Abstract

Traditional medicine is very important in the rural areas of Malawi where 90% of the population lives. In these areas, traditional healers handle most local health problems and hence contribute to the prevention and curing of various diseases. However, it is difficult to obtain information on the medicinal plants of the country either because it is kept secret by the herbalists themselves or it is scattered in the literature. Since past activities were uncoordinated, there are many gaps in the research done on the medicinal plants. This project will gather as much information as possible on the medicinal plants, such as an inventory, chemical constituents, propagation methods, preparation methods, mode of application, and conservation status, in two representative districts of the country. The results of the project will be useful to pharmaceutical researchers, conservationists, herbalists, and the local communities.

Post-Project Summary

A postproject abstract could not be written due to lack of documentation in the IDRC library.

Recipient Institution(s)