An estimated 70% of all South Africans use traditional medicines derived from plant species indigenous to the region. In order to formalize the position of these medicines within the state health care system, a necessary first step is the establishment of standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. With this objective in mind, pharmaceutical monographs for 60 plant species used as traditional medicines in South Africa were drawn up according to WHO guidelines. The results of some of this work are reported here, focusing in particular on 26 species belonging to Asteraceae, Geraniaceae, and Lamiaceae, families well represented in indigenous traditional medical practice. Quality standards for the identification of these species, established using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and traditional microscopy, are given. The results of investigations, using the disk assay method, of their efficacy as antimicrobial agents are reported. Secondary chemical profiles, drawn up using standard techniques in pharmacognosy, are shown and discussed with reference to the known bioactivity of each chemical class.

The effects of cigarette smoking on oral candidal carriage and candidosis have been well documented but few similar studies on cannabis smoking have appeared, therefore it was felt that such a study needed to be undertaken. In this investigation, the effect of cannabis smoking combined with methaqualone and tobacco on candidal prevalence, density and candidosis was examined in 55 users. Age and sex matched tobacco-smoking (n = 58) and non-smoking controls (n = 50) were examined similarly. The imprint culture technique was used for harvesting Candida. Results showed an increased prevalence and density of C. albicans in cannabis users while there was no apparent difference in the prevalence of candidiasis. However, two subjects presented with oral multifocal candidiasis.