Introduction

The habitat diversity in Egypt, as a result of geographical, physiographic, edaphic and climatic conditions, is reflected on the plant life. The remedies used by ancient Egyptian physicians came mostly from nature, more especially medicinal herbs. Most of medicinal modalities originated from ancient Egyptian; one of them was herbal medicine. The famous Ebers Papyrus, written in 1550 B.C., gives 842 prescriptions that are made of 328 different ingredients. Among them are plant species growing in Egypt or other North African countries, e.g. Artemisia absinthium, Acacia spp. and Balanites aegyptiaca. Nowadays; Medicinal plants are considered as an important health and economic component of the flora in developed as well as developing countries. Increasing world-wide interest in herbal remedies, expanding reliance of local health care of traditional remedies and a renewed interest in the development of pharmaceuticals from plant sources have greatly increased trade in medicinal plant materials but it is hindered by lack of technical and economic data. Important populations of medicinal plants are found not only in the regions and ecosystems with high biological diversity, but also in less diverse flora and in floristic communities that are not a common focus of conservation efforts. For instance, in the arid and semi-arid zones of the Middle East, the flora may comprise very important genetic resources of crop and medicinal plants. Conservation of threatened and endangered medicinal plant species in the wild is indispensable. Egyptian Herbal Monograph is crucial because it represents our nation's best chance at conserving our medicinal plants through the wise use of our unique biodiversity resources in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to the conservation of such natural resources, the wild medicinal plants that grow in Egyptian phytogeographical regions can be cultivated in new reclaimed lands with the least harmful ecological impacts.

Since 2020, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) has been developing the Egyptian Herbal Monograph in alignment with internationally recognized formats, including those of the European Union, Canada, and the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2022, the EDA compiled the initial three volumes into a single comprehensive document and expanded it by adding a fourth volume on herbal formulations, issuing the first complete version. This was followed by annual revisions, resulting in the publication of the second and third version in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In 2025, the EDA is set to release the fourth version, which consolidates the previously separate volumes on wild plants into a single unified volume and introduces a newly added volume dedicated to “Aromatherapy”. The inclusion of the Aromatherapy volume in the fourth version of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph was driven by the increasing scientific and regulatory interest in essential oils and their therapeutic applications. Aromatherapy, which utilizes plant-derived essential oils for physical and psychological well-being, has gained substantial global attention due to its integration into both traditional and modern healthcare practices. In 2026, the EDA published the fifth version of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph, representing the most extensive update since its establishment. This edition incorporated 73 newly developed monographs, including 72 traditional herbal formulations that have been used in Egypt for more than 15 years, reflecting the EDA's continued commitment to preserving and promoting Egypt's traditional medicinal heritage. In addition, all existing monographs were comprehensively revised to reflect the latest scientific evidence, and regulatory updates. These enhancements further strengthened the monograph as a dynamic national reference, supporting evidence-based evaluation, registration, quality assurance, and lifecycle management of herbal medicinal products in Egypt.

The Egyptian Herbal Monograph serves as an authoritative reference for the scientific dossiers required in the registration of herbal medicinal products.

Purpose and content of the monograph

The purpose of the monograph is to:

·         Provides updated scientific information on the safety, efficacy and quality of the Egyptian medicinal plants.

·         Facilitates their appropriate use.

·         Facilitates information exchange and registration procedures.

 This monograph was put together by a working group comprised of members of the Specialized Scientific Committee of Herbal Medicines and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). It is a compilation of the medicinal plants used in Egypt that offers comprehensive data including botanical, chemical and pharmacological information that is properly organized.

The Egyptian Monograph aims to encourage the appropriate use of herbal remedies with the highest level of safety and efficacy based on previous and current research. Each monograph follows a standard format with information and followed by a reference list. Each monograph contains all the available information and scientific results on the selected species include the following: names, synonyms, parts used for medicinal purposes, major chemical constituents, medicinal uses (indications), herbal preparations correlated to the medicinal use, posology and method of administration correlated to medicinal use, contraindications, special warnings and precautions for use, interactions with other medicinal products, other forms of interaction, effects on fertility, pregnancy, lactation, ability to drive, using machines, undesirable effects, overdose, relevant biological activities and if any additional information. This monograph is expected to go through another revision soon in response to advances in the field of herbal medicine research.