Challenges and opportunities in African-led bioprospecting: towards a sustainable natural products pipeline

Abstract

Africa possesses exceptional botanical diversity and longstanding ethnomedical traditions, yet contributes minimally to global natural products research and development. This narrative review synthesises published literature, policy sources, and case studies on African-led bioprospecting, with attention to key institutions, regional initiatives, and projects. Persistent challenges include inadequate research infrastructure, limited investment in pharmacognosy and drug development, weak regulatory implementation, and fragmented traditional knowledge systems. Case studies from Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, and West Africa illustrate both the promise and the constraints of translating indigenous knowledge into validated therapeutic agents. The review also examines enabling opportunities, including regional regulatory coordination, open science platforms, digital compound libraries, and fair benefit-sharing models. For Africa to move from a source of raw materials to an innovator in drug discovery, coordinated investment in institutional capacity, ethical frameworks, and research infrastructure is required. A sustainable bioprospecting framework that balances validation, equitable access, and conservation priorities is essential.