Herbal Drug Development from Traditional Formulations: Refocusing Pharmaceutics and Posology for Accelerated Validation

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the toxicity data of a traditional medicine (TM) product that has been in use for 20 years or more without untoward effects should be determined, as the first step in its research and development (R&D). Such data in conjunction with efficacy data would be used to develop an appropriate dosage form of the product. A key objective in researching such a product is to validate the basis of the therapy, including the formula. Such validation, and any attempt to modernize the product, should be guided by an understanding of the traditional know-how. The Nigerian National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) utilized this approach in developing Niprisan, an antisickling drug, based on a TM product used since antiquity in Yoruba Medicine.
Aim: This article aimed to advocate the continuance and improvement of the WHO model of herbal drug research and regulation (HDRR) as the most logical approach for adoption by researchers and regulators.
Methodology: NIPRD’s adoption of the WHO model since 1989 was reviewed in parallel with trends in herbal drug research worldwide; and within the contexts of regulatory practices by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA), with a view to identifying more effective strategies within the WHO paradigm for HDRR.
Conclusion: Drug regulatory agencies (DRAs) like NAFDAC require effective laws, policies and quality management systems (QMS) to execute their mandates effectively. On the other hand, NIPRD’s output depends upon proper actions by a seasoned and responsive DRA. Therefore, noting that NIPRD and NAFDAC were both created by military decrees in 1989 and 1992 respectively, rather than by parliament acts, it is recommended that in addition to instituting more effective laws and policies to regulate NAFDAC, both NIPRD and NAFDAC need to adopt and implement suitable QMS for self-regulation, eg: ISO 9001 for whole organizations; and ISO/IEC 17250 for the laboratories.