Safety of Botanical Ingredients in Personal Healthcare: Focus on Africa

Abstract

Biological diversity, with its key role in ecology, culture, agriculture, nutrition and healthcare, remains the most valuable heritage for humans. In healthcare, there are three main ways in which plants are valued: foods, drugs and cosmetics. Fruits, leaves, roots and sap, with their nutrients and secondary metabolites (e.g. proteins, carbohydrates, minerals), provide human with vitamins, antioxidants and particular useful natural substances. In spite of the fact that the healthcare system in Africa mostly relies on traditional botanical extracts, their in‐depth biochemical characterization and standardization, as well as the anti‐nutritional and poisonous factors of these extracts, are profoundly lacking. Caution is needed when using botanical extracts in personal healthcare. At the same time, more investigations should be undertaken to improve knowledge as well as the safe utilization of those extracts.