Traditional medicine in Tanzania:a review of historical perspective,current practices and challenges

The use of traditional medicine(TM)is essential for preventing and treating diseases and thus improving human health.Worldwide,TM has been used since time immemorial.In Tanzania,the use of TM was most common during precolonial era before it was discriminated during the Germany colonial rule.However,it regained the attention during the private sector emergence era(1985-2004).Currently,there are ongoing efforts to integrate TM and modern medicine to improve healthcare systems in developing countries for sustainable healthcare management.This review aims to provide an overview of the historical and current status,challenges,and future direction for TM in Tanzania.The analysis revealed that the development of TM was somehow underdeveloped during the colonial rule but regained its popularity after independence.Currently,there are many opportunities such as the presence of legal and institutional frameworks,a varied medicinal biodiversity,with some of them being endemic to Tanzania,political will etc.Despite the available opportunities,there are numerous challenges to the development and use of TM.These include inadequate financial and human resources for research,poor conservation of medicinal biodiversity;modernization;intellectual property rights of TM knowledge;lack of safety,efficacy,and quality data of medicinal products.The development and utility of TM as a resource is crucial to protect practise.Thus,the study recommends more capacity building in terms of finances,technology development,human resources training,advocacy and integration of TM into healthcare system.

The Value of Traditional Medicine Should not be Underestimated-Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system(ADNS)are characterized by the formation of a pronounced neurologic deficit and often lead to disability.The attention of doctors and researchers is increasingly attracted by complementary medicine as adjuvant or preventive therapy for various diseases,including autoimmune diseases.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is a combination of treatment methods that include acupuncture,herbal medicine,dietetics,physical exercises,and other methods that are often used in conjunction with recognized approaches of official medical science.The article describes the application of TCM techniques in autoimmune diseases of the nervous system,and demonstrates clinical experience in the use of acupuncture,herbal medicine,diets and physical exercises.Traditional and complementary medicine is an important and often underestimated healthcare resource,especially in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases of the nervous system.

Advances in the function of traditional medicine for vitiligo treatment

Vitiligo has a significant impact on a substantial number of individuals worldwide.Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of serving as a therapeutic treatment for vitiligo.Nevertheless,given the increasing volume of research on the utilization of traditional Chinese medicine for vitiligo treatment,it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive review that elucidates the efficacy of Chinese traditional medicine and other active ingredients in the treatment of vitiligo.This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the clinical preparations used to treat vitiligo,while also highlighting the potential monomers and extracts derived from traditional Chinese medicine for vitiligo treatment.A thorough analysis of the pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicine on vitiligo treatment will provide valuable insights and reliable information for the development of new treatment strategies.

Current scenario of traditional medicines in management of diabetic foot ulcers:A review

Diabetic foot infections and diabetic foot ulcers(DFU)cause significant suffering and are often recurring.DFU have three important pathogenic factors,namely,microangiopathy causing local tissue anoxia,neuropathy making the foot prone to injuries from trivial trauma,and local tissue hyperglycaemia favouring infection and delaying the wound healing.DFU have been the leading cause for non-traumatic amputations of part or whole of the limb.Western medicines focus mainly on euglycaemia,antimicrobials,debridement and wound cover with grafts,and off-loading techniques.Advances in euglycaemic control,foot care and footwear,systemic antimicrobial therapy,and overall health care access and delivery,have resulted in an overall decrease in amputations.However,the process of wound care after adequate debridement remains a major cost burden globally,especially in developing nations.This process revolves around two basic concerns regarding control/eradication of local infection and promotion of faster healing in a chronic DFU without recurrence.Wound modulation with various dressings and techniques are often a costly affair.Some aspects of the topical therapy with modern/Western medicines are frequently not addressed.Cost of and compliance to these therapies are important as both the wounds and their treatment are“chronic.”Naturally occurring agents/medications from traditional medicine systems have been used frequently in different cultures and nations,though without adequate clinical base/relevance.Traditional Chinese medicine involves restoring yin-yang balance,regulating the‘chi’,and promoting local blood circulation.Traditional medicines from India have been emphasizing on‘naturally’available products to control wound infection and promote all the aspects of wound healing.There is one more group of chemicals which are not pharmaceutical agents but can create acidic milieu in the wound to satisfy the above-mentioned basic concerns.Various natural and plant derived products(e.g.,honey,aloe vera,oils,and calendula)and maggots are also used for wound healing purposes.We believe that patients with a chronic wound are so tired physically,emotionally,and financially that they usually accept native traditional medicine which has the same cultural base,belief,and faith.Many of these products have never been tested in accordance to“evidence-based medicine.”There are usually case reports and experience-based reports about these products.Recently,there have been some trials(in vitro and in vivo)to verify the claims of usage of traditional medicines in management of DFU.Such studies show that these natural products enhance the healing process by controlling infection,stimulating granulation tissue,antimicrobial action,promoting fibroblastic activity and collagen deposition,etc.In this review,we attempt to study and analyse the available literature on results of topical traditional medicines,which are usually advocated in the management of DFU.An integrated and‘holistic’approach of both modern and traditional medicine may be more acceptable to the patient,cost effective,and easy to administer and monitor.This may also nevertheless lead to further improvement in quality of life and decrease in the rates of amputations for DFU.

The“Top 50 High Impact Researches of Traditional Medicine”published in 2021

In recent years,significant progress has been achieved in both basic and clinical research within the field of traditional medicine,garnering increasing attention worldwide.To further promote a high-quality and international development of traditional medicine,the editorial board of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine provided a collection of the“Top 50 High-impact Researches of Traditional Medicine”published in 2021 through objective indicators and a strict selection process.The findings of the selected articles have a significant academic influence and possess considerable academic value both nationally and internationally.The selected articles cover a wide range of topics,including clinical research,acupuncture,pharmacology,chemistry,biosynthesis,medicinal plant resources,and new formulation and drug delivery system research on traditional medicine.Therefore,this article outlines the selection process of the top 50 high-impact research articles,analyzes their research characteristics,and provides a brief summary of their new findings and perspectives in the field of traditional medicine.

Traditional medicine in cancer:what is new in 2022

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in most countries and regions,accounting for about ten million deaths each year worldwide.Despite the endeavors and achievements made in treating cancer during the past decades,rapid resistance to the current clinically used targeted drugs or targeted chemotherapeutic agents continues to be a major problem in cancer therapies.Moreover,many cancer patients are suffering from tumor complications or cancer-related symptoms.Traditional medicine has been practiced for thousands of years and is also currently diffusely used worldwide as an alternative therapy for cancer.Areas of investigation of traditional medicine in cancer treatment,such as traditional formulas,chemical components derived from herbal medicines,and acupuncture,have received increasing attention,especially in recent years.Here,we included selected studies reported last year regarding traditional medicine for cancer treatment in an attempt to summarize the most relevant findings,providing a valuable reference for the future investigation of traditional medicine in the cancer field.

The role of selected medicinal plants from Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of fatigue in metabolic syndrome

Background:Fatigue is a symptom of metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome,which is currently increasing in the world.There is no specific medication for fatigue,but in many cases,such as in metabolic disorders,it can be relieved by treating the underlying causes.Oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with fatigue and metabolic syndrome.Other mechanisms in metabolic syndrome are also involved in causing fatigue.Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the role of selected medicinal plants from Iranian traditional medicine(ITM)in improving fatigue in patients with metabolic syndrome.Methods:ITM is one of the most ancient systems of medicine.In this article,we first explained fatigue,its types,and treatment from the perspective of ITM and then introduced a list of medicinal plants used in ITM to treat fatigue.Next,we reviewed the biological effects of these plants effective in treating the manifestations of the metabolic syndrome based on a search of electronic databases.Results:They have antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and anti-diabetic activities.Among them,Matricaria chamomilla L.,Laurus nobilis L.,Origanum majorana L.,Vitex agnus-castus L.,Lawsonia inermis L.,Anethum graveolens L.,and Pistacia terebinthus L.improve the lipid profile and reduce dyslipidemia.Also,the antihypertensive effects of Matricaria chamomilla,Laurus nobilis,and Origanum majorana have been proven.Conclusion:These plants prevent fatigue and disease progression by countering oxidative stress and inflammation and affecting the properties of the metabolic syndrome.

Research trends of machine learning in traditional medicine:a big-data based tenyear bibliometric analysis

Background:With the rapid development of the world’s technology,the connection and integration between traditional medicine and modern machine learning technology are increasingly close.In this study,we aimed to analyze publications on machine learning in traditional medicine by using bibliometric methods and explore global trends in the field.Methods:Relevant research on machine learning in traditional medicine extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database.Bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed using the Bibliometrix package in R software.Global trends,source journals,authorship,and thematic keywords analysis were performed in this study.Results:From 2012 to 2022,a total of 282 publications on machine learning in traditional medicine were identified and analyzed.The average annual growth rate of the publications was 13.35%.China had the largest contribution in this field(53.9%),followed by the United States(32.6%).IEEE Access had the largest number of published articles,with a total of 15 articles.Calvin Yu-Chian Chen,Xiao-juan Hu and Jue Wang were the main researchers in this field.Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and University of California,San Francisco were the main research institutions.Conclusion:This study provides information on research trends in machine learning in traditional medicine to better understand research hotspots and future developments in this field.According to current global trends,the number of publications in this field will gradually increase.China currently dominated the field.Applied research of machine learning techniques may be the next hot topic in this field and deserves further attention.

An updated study of traditional medicines to the era of 1,3,4 oxadiazole derivatives for malaria treatment

Discovering potent drug candidates requires new antimalarial targets.For this reason,antimalarial drug researchers focus on developing new drug candidates on promising targets.In the identification of these targets,a basic understanding of the metabolism and biochemical processes of malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum can prove invaluable.However,malarial resistant parasites are becoming more and more significant issues as antimalarial medications progress.Antimalarial drugs are becoming increasingly resistant,thus the search for new molecules is very important task.Artemisinin based combination therapies are becoming more popular for treating malaria.This will ultimately lead to the selection of resistance due to their extensive and indiscriminate deployment.Alternative artemisinin-based combination therapies are therefore required.There is an interest in finding suitable antimalarial compounds based on their potential effectiveness against malaria.The potential activity of 1,3,4 oxadiazole analogues against malarial infections is a major draw of the search for suitable antimalarial compounds.This review identifies existing antimalarial drugs that have own therapeutic effects and evaluating their feasibility for developing novel synthetic antimalarial derivatives.

Why pharmacovigilance of traditional medicines used as analgesics is important?

Traditional remedies have gained recognition for their effectiveness in treating various conditions such as diabetes,arthritic pain,liver disease,cough and cold,memory enhancement,and immunological stimulation.Their perceived safety has led to the increasing use of herbs by people without prescriptions.These therapies remain significant in areas with limited access to modern drugs or cultural preferences for traditional treatments.With a long history of use,traditional medicines have been the primary method of pain management.This review article explores natural and herb-based analgesics,their origins,and potential benefits,along with the growing scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.Studies have examined their efficacy in treating musculoskeletal pain,neuropathic pain,and migraines.Rather than being seen as separate therapies,traditional medicines should be considered supplementary or alternative options that can be integrated into comprehensive pain management regimens.However,some studies have reported adverse drug reactions associated with herbal formulations and plants.Therefore,there is a need for pharmacovigilance in traditional medicine to ensure patient safety and promote evidence-based practices.Although pharmacovigilance in this field is still developing,it faces challenges due to the wide availability of herbal medicines without on-site medical supervision.This paper discusses the complex challenges of herbal pharmacovigilance,provides insights on recent advancements,and offers recommendations for improving the safety monitoring of traditional medications in the future.

Traditional medicine use during pregnancy and labor in African context:A scoping review

Traditional medicine(TM)has been more popular among pregnant women worldwide and has played a significant part in maternal health-care services in many nations.Herbs,herbal preparations,and finished herbal products all contain active substances that are derived from plant parts or other plant components that are thought to have medicinal advantages.To diagnose,prevent,and treat illnesses as well as to enhance general well-being,about 80%of people use a variety of TM,including herbal remedies.A systematic search of Google Scholar and PubMed was performed utilizing an established scoping review framework by Joanna Briggs Institute from January 2012 to December 2022.A consequent title and abstract review of articles published on TM in the African context were completed.Of over 15,000 published studies identified,15 meeting the inclusion criteria were integrated into the following seven categorical themes:prevalence of TM use,source of information on TM use,reasons for use of TM,route of administration,common herbs used in pregnancy and labor,the effect of herbs used in pregnancy and labor,and predictors of use of TM.The studies reviewed were primarily in the context of an African setting on the use of TM regarding herbal medicine.Of all the articles,the highest number of studies was conducted in Zimbabwe.This review shows increased use of TM by women during pregnancy and labor with a reported prevalence rate varying from 12%to 60%.However,a decrease in use in the third trimester of pregnancy was reported.The most frequent source of information on the use of TM was from family and friends,while age,parity,education,and income were factors affecting use.In conclusion,the participants do not often disclose the use of TM during their antenatal attendance and the reason for use was accessibility and cost.Therefore,there is a need for further study on the safety and efficacy of TM use in pregnancy and labor.

Antimicrobial Activities of Solanum aculeastrum Fruit Extract against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans: Significance of African Traditional Medicine in Combating Infections and Attaining Universal Health Coverage

Solanum aculeastrum, a member of the Solanum genus, has a rich history of traditional use in various populations throughout tropical and southern Africa for treating different ailments. This study investigated the antimicrobial activities of S. aculeastrum fruit extracts grown in Zambia against Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (ATCC 25923), and Candida albicans (C. albicans). After being dried in an oven at 50°C for eight days, the fruits of S. aculeastrum were pulverised and subjected to extraction using methanol and distilled water as solvents. The resulting crude extract was then filtered, concentrated using a water bath, and packed into airtight containers separately. The disc diffusion method was employed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extracts. The results showed that both the methanolic and aqueous extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans, but not against E. coli. The zone of inhibition was greater in S. aureus than in C. albicans. This study highlights the importance of researching plants for their medicinal properties, which can pave the way for discovering natural product-based drugs with potential antimicrobial properties. These findings recommend further studies on plants used in African traditional medicine.

Accessible and low-to zero-cost remedy:Traditional medicine use during pregnancy and labor

Traditional medicine(TM)has played an essential part in maternity services around the world,which has led to increased utilization among pregnant women.Herbs,herbal preparations,and completed herbal products are examples of TMs that contain active substances such as plant parts or other plant components that are thought to have therapeutic advantages.This study review aimed to identify the herbs commonly used,reasons for use,and effect of use,to make adequate recommendations on herbal medicine use as a remedy for pregnancy and labor.Incorporating evidence from reviews,personal correspondence,and diaries,this study demonstrates that about 80%of people used TM such as herbal remedies for sickness diagnosis,prevention,treatment,and promotion of general well‑being.Due to its accessibility,cost,and availability,TM is usually used by expectant mothers.Examples of TM used in pregnancy and labor include honey,aloe,raspberry,jute mallow,and hibiscus leaves.It is important to note that its use in pregnancy and labor can be beneficial or harmful to both mother and child.Lack of standardization,financial risk,lack of safety,and effectiveness are challenges to TM.There is a need of creating awareness of the safe use and effects of TM in pregnancy and labor through the provision of health education programs for women in the community.

Safety, Tolerability and Anti-Diarrhoeal Activity of “Diarra”, a Preparation of Medicinal Plants Used in Ivorian Traditional Medicine

Background: “Diarra”, a traditional herbal remedy made from five (5) medicinal plants, might be endowed with anti-diarrhoeal properties according to its owner. However, scientific evidence of its safety, tolerability and activity has not been established. Objective: This study aimed to assess the safety, tolerability and anti-diarrhoeal activity of “Diarra” in experimental rats. Materials and Methods: Safety was assessed by acute (OECD 423) and sub-acute (OECD 407) toxicity studies at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg. Clinical tolerability was assessed for 28 days. On day 29, a blood sample was taken to evaluate biological tolerability. The anti-diarrhoeal activity was investigated in a castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. Rats were given the remedy at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg and then castor oil 1 hour later. They were observed for 4 hours and diarrhoeal stools were collected. The Percentage of diarrhoeal inhibition was calculated. Results: A single dose of “Diarra” at a dose of 2000 mg/kg did not induce any lethality, behavioural or weight change in rats for 14 days. When administered once daily for 28 days, “Diarra” did not cause lethality or significant behavioural disorders or significant weight loss in rats. No biological disorders were observed. The treatment of rats with “Diarra” at doses of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg in a single administration inhibited the occurrence of diarrhoeal stools. The respective percentages of inhibition were 60%, 50% and 62%, similar to those of loperamide at a dose of 2 mg/kg (68%). Conclusion: “Diarra” has an anti-diarrheal activity in rats. It is also safe to use this remedy as such.

In the wave of big data,can traditional medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of skeletal disorders be given a new lease of life?

In recent years,big data has become a buzzword in the internet sector,gradually being used in various industries and fields,and has already yielded considerable benefits in e-commerce.In the past few years,big data has become increasingly important in healthcare based on the massive volume of clinical data and the increasing demand for personalized medicine.Traditional medicine,one of humanity’s fabulous creations,has also contributed actively to preventing and controlling new epidemics.With the development of the Internet,AI,cloud computing,the Internet of Things,and other high technologies in recent years,new vitality has been injected into the development of traditional medicine.It has also provided strong support for conventional medicine to play a more excellent value.Traditional medicine is now flourishing and gradually moving into the era of big data.Recently,there has been an increasing number of medical studies related to big data,but more studies are focused on cancer survival and cancer metastasis,which may be related to the fact that there are more free databases related to oncology,similar to the studies on big data related to skeletal diseases,but there are not many studies on the linkage between traditional medicine and big data for skeletal diseases.So,how will the field of big data and traditional medicine combine and diagnose or treat skeletal-related diseases in the future?How can traditional medicine in skeletal disorders ride the current fast-growing big data train?Will big data bring a new lease of life to traditional medicine in skeletal disorders?This review intends to systematically elaborate on the current and future research in the direction of big data in relation to diagnosing and treating skeletal diseases in traditional medicine.

Lesions Superimposed by Traditional Medicine on Renal Biopsies in Senegal

Traditional African medicine products are responsible for kidney damage that baffles both nephrologists and pathologists. Renal biopsies reveal acute or chronic inflammatory changes that cannot be explained by the progressive stage of the basic lesion of the nephropathy. The aim of this study is to analyze the lesions superimposed on 73 kidney biopsies from patients who took traditional herbal medications to treat the symptoms of kidney disease.

《Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines》刊物简介

《Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines》(亚洲传统医药)是2006年创刊(国际刊号:ISSN 1817-4337),由沈阳药科大学主办,香港盛京药大出版传媒有限公司出版,是海内外公开发行的传统医药行业全英文资讯期刊——发行国家包括日本、韩国、新加坡等东南亚国家以及欧美各国。

Feasibility and simulation model of a pilot scale membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment and reuse from Chinese traditional medicine

The lack and pollution of water resource make wastewater reuse necessary. The pilot scale long-term tests for submerged membrane bioreactor were conducted to treat the effluents of anaerobic or aerobic treatment process for the high-strength Chinese traditional medicine wastewater. This article was focused on the feasibility of the wastewater treatment and reuse at shorter hydraulic retention time （HRT） of 5.0, 3.2 and 2.13 h. MLSS growth, membrane flux, vacuum values and chemical cleaning periods were also investigated. The experimental results of treating two-phase anaerobic treatment effluent demonstrated that the CODfilt was less than 100 mg/L when the influent COD was between 500-10000 mg/L at HRT of 5.0 h, which could satisfy the normal discharged standard in China. The experimental results to treat cross flow aerobic reactor effluent demonstrated that the average value of CODfilt was 17.28 mg/L when the average value of influent COD was 192.84 mg/L at HRT of 2.13 h during 106 d, which could completely meet the normal standard for water reuse. The maximum MLSS and MLVSS reached 24000 and 14500 mg/L at HRT of 3.2 h respectively. Membrane flux had maximal resume degrees of 94.7% at vacuum value of 0.02 MPa after cleaning. Chemical cleaning periods of membrane module were 150 d. A simulation model of operational parameters was also established based on the theory of back propagation neural network and linear regression of traditional mathematical model. The simulation model showed that the optimum operational parameters were suggested as follows： HRT was 5.0 h, SRT was 100 d, the range of COD loading rate was between 10.664-20.451 kg/（m3.d）, the range of MLSS was between 7543-13694 mg/L.

Annual advances in traditional medicine for tumor therapy in 2019

Today,the treatment of tumors remains a difficult problem.Traditional medicine has been used to treat cancer in different countries worldwide.However,while traditional medicine is popular globally,it is not yet accepted by Western medicine as some of the ingredients and the mechanism of action for the therapeutic effect have not been fully elucidated.Thus,scholars studying traditional medicine in the treatment of cancer have strived to solve this problem.In this review,we summarized the research progress of several traditional medicines used as tumor therapies in 2019 from the PubMed database.Studies of tumors treated with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)are popular worldwide and obtain the most attention,which attracts more researchers to this field.The anti-tumor effects of Chinese herbal medicine-derived phytochemicals,such as polyphenols,polysaccharides,saponins,and alkaloids were the new research targets for 2019.The anti-tumor effects of TCM formula such as Sijunzi decoction,and Xiaopi formula have attracted the most attention in the past year.In addition to TCM,we also focused on the anti-tumor studies of other traditional medicines,including Thai traditional medicine,traditional medicine in Sri Lanka,traditional African medicine,traditional Korean medicine,and traditional Japanese medicine.