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Medicinal Plants in Sudan: Role in Animal and Human Health,
Productivity and Poverty Alleviation
S. M. A. El Badwi*, S. M. Hassan
and A. A. Gameel
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Shambat, Sudan
ABSTRACT
Sudan has a wide diversity climate which is responsible for its varied vegetation
and very rich flora. Currently, according to the World Health Organization, about 80% of
the world population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care. In Sudan as
well as elsewhere, people prefer to use traditional medicine rather than synthetic drugs,
because herbs can easily be obtained from nature and are cheap and have less side
effects. This review paper aims at presenting data on the therapeutic activity of some
medicinal plants used in Sudanese traditional medicine for animal and human diseases
with emphasis on published data in Sudan in addition to research conducted by graduate
students at the University of Khartoum. The review, also, highlights the toxicity of some
plants that limited their use despite useful active ingredients. The review includes data on
plants with antimicrobial, antiparasitic, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and antioxidant
activities, and many have direct impact on animal welfare, food security and increase in
national economy.
Key words: Medicinal plants; animal health; human health; poverty alleviation *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]
Flora of the Sudan
It is estimated that Sudan encompasses more than 3156 plant species belonging to
1137 genera and 170 families (Broun and Massey 1929, Andrews, 1950, 1952, 1956; El
Amin 1990).
The Most Commonly Exported Medicinal Plants
Plant species Quantity in
Metric/ Tons
Price in Thousands of
US Dollars
Acacia senegal 25995.5 21533
Boswellia papyrifera 701 957
Carcica papaya 113 36
Cassia acutifolia 1064 419
Hibiscus sabdariffa 18174.5 18174.5
Hyphaene thebacia 73 20.6
Lawsonia inermis 1080 935.7
Phoenix dactylifera 155.5 53.3
Lupinus termis 209 7.2
Nicotiana rustica 341.2 52.8
Tamarindus indica 388.2 60.4
Source 1996 Ministry of Commerce Import/Export Statistics, Sudan
Hepatoprotective activity of Medicinal Plants
The following plants proved hepatoprotective against liver damage. Aqueous
extracts of the bark of Khaya senegalensis (Plate 1) was orally administered to rats at 250
and 500 mg/kg for five days which significantly alleviated liver damage induced by CCl4
(Ali et al., 2011). They, also, found that administration of aqueous and methanolic
extracts of Capparis decidua stems to rats at 200 and 400 mg/kg against CCl4 reduced
liver damage and remarkably masked severe hepatic lesions induced by the hepatotoxic
compound. Similarly, methanolic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds was given to rats at
200 and 400 mg/kg was found to protect liver from damage induced by CCl4 as evident
by improved histological picture and biochemical markers of liver damage (Abuelgasim
et al., 2008). Concurrent administration of oil of Cannabis sativa (0.01 ml/kg, 0.1 ml/kg
and 1 ml/kg body weight/rat) with CCl4 for 10 days masked liver changes induced by
CCl4 in Wistar Albino rats (Musa et al., 2012). The hepatoprotective effects of Solanum
nigrum (Plate 1) water and methanolic extracts were studied in rats at 250 and 500 mg/kg
against CCl4 induced liver damage for 10 consecutive days. Water and methanolic
extracts of S. nigrum had hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 intoxicated rats. The water
extract appeared to have a better hepatoprotective effect than the methanolic one (Elhag
et al., 2010)
Plate 1. Solanum nigrum Lepidiums ativum Cannabis sativa Khaya senegalensis
Antimicrobial activity of Medicinal Plants
Water, methanol and chloroform extracts of Lawsonia inermis and of root
samples of Hydnora abyssinica were tested for antibacterial and antifugal activities.
Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
were used to test antibacterial activity and Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum
audouinii, Trichophyton rubrum , Trichophyton concentricum and Candida albicans for
antifugal activity. Growth of all microorganisms was inhibited to varying degrees by
increasing the concentration of the extract (Sadaabi, 2007; Sadaabi and Ayoub 2009).
Comparative antimicrobial activity of ethanol and chloroform extracts from Acacia
nilotica fruits was made against bacteria isolated from abscesses or wounds of
hospitalized patients. The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia
coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris. Ethanol
extract of A. nilotica was either equally or more effective than the test antibiotics (Haj Ali
and Yagoub, 2007). Petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Tamarindus indica,
Adansonia digitata were tested against Escherichia coli isolated from urine and water
sources. The water extract of either plant was more effective than ethanol and petroleum
ether extracts. Ethanol extract of T. indica had more powerful antibacterial activity
compared with all antibiotics tested while the petroleum ether extract of A. digitata was
inactive against all tested organisms (Yagoub, 2008).
Aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts of Withania somnifera, Datura
stramonium, (Plate 2) Zygophyllum portulacoides at a volume of 0.1ml/cup showed
varying degrees of inhibitory activity against Staph. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and Ps.
aeruginosa. Extracts from W. somnifera showed the highest activity, followed by D.
stramonium, while Z. portulacoides demonstrated the least activity compared with 40
μg/ml Ampicillin control antibiotic (Sadaabi and Moglad, 2011). Mohamed et al. (2010)
and El-kamali and El-amir (2010) reported antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts of
Ziziphus spina christi, Cissus quadrangularis and ethanolic extract of Cymbopogon
proximus and Cassia occidentalis, respectively, against the test organisms.
Antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether, methanol and water extracts of
Lepidium sativum seeds against Staph. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris, Ps.
aeruginosa and C. albicans was assessed at concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10%. The
petroleum ether extracts were found active against all the test microorganisms with a
strong antifungal activity at concentrations of 2.5 and 10%. At a concentration of 5%, the
ethanolic extract of this plant had no activity against C. albicans. Staph. aureus and C.
albicans were resistant to 2.5 and 5% water extracts and C. albicans was also resistant to
the 5% methanolic extract (Shama et al., 2011). Methanol extract of the fruits of
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., was screened for antimicrobial activity at 50 and 100
mg/ml concentrations were tested against B. subtilis, B. cereus, Staph. aureus,
Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella enteritidis, E. coli, Ps. aeruginosa and K.
pneumoniae. The methanol extract, particularly at a concentration of 100 mg/ml was
found active against all the bacterial and also against the fungal species; Aspergillus
niger, Fusarium oxysporum, F. culmorum and F. graminearum (Abdalla et al., 2012).
Petroleium ether, ethanolic and water extracts of Petroselinum sativum and
Coriandrum sativum were screened for antibacterial activity against Staph. aureus, Ps.
aeruginosa, E. coli and Salmonella typhi. Petrolium ether extract from C. sativum was
active only against Ps. aeruginosa. The ethanol extract of the two plants were active
against all bacteria but that from P. sativum was inactive against E. coli. The water
extract of P. sativum was active against all bacteria while that from C. sativum was active
against Staph. aureus, Ps. aeruginosa and S. typhi but inactive against E. coli (Bakheit
et al., 2006).
Plate 2. Cassia occidentalis Cissus qudaringularis Datura stramonium Cymbopogon proximus
Antiparasitic activity of Medicinal Plants:
Nigella sativa seeds and Aristolochia bracteolata whole plant were examined in
vitro for antimalarial activity against schizonts maturation of Plasmodium falciparum.
Water extracts of the two plants produced 100% inhibition of the parasite growth at
concentrations of plant material ≤ 50 μg/ml (Ahmed et al., 2010). For anticestodal
activity, the aqueous extract of Albizia anthelmintica bark at concentrations of 10-150
g/kg when administered orally, showed no toxicity and high anthelmintic activity (68-
100%) against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta infection in albino rats (Galal et al.,
1991). Crude powder and ethanolic extract of Jatropha curcas seeds produced
anticestodal activity against Raillietina tetragona in chicks when administered orally at
500 mg/kg b.wt of the crude powder or 100 mg/kg b.wt of the ethanolic extract J. curcas
crude seed powder produced greater anticestodal activity of 89.1%, while the ethanolic
extract produced activity of 65.5% (Osman et al., 2007). For fasciolicidal activity of
plants, oral doses of 9 g/kg-body weight of Albizia anthelmintica stem bark water extract
and 9 g/kg body weight of Balanities aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp water extract
(traditionally used as an anthelmintic in the Sudan) were compared with 20 mg/kg body
weight (recommended dose) of albendazole against Fasciola gigantica adult worm (12
weeks old). The efficacy of the mentioned therapeutics was 95.5, 93.2 and 97.7%,
respectively (Koko et al., 2000). For molluscicidal action of plants, a pure anthelmintic
substance (PGA) isolated from methanol-aqueous extract of leaves of Polygonum
glabrum showed, molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata and Limnea
truncatula Müll (Mudathir et al.,1987).
Trypanocidal activity of medicinal plants was, also, studied. Tinospora bakis,
Argemone mexicana, and Aristolochia bracteolata methanolic and chloroformic extracts
were orally administered for 30 days at dose rates of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg in rats
infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Tinospora bakis was found effective in cleaning the
parasite for a considerable time. Argemone mexicana was found more effective in
cleaning or reducing the parasitaemia for both methanolic and chloroform extract.
Aristolochia bracteolata (Plate 3) chloroform extract gave a very good trypanocidal
effect (Abdelrahman et al., 2011). Similarly, Leishmanicidal activity of the plants was
investigated. Methanol extracts of Allium sativum, Azadirachta indica and A. nilotica
were found effective against cutaneous leishmaniasis. The methanol extracts of the
studied plants were topically used twice a day at a concentration of 0.1 g/ml. A. indica
showed positive response in 83.3% of the cases, garlic (Allium sativa) in 100% and the
extract of A. nilotica in 83.3% of the cases. However, only 16.6% of the cases showed
complete healing (Khalid et al., 2004).
Plate 3: Aristolochia bracteolata Azadirachta indica Albizia anthelmintica Balanities aegyptiaca
Antidiabetic:
Ethanolic leaf extracts of Eucalyptus globulus, Salvia officinalis and Guiera
senegalensis were examined in glucose loaded albino rats to assess their hypoglycemic
effects. Graded doses of extracts of the three plants, 200 to 400 mg/kg were separately
administered orally to groups of glucose loaded rats. The hypoglycemic effect of the
extracts was compared to glibenclamide 10 mg/kg in fasted normal rats. Following the
treatment, relatively moderate to high doses of each of the three extracts produced a dose-
dependent significant reduction in blood glucose levels which was most significant at the
dose 400 mg/kg (Houaciae et al., 2012). Similarly, hypoglycemic effects of Allium cepa
in patients with type 1 diabetes was studied. In the assessment of the hypoglycaemic
activity of Allium cepa in type 1 diabetic patients crude A. cepa (100g) caused a
considerably lower value in fasting blood glucose levels by about 89 mg/dl in relation to
insulin (145 mg/dl) after 4 hours. Ingestion of crude A. cepa by type 1 diabetic patients
produced a significant reduction in induced hyperglycemia (GTT) by about 120 mg/dl in
relation to water (77 mg/dl) and the standard drug insulin (153 mg/dl) (TajEldin et al.,
2009). Aqueous and methanolic extracts of the bark of Cinnanomum verum were studied
for their hypoglycemic (type 11 ) and in streptozotocin diabetic rats (type 1). Both doses
of the aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) and the dose 200 mg/kg of the methanolic
extract produced significant glucose lowering effect (Mustafa et al., 2010).
Toxicity of some plants was studied. Calotropis procera (Plate 4) latex was given
to pregnant and non-pregnant Nubian goats. In 2 - 3 months pregnant goats, the latex was
given at 0.3 ml/kg/day intra-vaginally and the animals showed maternal and fetotoxicity.
Non-pregnant goats given C. procera latex at 0.3ml/kg/day or at 0.005 ml/kg/day
intravaginally, showed vaginitis, anorexia and loss of condition (ElBadwi et al., 2012).
The comparative toxicity of Croton macrostachys, Jatropha curcas and Piper abyssinica
seeds was described in Nubian goat kids. C. macrostachys-treated at 1 or 0.25 g/kg per
day, J. curcas-treated at 1 or 0.25 g/kg per day and P. abyssinica-treated at 1 or 0.25 g/kg
per day. Both oral dose levels of C. macrostachys and J. curcas seeds were lethal for kids
between days 7 and 21, and caused enterohepatonephrotoxicity. The oral dose of 1 g/kg
per day for 30 days or 0.25 g/kg per day for 50 days of P. abyssinica seeds was not lethal
but caused pronounced hepatonephropathy (AbdelGadir et al., 2003). Feeding Jatropha
curcas seeds at 0.5% of the basic diet for 2 weeks was not lethal to chicks, whereas
feeding a mixture of Ricinus communis seeds and J. curcas seed (0.5% +0.5%) elicited
poor growth and locomotor disturbance and produced death (El Badwi et al., 1992).
Brown Hisex chicks fed diets containing 0.5% J. curcas seeds showed a high incidence
of mortality (ElBadwi et al., 1995). Administration of an aqueous extract of Senna
alexandrina pods at 50 mg/kg/day to rabbits was not toxic. However, at higher doses of
300 mg/kg caused alterations in the levels of blood haematological parameters and in
those of transaminases, creatinine, albumin and globulin (Elkhidir et al., 2012). Feeding
of Alpinia officinarum at 2, 5 and 10% to Bovan type chicks, demonstrated that A.
officinarum caused toxicity at the two higher doses were administered for 4 weeks
(Seddeag et al., 2010).
Plate 4: Ricinus communis Calotropis procera
Antioxidenat:
Methanolic extracts obtained by manual solvent extraction (MSE) and accelerated
solvent extraction (ASE) of Sclerocary abirrea leaves, Salvadora persica bark and
leaves, Combretum hartmannianum leaves, Guiera senegalensis (Plate 5) leaves and
roots were investigated for their antioxidant activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method (Taha et al., 2010). Methanolic extracts from Annona
squamosa and Catunareg amnilotica (leaves, bark, roots and seedcake) were evaluated
for antioxidant activity using oxygen radical absorbance capacity, MTT assay and DPPH
assays. The results showed that C. amnilotica and A. squamosa extracts displayed
antioxidant activities, with IC50 values ranging from 7.81 to 62.5 and from 7.81 to 125.0
μg/ml, respectively using1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay (Mariod et al.,
2012). A remarkable DPPH scavenging effect was observed with P. myrtifolius,
Phyllanthu sreticulatus and P. urinaria (IC50 of 10.2, 10.8 and 17.4 μg/ml) on its
methanolic extracts (Eldeen et al., 2011). The edible mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca
(L.) Del., a popular plant from Sudan widely employed in Sudanese folk medicine, was
tested for antioxidant activity. The methanolic extract of the fruits exhibited a strong
antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay and a potent capacity in preventing linoleic acid
oxidation (Abdalla et al., 2012).
Plate 5: Guiera senegalensis Salvadora persica Combretum hartmannianum
Anti-inflammatory:
In the cyclooxygenase assays, all ethyl acetate (leaf, bark, root) and ethanol root
extracts of Acacia seyal (Plate 6), ethyl acetate twig extracts of Capparis decidua,
dichloromethane bark extracts of Combretum hartmannianum and ethanol bark extracts
of Ziziphus spina-christi showed inhibitory effect against prostaglandin synthesis by
COX-2 ranging from 58 to 97% and weak (< 50%) or no activity against COX-1 induced
prostaglandin production. An in vitro anti-inflammatory activity supports the utilization
of these plants in Sudanese traditional medicine as crude anti-inflammatory agents
(Eldeen et al., 2011). Oil of Cannabis sativa possesses marked anti-inflammatory
activities verified by high percentage inhibitory effect of oedema size in both pre and post
treatment study in rats treated with1 ml/kg and 0.5 ml/kg of C. sativa oil for 24 hrs on
carrageenan induced rat paw oedema (Musa et al., 2011).
Plate 6: Acacia seyal Zizyphus spina chrisi Cannabis sativa
Table 1. Compilation of published data conducted in Sudan on medicinal plants from
Sudanese flora
Medicinal uses Scientific Name Local Name Part & extract used References
Hepatoprotective Khaya senegalensis Mahogany Bark/ethanolic Ali et al., 2011
Capparis deciduas Toundob Leaves Ali. et al., 2011
Lepidium sativum ElRashad Seed/methanol Abuelgasim et al., 2008
Cannabis sativa oil El Hasheesh oil Musa et al., 2012
Solanum nigrum Einab Al Diib Elhag, et al., 2010
Antimicrobial 1-Zizyphus spinachrisi
2-Cissus qudaringularis
1Naback/Sider
2-Salalaa
1-leaves/methanol
2-whole plant/methanol
Mohamed et al., 2010.
1-Withania sominefera
2-Datura stramonium
1-Sim Elfar
2-Elsakeran
Sadaabi and Moglad,
2011.
1-Cymbopogon schoenathus
2-C.proximus
3-Cassia occidentalis
1
2-Mahareib
3- Soreib
1-arial part/ethanol
2-arial part/ethanol
3-seed/ethanol
El-kamali and El-amir,
2010,
Petroselinum sativum
Coriandrum sativum
Pagdonis
kasbra
Fruit/Pet. Ether
Water/ethanolic
Bakheit et al., 2006
Hydnora abyssinica Tartoos Root/aqueous, methanolic,
chloroform
Sadaabi & Ayoub, 2009
Lepidium sativum Elrashad Seed/pet.ethe, water,methanol Shama et al., 2 011
Lawsonia inermis Henna Leaves/water, methanol,
chloroform
Sadaabi 2007
Balanites aegyptiaca Laloub Fruit/methanol Abdalla et al., 2012
Acacia nilotica Garad Fruit/ethanol, chloroform Haj Ali & Yagoub,
2007
1-Tamarindus indica
2-Adansonia digitata
1-Aradeib
2-Tabaldi
Fruit/ethanol, pet. ether,
aqueous
Yagoub, 2008
Antiparasitic
Antiplasmodial
1-Nigella sativa
2-Aristolochia bracteolata
1-Habat
Elbaraka
2-Umgalgil
1-Seed
2-Whole plant/
Ahmed et al., 2010
Aticestodal
Albizia anthelmintica
Girfeldood/
Stem bark/water
Galal et al., 1991
Jatropha curcas Habit Elmlook Seed/crude Osman et al., 2007
Fasciolicidal 1-Albizia anthelmintica
2-Balanities aegyptiaca
1-Girf eldood/
2-Laloub
1-Stem bark/water
2-Fruit
Koko et al., 2000
Trypanocidal 1-Tinospora bakis
2-Argemone Mexicana
3-Aristolochia bracteolata
1-Erg-El-Hagar
2-Khashkhash
3-Umgalgil
2-Seed/methanolicextact
3-leaves
Abdelrahman et al.,
2011
Molluscicidal Polygonumglbrum leaves/methanolic, water Mudathir, et al., 1987
Anticercerial Polygonum glbrum seed/methanolic, water Osman et al,
Leishmanicidal
1-Allium sativum,
2-Azadirachta indica
3-Acacia nilotica
1-Thoom
2-Neem
3-garad
methanol Khalid et al., 2004
Table 1. (contin)
Antidiabetic 1-Eucalytus globulus
2-Salvia offinalis
3-Guiera senegalensis
1-El kafour
2-Maaramya
3-Alghibaish
Leaves/ethanol Houaciae et a.l, 2012
Allium cepa Basal Pulp/crude TajEldin et al., 2009
Cinnanomum verum Gerfa Bark/aqueous, methanolic Mustafa et al.,, 2010
Toxicity Calotropis procera Ushar Latex ElBadwi et
al.,1998,2012.
1-Ricinus communis
2-Jatropha curcas
3-Abrus precatorius
4-Albizia anthelmintica
4-5-Croton Macrostachys
1-Kherwi
2-Habit
elmlook
3-Habat
elarous
4-Girf eldood
1-seed/crude
2-seed/crude
3-seed/crude
4-bark/crude
5-seed/crude
ElBadwi et al.,
1992,1995
AbdelGadir et al.,
2003
Senna alexanderina Sannamaka Pods/aqueous Elkhidir et al., 2012
Alpinia offinalis Guringal/
ganlgal
Root/crude Seddeag et al., 2010
Antioxidant
1-Combretum
hartmannianum
2-Guiera senegalensis
3-Sclerocarya birrea
4-Salvadora persica
1-Habiel
2-Alghibaish
3-Humaid
4-Alarak
1-Leaves
2-Leaves,roots
3-Leaves
4-Bark &leaves (methanol)
Taha, et al., 2010
Balanites aegyptiaca Laloub Fruit/methanol Abdalla et al., 2012
Catunareg amnilotica
2- Annona squamosa
1-kerkir.
2- custard
apple
leaves, bark and seedcake
methanol
Mariod et al., 2012
Anti-
inflammatory
1-Acacia seyal
2-Capparis deciduas
3-Combretum
hartmannianum
4-Zizyphus spinachrisi
1-Talih
2-Toundob
3--Habiel
4-
Naback/Sider
1-Leaf,bark, root (ethyle
acetate)
Root (ethanol)
2-Twig (ethyle acetate)
3- bark(dichloroethane)
4-bark (ethanol)
Eldeen et al., 2008
Cannabis sativa
El Hasheesh oil (pet .ether) Musa et al., 2011
Table 2. Research conducted on plants at University of Khartoum in a form of MSc or
PhD reported by Hassan (2009).
Therapeutic activity No. of MSc.
degrees
No. of PhD
degrees
Total No. of
Degrees
No. of plant
species studied
Toxicity 43 18 51 86
Antimicrobial 46 6 52 79
Molluscicidal 14 5 19 70
Insecticidal 53 4 57 56
Antiparastic 27 11 38 41
Phytochemical
screening
7 4 14 26
Antidiabetic 10 1 11 16
Hepatoprotective 8 1 9 12
Antitumer 2 4 2 5
Role of plants in poverty alleviation
Nutrition and health are two issues of global concern especially in view of the
growing world population and increasing urbanization. Trade on herbal plants,
particularly those of proved nutritional and medicinal values have influenced the socio-
economic style of many communities. It is stated that over 80% of the world population
uses herbal medicines and that billions of US dollars are spent annually in herbal trade.
Phytomedicines, standardized herbal extracts and finished products are sold for high
prices compared to raw plant material. The difference in price/ kg between raw and
finished products of some plants could be tremendous amounting to more than 2000 fold
.Crude and finished herbal products (as medicines, health food components, personal care
items etc.) have growing markets in Asia, North America and Europe with annual trade
estimated at 14 to over 20 billion US dollars (Canadian Medicinal Plant Industry 2012).
About 1400 herbal preparations are used in the member states of the European
Union and 60% of Americans use herbal medicines for common ailments. In Jordan 485
out of 2500 wild herbs are used as medicines by about 60% of people. Practically in all
parts of the Sudan and in every dwelling, herbal plants are always kept as part of the
domestic spices. In the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey some of the 50 identified
herbal plants are used as diuretics and for treatment of intestinal problems in humans
(Toksoy et al., 2010). Bekalo et al. (2009) stated that according to the WHO more than
3.5 billion people in developing countries depend on medicinal plants. They also
mentioned that in certain regional states of Ethiopia, 120 herbal species are used for
human ailments and some for livestock diseases.
Thus, herbal plants may play an important role in maintaining human as well as
animal health and provide opportunities for income generation due to the increasing
herbal usage and expanding markets. Integrated programs to conserve herbal plants and
forestry resources and rationalize their use may result in a positive socio-economic
impact and poverty alleviation. Quansah (1998) reported that the estimated global market
for plant derived drugs was 18 billion US dollars in 2005 and was expected to grow
steadily and that sales for dietary supplements, many of which contained medicinal
plants, increased by 4.5% to US$ 21.3 billion for the same year. In the Satpura plateau of
central India (and other areas), where the agro-climatic conditions favour the growth of
herbal plants, the income generated from sales of these plants as raw material for many
industries would have a positive impact on health care and rural economy in the local
population (Pandy and Shukla, (2007).).
Failure of conventional medicines to cure many diseases, such as diabetes, AIDs
and cancer, lead people to seek alternative medicines which are sometimes obtained for
high prices. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, Prunus africana bark, used for benign
prostatic hyperplasia and genito-urinary problems, sales for about 200 million US dollars
annually and Calharanthus roseus leaves, used as anticancer and antidiabetic, sales for
100 million US dollars per year (Lambert et al,. 2005). Economic benefits can also be
obtained from trade on compounds used for animal treatment. The Department of Animal
Science, University of Cornell, USA, has listed some medicinal plants for livestock.
These included: Coumarin, Safroles, p-cymene, Limonene, alpha terpinene, Acandole,
Myrcene, Camphene, beta pinene and Linalool . Other plants are expected to be added
and may prove effective for animal therapy with profitable returns.
Conclusion
Sudan is rich in medicinal plants which need to be researched upon to extract the active
ingredients for treatment of widespread diseases in rural areas. However, awareness of
the medical significance of these plants is still poor. Poor people in rural areas in the
Sudan cannot afford the heavy costs of treatment by modern synthetic drugs, neither can
they afford travel expenses seeking medical advice in towns where medical services are
concentrated. For the sake of the poor people, future research should be geared towards
treatment by medicinal plants. Advanced technologies and equipment, therefore, are
required for identification and extraction of the active ingredients of each plant. Joint
collaborative research activities among the institutions are urgently needed. There should
be a plan to establish Medicinal Plants Research Centre in the Sudan to cater for the
scattered research in this field and streamline such activities for helping the poor people
in the rural areas of the Sudan.
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