A single scientific study can transform a common local plant into an international, high-value commodity, according to a leading expert on plant medicine, who warns that Africa’s vast herbal potential remains locked in the ground without the key of rigorous research.
Dr. Appiah Ankomah Alfred, former Deputy Director of Ghana’s Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), has issued a compelling argument: the value of medicinal plants is not discovered in the forest, but in the laboratory and the research paper.
In a powerful testament to the power of data, Dr. Alfred pointed to the dramatic price surges of two specific Ghanaian plants—Cryptolepis and Croton membranaceus—directly resulting from the publication of the CPMR’s research findings.
“It’s all about research and then the information being available,” Dr. Alfred stated. “This information should be known by the public before the product will gain value.”
The Cocoa Blueprint: From Bean to Life-Saver
Dr. Alfred draws a parallel with one of Ghana’s most famous exports: cocoa. He noted that the Cocoa Research Institute regularly publishes findings, such as cocoa’s benefits for cardiovascular health and its potential role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These things are adding value to cocoa globally,” he explained. “The same thing applies to medicinal plants. When we do the research and then publish the data, it adds value to the medicinal plant or to the product of the plant.”
Case Study: How Data Drove Demand
The CPMR’s work provides a clear blueprint. Initial intensive research on Cryptolepis (commonly known as Ghana Quinine), a plant used for malaria, generated compelling data that propelled it to become “the most expensive medicinal plant in Ghana” at the time.
The cycle repeated itself with Croton membranaceus (often called Proton). As the Centre published its research, the plant’s value skyrocketed, surpassing even Cryptolepis.
“Currently speaking, Croton membranaceus is the most expensive medicinal plant,” Dr. Alfred revealed, underscoring a direct correlation between published science and market price.
A Call to Action: Investing in Knowledge
The implication is a stark call to action for governments, investors, and the scientific community. Dr. Alfred’s account suggests that Ghana and the wider African continent are sitting on a potential goldmine of medicinal plants, but a “data drought” prevents them from reaching their full economic and global health potential.
Without validated scientific information on efficacy and safety, these plants remain localized remedies. With it, they can become globally recognized, sought-after commodities, creating new revenue streams and positioning African nations as leaders in the burgeoning field of evidence-based plant medicine.
The message is clear: the path to valuing natural resources is paved with peer-reviewed papers. For medicinal plants, research isn’t just academic—it’s the most valuable ingredient of all.
