Yes, cannabis is a gateway drug….it’s opened the gate to the new plant-based therapies revolution that is going to be the next big thing for Big Pharma and the cosmetics industry.

Cannabis is only one of the plants whose medical qualities are becoming recognized by mainstream medicine - gingko, ginseng, ginger, turmeric, and chamomile are others that are being incorporated into Big Pharma’s new product development strategies. These are driven by an increasing consumer desire for a connection with nature.

Africa a potential big player in the plant medicine market

Africa is well poised to take advantage of this growing new sector beyond cannabis – aloe vera, rooibos, scleletum, artemisia, moringa and baobab are well-known locally for their health associations, but there will increasingly be global export opportunities for African plant remedies as consumer patterns adapt to growing environmental awareness.

The scope of the global ‘herbal/plant medicine’ market size is worth US$253 billion and is attracting the interest of the giant pharmaceutical companies. This in turn opens up new opportunities for African countries and other developing nations to exploit their natural resources.

The depth and scope of the global herbal/plant medicine market has been revealed by a major new research report by Global Market Vision, the Global ‘Herbal/Plant Medicine Report 2025. It estimates the 2024 market value of this sector at US$253,3 and projects compound growth of 8,75% p.a. to reach US$441.59 billion by 2032.  German companies predominate the giants already playing in this sector: Bayer AG, Arkopharma, BEOVITA, Schaper & Brümmer, ZeinPharma Germany GmbH and Pharma GmbH.

 To find out more about Global Market Vision, the Global ‘Herbal/Plant Medicine Report 2025 and to order a copy, click here

Medicinal plant specialists, Associate Professor Adeyemi Aremu and Professor Nox Makunga, say that there are up to 45 000 plant species in Africa, which makes up about 25% of the world’s genetic resources. There are about 5 000  of these medicines used by traditional healers.

“The market for Herbal/Plant Medicine will grow because consumers want beauty products and toiletries without dangerous chemicals” says Gauri Daubi, Business Development Executive for Global Market Vision, the research and consultancy company that published the report.

He says African companies involved in developing plant-based treatments and remedies should closely follow international developments, particularly in the cosmetics market.

“Developing countries that export natural ingredients to developed nations will find solid opportunities in selling their products to the cosmetics market. Demand for natural ingredients in toiletries and cosmetics continues to increase as this trend is projected to persist into the next years”.

Customers increasingly want products from nature

“People use many different natural products when acquiring skincare products. You can find vegetable oils for herbal products that both add quality value and have positive effects on skin and body health. People use different plant extracts due to their useful effects. Most people use important oils for their scents in products.

“These factors will spark market progress because a growing segment of cosmetics customers want natural products because they understand better what natural cosmetics are and cosmetics makers add natural herbal ingredients to reduce their synthetic-based products. “

He says the Global Vision report is an essential tool to understanding this multifaceted market, which is primarily driven by consumer health and wellness demands, particularly in coping with stress.

“A consumer's present health demands change in step with modified everyday activities. People who depend on processed food suffer health issues that include stress, obesity and major diseases like heart problems. Customers select herbal remedies first because they want better healthcare results.”

The Global Vision report analyses the background, players, competitive landscape, drivers and inhibitors and trends and products and product types that make up this new sector.  

One of the challenges businesses will have to navigate is the lack of any kind of internationally recognized regulatory system, as each nation follows its own rules when bringing herbal drug products across borders

”The multiple market access problems make it difficult for companies that make and sell herbal products. They need to keep with multiple national laws plus accept specific product standards during work. The same companies supplying pharmaceutical drugs need to prepare unique product approvals for submission to each country's regulatory body. Experts from science and regulator teams need to share worldwide information to set standards that control both traditional and herbal medical treatments. This challenge poses a big barrier to industry growth worldwide.”

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