THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE AND TRADITIONAL VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IN AFRICA

Professeur Emmanuel Bassene Session 1: Current situation and specificity of veterinary products distribution and use in Africa

OIE Conference on Veterinary Medicinal Products in Africa, Dakar, 25-27 March 2008 – E. Bassene

The impact of alternative and traditional veterinary medicinal products in Africa E. Bassene

Professeur à la Faculté de Médecine Pharmacie et Odontostomatologie Université Cheikh Anta Diop BP 5281 Dakar Fann Sénégal [email protected]

Summary At the same time as looking after themselves, humans have always endeavoured to keep their domestic animals in good health, especially those that provide them with a substantial source of income. Like human traditional medicine, veterinary traditional medicine has played an important role in the past and continues to do so today, for the benefit of animal production. Indeed, despite technological advances, traditional formulations based on plants or on animal or mineral products are still being used by livestock farmers, notably in Africa where traditional farming methods remain the most widely practised. A wide range of pathologies are covered. This alternative medicine, since it makes use of locally available natural resources, deserves to be developed in order to give livestock better access to healthcare and to achieve a sustainable improvement in animal health. Moreover, a detailed study of traditional formulations could lead to the discovery of new medicines.

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OIE Conference on Veterinary Medicinal Products in Africa, Dakar, 25-27 March 2008 – E. Bassene

I.

Introduction

Veterinary medicine is a science, an art and a technique, the purpose of which is to study an animal’s body and its functions, as well as preserving and improving its health. There are two different therapeutic approaches, which can be seen as alternatives and rivals, or as complementary to one another: •

Conventional medicine, based on products manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, which are either synthetic or natural in origin.

•

Alternative medicine, which refers to a wide range of treatment methods based on empirical traditions using products made in Africa by peasants or livestock farmers. It is regarded as less radical, but effective, which is what makes it alternative.

Chromotherapy, acupressure, curative magnetism, bone setting, homeopathy, osteopathy and phytotherapy are some of the practices that fall into the category of alternative medicine. However, in this paper we focus on phytotherapy, which African farmers practice using plants that they find alongside the paths followed by their herds. The development of modern medicinal products requires experimentation on animals (animal model). A large number of experiments on African plant remedies have been carried out on animals or animal organs. Many plant extracts can be developed for veterinary medicines.

II. Traditional veterinary practice Extensive livestock production is the most widely practiced method in Africa. In addition to the forage plants they consume, animals can graze on a wide variety of plant species that contribute to their nutritional balance and keep them in good health (vitamins, trace elements, etc.). Surveys conducted amongst livestock producers and peasants reveal a wide range of ailments covered by a great variety of species (see table 1).

III. Importance of imported veterinary products in Senegal Conventional veterinary medicine is growing rapidly in Senegal. In 2006, authorised imports of veterinary medicinal products, excluding vaccines, totalled FCFA 1,376,419,329 compared with FCFA 1,043,980,059 in 2004 (see table 2). Since no survey has been conducted, there are no figures available for Senegal concerning traditional medicine and alternative veterinary medicine in general. Nevertheless, it is certainly as important in terms of value as official medicine, given the size of Senegal’s livestock population (see table 3).

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OIE Conference on Veterinary Medicinal Products in Africa, Dakar, 25-27 March 2008 – E. Bassene

IV. Prospects for application of the results of research on African plants Research into African plants has identified many practices that could be used for the benefit of veterinary medicine. This would involve the supply of remedies made from plants that grow in Africa. Positive results have been obtained from tests on several pharmacological classes, some of which we present as examples. 1.

Anti-inflammatory agents

Many species have demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect and for some of them the mechanism of action has been identified (see table 2). 2.

Internal parasitic agents Cassia italica Aphania senegalensis Nauclea latifolia Cassia sieberiana

3.

Antispasmodic agents Cassia occidentalis Manihot esculenta Maytenus senegalensis Acacia nilotica Cassia sieberiana Mitragyna inermis

4.

Hepatoprotector agents Carica papaya Tinospora bakis Cocculus pendulus

5.

Antipyretic agents Tinospora bakis Khaya senegalensis Securidaca longepedunculata

V.

Conclusion

Apart from fast-spreading epidemics, we recommend the use of alternative medicines to make better use of our own resources and to promote research into new veterinary medicinal products.

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OIE Conference on Veterinary Medicinal Products in Africa, Dakar, 25-27 March 2008 – E. Bassene

References Kasonia K., Ansey M., Métissages en santé animale de Madagascar à Haïti. Presses Uni. Namur, 1994, 396 pp. Republic of Senegal, Ministry of Animal Resources, Directorate of Livestock Production. Annual reports 2004 and 2006.

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OIE Conference on Veterinary Medicinal Products in Africa, Dakar, 25-27 March 2008 – E. Bassene

Appendices Table 1: some of the plants used in traditional veterinary medicine Indications Colic Constipation Mange Impetigo Lactation Mastitis Snake bite Internal parasites

Pasteurellosis

Cough Trypanosomosis

Species Leptadenia hastata Khaya senegalensis Parkinsonia aculeata Cissus quadrangularis Guiera senegalensis Adansonia digitata Grevia bicolor Cissus quadrangularis Jatropa curcas Neorautanenia mitis Cissus quadrangularis Euphorbia balsamifera Euphorbia hirta Cassia tora Rubus apetalus Pteridium aquilinum Anogeissus leiocarpus Combretum ghasalense Xymenia americana Cordyla pinnata Ceiba pentandra Cordyla pinnata Anogeissus leiocarpus Cadaba farinosa Boscia angustifolia Acacia nilotica Combretum glutinosum Guiera senegalensis Mentha aquatica Polyscias fulva Khaya senegalensis Balanites aegyptiaca

Organs Roots Bark Leaves Plant Leaves Leaves Bark Plant Seeds Tuber Plant Leafy stems Plant Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves Bark of trunk Bark Leaves, bark of stems Bark of stems Bois Leafy stems Pods Leaves* Leaves* Plant Bark Bark Roots

Country Senegal ″ ″ ″ Mauritania Mauritania ″ Senegal ″ Rwanda Senegal ″ Senegal DRC DRC Burkina Faso Senegal Mauritania ″ ″ Burkina Faso Senegal ″ ″ DRC ″ Senegal ″

* Fumigation Table 2: Therapeutic families imported into Senegal (Source: Directorate of Livestock Production, annual report 2004) Therapeutic family Antibiotics for ruminants Anti-parasitic agents for ruminants Premix, vitamins and trace elements Anti-inflammatory agents Vaccines Anti-infectious agents for poultry Anti-parasitic agents for poultry Vaccines for poultry Anti-parasitic agents for dogs, cats Equipment Totals

Total 2004 F CFA 303,289,005 215,183,796 432,093,511 27,997,346 21,377189 45,743,202,25 38,302,677 70,170,248 7,003,869,15 9,944,786 1,065,365,248

Total 2003 F CFA 133,845,523 429,487,578 222,665,240 138,273,867 30,260,827 77,565,272 65,858,318 98,897,763 7,178,235 8,486,910.20 1,212,519,538

Total 2002 F CFA 197,120,8115 395,534,1305 352,778,721 270,877,959 37,040,045 59,093,708 25,630,590 109,552,089 21,024,153 13,946,126 1,482,598,336

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OIE Conference on Veterinary Medicinal Products in Africa, Dakar, 25-27 March 2008 – E. Bassene

Table 3: Estimate of livestock populations in Senegal in 2006 (Source: Directorate of Livestock Production, 2006 report) CATEGORY Cattle Sheep Goats Pigs Equids Donkeys Camelids Backyard poultry Industrial poultry

NUMBER OF HEAD 3 136 500 4 996 100 4 263 350 317 575 517 614 415 220 4 105 22 077 800 7 533 300

Table 4: Some of the plants with an anti-inflammatory effect and mechanisms of action

Species Aloe vera Alstonia boonei Anacardium occidentale Azadirachta indica Bryophyllum pinnatum Calotropis procera Euphorbia hirta Ficus racemosa Lantana trifolia Lavandula angustifolia Lawsonia inermis Mangifera indica Sclerocaria birrea Securidaca longepedunculata Sida cordifolia Trichilia emetica Boscia senegalensis Annona reticulata

1 + + + + + + + + + + +

2

3

4 + + +

+

+

+

+ + +

1: Cyclooxygenase. 2: Lipooxygenase. 3: Phospholipase A2. 4: Leucocyte and Fibroblast action.

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