Acta Scientific Nutritional Health (ASNH)(ISSN: 2582-1423)

Review Article Volume 8 Issue 6

Compliance with NAFDAC Herbal Medicine Labeling Regulations: A Case Study of Herbal Remedies in Lagos State

Olalekan Isaac Olatunde1,2*, Oluwatosin R Kumolalo1 and LeRoy C Edozien1

1Institute of Advanced Clinical Sciences Education, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State
2Imported Food Unit, Registration and Regulatory Affairs Directorate, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

*Corresponding Author: Olalekan Isaac Olatunde, Institute of Advanced Clinical Sciences Education, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State.

Received: April 29, 2024; Published: May 13, 2024

Abstract

This study assesses the compliance of herbal remedies sold in Lagos State, Nigeria, with the regulations published by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Herbal remedies (n = 60) were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts of Lagos State and assessed for their compliance with NAFDAC's Herbal Medicine and Related Products (Labelling) Regulations 2021. Only 6.7% of the products were found to be fully compliant with the regulations. Of the assessed products, 63% had NAFDAC registration numbers, which indicates that one in every three of the products sold in the market is unregistered or unapproved by NAFDAC. The implications of these findings are discussed in detail.
It is recommended that NAFDAC prioritize post-marketing surveillance, conduct periodic regulatory review, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure strict compliance with the regulations.

Keywords: Herbal; Medicine; NAFDAC; Regulations; Labeling

References

    1. Romero-Daza N. “Traditional Medicine in Africa”. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science1 (2002): 173-176.
    2. Ahmad Khan MS and Ahmad I. “Chapter 1 - Herbal Medicine: Current Trends and Future Prospects. Ahmad Khan MS, Ahmad I, Chattopadhyay D, editors. ScienceDirect. Academic Pressp (2019): 3-13.
    3. Gunjan M., et al. “Marketing Trends & Future Prospects of Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Various Diseases. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 5 (2015): 990.
    4. Ernst E. “Herbal medicines: balancing benefits and risks”. Novartis Foundation Symposium 282 (2007): 154-167.
    5. Akande-Sholabi W., et al. “Perception and Use of Herbal Medicines Among Clients Visiting Selected Community Pharmacies in Ibadan, Nigeria”. African Journal of Biomedical Research 2 (2020): 147-153.
    6. “Herbal Medicines and Related Products Labelling Regulations” (2021).
    7. Osuide G. “Regulation of herbal medicines in Nigeria: the role of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)”. Advances in Phytomedicine (2002).
    8. Ahmad I., et al. “Herbal Medicines: Prospects and Constraints”. Modern Phytomedicine (2006): 59-77.
    9. Oreagba IA., et al. “Herbal medicine use among urban residents in Lagos, Nigeria”. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 1 (2011).
    10. Cheung TP., et al. “Aristolochic Acids Detected in Some Raw Chinese Medicinal Herbs and Manufactured Herbal Products - A Consequence of Inappropriate Nomenclature and Imprecise Labelling?” Clinical Toxicology 4 (2006): 371-378.
    11. Prathiraja P and Ariyawardana A. “Impact of Nutritional Labeling on Consumer Buying Behavior”. Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics0 (2011): 35.
    12. Zirra C., et al. “Impact of Packaging on Consumer Buying Behavior in Nasarawa State”. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research4 (2017): 28-46.
    13. Ardalan MR and Rafieian-Kopaei M. “Is the safety of herbal medicines for kidneys under question?” Journal of Nephropharmacology2 (2013): 11-12.
    14. Halicioglu O., et al. “Toxicity of Salvia officinalis in a Newborn and a Child: An Alarming Report”. Pediatric Neurology4 (2011): 259-260.
    15. Ghorani-Azam A., et al. “Plant toxins and acute medicinal plant poisoning in children: A systematic literature review”. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 23 (2018).
    16. Yeshi K., et al. “Indigenous Uses, Phytochemical Analysis, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Australian Tropical Medicinal Plants”. Molecules12 (2022): 3849.
    17. Asif M. “A brief study of toxic effects of some medicinal herbs on kidney”. Advanced Biomedical Research1 (2012): 44.
    18. Oladeji OS., et al. “Ethnobotanical Description and Biological Activities of Senna alata”. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2020 (2020): 1-12.
    19. Kumar S and Kumar N. “Neem Oil Poisoning as a Cause of Toxic Encephalopathy in an Infant”. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics9 (2014): 955-965.
    20. Snodgrass WR. “Herbal products: Risks and benefits of use in children”. Current Therapeutic Research10 (2001): 724-737.
    21. Çiftçi S and Samur FG. “Use of Botanical Dietary Supplements in Infants and Children and Their Effects on Health”. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi2 (2017): 30-45.
    22. Tomassoni AJ and Simone K. “Herbal medicines for children: an illusion of safety?” Current Opinion in Pediatrics 2 (2001): 162-169.
    23. Oshikoya KA., et al. “Use of complementary and alternative medicines for children with chronic health conditions in Lagos, Nigeria”. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine1 (2008).
    24. Herbs and Pregnancy”. American Pregnancy Association (2017).
    25. John LJ and Shantakumari N. “Herbal Medicines Use During Pregnancy: A Review from the Middle East”. Oman Medical Journal4 (2015): 229-236.
    26. Adane F., et al. “Herbal medicine use and predictors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1 (2020).
    27. Bernstein N., et al. “Is it safe to consume traditional medicinal plants during pregnancy?” Phytotherapy Research4 (2020): 1908-1924.
    28. Holst L., et al. “The use and the user of herbal remedies during pregnancy”. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, NY)7 (2009): 787-792.
    29. Sarecka-Hujar B and Szulc-Musioł B. “Herbal Medicines-Are They Effective and Safe during Pregnancy?” Pharmaceutics 1 (2012): 171.
    30. Humans IWG on the E of CR to. “IARC Monographs on the evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans”. International Agency for Research on Cancer (1996).
    31. WHO guidelines for assessing quality of herbal medicines with reference to contaminants and residues (2007).
    32. WHO guidelines on good manufacturing practices (GMP) for herbal medicines (2023).
    33. Gikonyo D., et al. “Drug expiry debate: the myth and the reality”. African Health Sciences3 (2019): 2737-2739.
    34. Grace I. “NAFDAC shuts down factory with fake registration certificate”. DAILY TIMES Nigeria (2017).
    35. Orji I. “THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT.

    Citation

    Citation: Olalekan Isaac Olatunde., et al. “Compliance with NAFDAC Herbal Medicine Labeling Regulations: A Case Study of Herbal Remedies in Lagos State".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 8.6 (2024): 29-37.

    Copyright

    Copyright: © 2024 Olalekan Isaac Olatunde., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




Metrics

Acceptance rate30%
Acceptance to publication20-30 days
Impact Factor1.316

Indexed In





News and Events


  • Certification for Review
    Acta Scientific certifies the Editors/reviewers for their review done towards the assigned articles of the respective journals.
  • Submission Timeline for Upcoming Issue
    The last date for submission of articles for regular Issues is July 10, 2024.
  • Publication Certificate
    Authors will be issued a "Publication Certificate" as a mark of appreciation for publishing their work.
  • Best Article of the Issue
    The Editors will elect one Best Article after each issue release. The authors of this article will be provided with a certificate of "Best Article of the Issue"
  • Welcoming Article Submission
    Acta Scientific delightfully welcomes active researchers for submission of articles towards the upcoming issue of respective journals.

Contact US