, conservation and protection of medicinal plants |