African Herbal Pharmacopoeia

The African Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Second Edition, is a definitive reference work that brings together the most authoritative scientific and ethnobotanical knowledge on 30 of the most important medicinal plants in Africa. Developed in collaboration with leading international and African researchers, this second edition offers expanded monographs, updated analytical standards, and in-depth ethnobotanical insights into high-priority medicinal plant species used across the continent.
Building on the foundation of the first edition, this volume integrates additional research in phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, quality control, and (where available) clinical use. Each monograph provides standardized botanical descriptions, HPTLC profiles, therapeutic applications, toxicological information, and regulatory status. New to this edition are contributions on HPTLC standardization, conservation status, and sustainability considerations-critical for ensuring continued access to plant-based therapies in both traditional and modern health systems.
Designed for researchers, students, policy makers, industry stakeholders and the plant and cultural enthusiasts, this second edition reflects a pan-African commitment to advancing indigenous knowledge through evidence-based approaches. With its rigorous editorial standards and wide-ranging collaborations, it is a cornerstone for the future of African herbal medicine and pharmaceutical research and innovation.

List of contents

Chapter 1: High-performance thin layer chromatography procedure .
Chapter 2: Aphloia theiformis (Vahl) Bennet
Chapter 3: Aframomum melegueta K.Schum
Chapter 4: Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile
Chapter 5: Boswellia dalzielii Hutch
Chapter 6: Boswellia frereana Birdw
Chapter 7: Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst
Chapter 8: Boswellia sacra Flueck
Chapter 9: Burkea africana Hook
Chapter 10: Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth
Chapter 11: Carissa edulis Vahl
Chapter 12: Cleome gynandra Linn
Chapter 13: Commiphora myrrha Engl
Chapter 14: Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schltr
Chapter 15: Garcinia kola Heckel
Chapter 16: Greyia flanaganii Bolus.
Chapter 17: Griffonia simplicifolia Baill
Chapter 18: Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet
Chapter 19: Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth
Chapter 20: Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L
Chapter 21: Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw
Chapter 22: Pausinystalia johimbe (K.Schum.) Pierre Ex Beille
Chapter 23: Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel
Chapter 24: Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn
Chapter 25: Ricinus communis L. Var. Communis
Chapter 26: Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen
Chapter 27: Strophanthus gratus (Wall. & Hook.) Baill
Chapter 28: Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell
Chapter 29: Tarchonanthus camphoratus L
Chapter 30: Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benn.) Benth
Chapter 31: Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn .
Chapter 32: Ximenia caffra Sond

About the author

Prof David R. Katerere
Trained as a pharmacist in Zimbabwe before completing a PhD at University of Strathclyde in Pharmaceutical Science (Natural Products Chemistry). After a stint as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pretoria (2001 - 2003), David briefly joined Farmovs-Parexel CRO Pty Ltd as Chief Bioanalyst before working at the SA Medical Research Council. David has a keen interest in medicinal plant research and botanical medicine. He has published extensively and is co-editor of the following books Ethnoveterinary Botanical Medicines (T&F) (2010), Systems Analysis Approach for Complex Global Challenges (Springer) (2018), and Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for the Modern Era (T&F) (2019). He comes from the Katerere chieftaincy in Eastern Zimbabwe and his grandmothers on both sides were herbalists and/or traditional birth attendants. David is currently a full Professor of Pharmaceutical Science at the Tshwane University of Technology and co-Director of the TUT/CSIR Cannabis and Hemp Research Hub. He has been involved in product development leading to commercialization of various nutraceutical and herbal medicinal products.
David is a reviewer and committee member of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, co-founder of PharmaConnect Africa NPO and director of the Association of African Medicinal Plant Standards (AAMPS). His passion is working with others to increase access to medicines for patients on the African continent and local pharmaceutical production.
Dr. Thomas Brendler
Thomas Brendler is a scientist and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the field of natural product development, registration, and licensing, for medicine, food, and cosmetics. He is an expert in botanical research, product innovation, regulatory affairs, and sourcing of raw materials. He has contributed to the development and implementation of quality standards, herbal pharmacopoeias, and scientific publications for several organizations and agencies, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Centre for Development of Enterprise, and the International Trade Centre. He is a co-founder and former director of the Association of African Medicinal Plants Standards, a non-profit organization that promotes quality standards for African plants. He holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Johannesburg and has published more than 60 papers and books on topics related to ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, phytotherapy, and natural product regulation. Dr. Brendler is a member of the editorial boards of several journals, a US Pharmacopoeia expert committee member, and a board member of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology and of the American Botanical Council. In 2023, he co-founded the Southern African Botanical Products Association (SABPA). In 2024, he was appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago and Adjunct Fellow of the National Center for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, Australia.
Ulrich Feiter
Born in Germany back in 1959 and trained there as a horticulturalist, Ulrich emigrated to South Africa in 1982 where he worked with mentally and physical challenged adults in a village setting, growing and processing culinary and medicinal herbs.
He returned to Germany for a few years gaining further hands-on experience in the cultivation of medicinal plants as well as in-house training into processing, extracting, formulating and manufacturing of retail products at two well-known international herbal pharmaceutical companies - WALA and Weleda.
After his return to South Africa, Ulrich managed an herb farm before starting his own herbal pharmaceutical company Parceval in 1992.
The company focusses on organic cultivation, sourcing and setting up supply chains of specialised botanical raw material for the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries worldwide. In their GMP driven factory, botanicals are processed up to retail product level for a spread of local brands. The range also includes select essential oils, bespoke raw material and custom designed extracts.
Ulrich has been working internationally with many botanicals from East and West Africa as well as Madagascar. He is also a specialist consultant in regulatory matters around the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in Africa and has been advising the South African government in improving the current legislation. He is particularly involved in setting up benefit sharing agreements and was one of the key negotiators of the Buchu essential oil industry wide agreements with the Khoi and San councils.
Ulrich is the founding member and chairperson of the Southern African Botanical Products Association (SABPA) which represents actors in the growing biodiversity economy based on indigenous biological resources.
Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally
Prof. Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally holds a BSc in Life Sciences, a PhD in Biochemistry and is a Harvard University Alumni. He is currently Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Mauritius. He has authored over 625 scientific publications related to medicinal plants and applications. Beyond his academic achievements, he is a recognized leader in science governance: a former TWAS-ROSSA Young Affiliate, a member of the Global Young Academy, and a Fellow of the African Science Leadership Programme.
Lawrance Denzil Phillips
Lawrance Denzil Phillips has worked in the field of botanicals and natural products in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean for more than 35 years. Denzil co-founded High Value Horticulture plc in 1989 and launched Denzil Phillips International Ltd (DPIL) in 1998. DPIL has undertaken consultancy assignments with many of the world's leading natural product, beauty care and phytopharmaceutical companies. It also advised many African and Caribbean governments and international agencies such as World Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat and the European Commission (EU).
Denzil now lives in Barbados where he works on building bridges between Africa and the Caribbean in the field of high value crops. He was founder Director of the Association of African Medicinal Plants Standards (AAMPS) an organisation dedicated to promoting quality standards for African medicinal plants, founder Director of the Global Frankincense Alliance (GFA) and is an advisor to the Spa and Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA) and the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).
Denzil has worked in more than 55 countries many of them in Africa and the Caribeean. These include Barbados, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Grenada, Jamaica, Kenya Uganda and South Africa. He specialises in the conservation and sustainable sourcing of high value natural products many of which are indigenous plants. He also helped organise the first Medicinal Plants Business Forum for Commonwealth Africa in Kirstenbosch in 2000 and the World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Cape Town in 2008 (WOCMAP IV) Denzil has presented at more than 65 international botanical meetings during in his long career and is passionate about sharing his knowledge with young African and Caribbean researchers in the field of natural products (www.denzil.com).

Product details

• Authors: David R. (Tshwane University of Technolo Katerere
• Assisted by: Brendler Thomas (Editor), Ulrich Feiter (Editor), Katerere David R. (Editor), Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally (Editor), Denzil Phillips (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 28.01.2026
• EAN: 9780815374244
• ISBN: 978-0-8153-7424-4
• No. of pages: 336
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > Pharmacy; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / General, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Botany, SCIENCE / Chemistry / General, MEDICAL / Pharmacology, chemistry, Infectious & contagious diseases, Pharmacology, Botany & plant sciences, Pharmaceutical technology, Tropical Medicine, Infectious and contagious diseases, Botany and plant sciences, Pharmaceutical chemistry and technology