NAPRALERT
NAPRALERT, an acronym for NAtural PRoducts ALERT, is a relational database of world literature
on the chemical constituents and pharmacology of plant, microbial and animal (primarily marine)
extracts. In addition, NAPRALERT contains data on the chemistry and pharmacology (including
human studies) of secondary metabolites of known structure, derived from natural sources. It now
contains information extracted from over 115,000 scientific articles and books dating from 1650 to the
present.
Most users of NAPRALERT have been interested in:
TRAMED
The Traditional Medicines Programme is a
multidisciplinary, inter-institutional programme being conducted in South Africa. At
its core is a database intended to encourage scientists to conduct research on traditional medicines by
giving them access to up-to-date information about the known chemistry, pharmacology and
toxicology of medicinal plants. The database also provides traditional healers access to the results of
research on their materials. The database will facilitate new activities involving natural products, but
more importantly it will serve as a resource for the creation of a national register ('formulary') of safe
and effective basic herbal medicines. This list will bear the seal of approval of the Medicines Control
Council of South Africa. The 'formulary' will pave the way for the development of a significant rural
industry to produce herbal medicines, which will not only provide effective, inexpensive natural
medicines, but also contribute to ecologically sustainable rural development.
Responsible industrial production of these medicines must include equitable partnerships with
traditional healers and communities. Wherever possible, NGOs and small-scale farmers will be
included in the cultivation and local pre-processing of the plant material. Some of the medical plants
are eminently suitable for cultivation in agriculturally marginal areas. A useful example is Devil's
Claw (Harpagophytum procumbnes), which grows naturally in Kalahari Sands, has
scientifically documented anti-inflammatory properties, and is a popular herbal remedy for arthritis in
Germany. This plant was virtually eradicated in the wild by over-harvesting, but is now being grown
commercially by a company in Namibia, and by an NGO in Botswana.
For more information:
Dr Nigel Gericke, Director, Information TRAMED, Department of Pharmacology, Medical School,
University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa. Tel: +27-21-4066355. Fax: +27-21-
4486181.