Traditional knowledge of Plants used for Cosmetics in Fiji (Cosmetopoeia) and implications from the Nagoya protocol

Presenter

Joape Ginigini BSc MSc S.pac

Brief Introduction of USP/IAS

IAS (Institute of Applied Sciences)

1.  Analytical food, water and microbiology labs (ISO accredited)

2.  Natural Resource Management (Consultancies)

3.  South Pacific Regional Herbarium (Plant library)

4.  Quality Assurance (Document control and standards enforcement)

5.  Center of Drug Discovery and Conservation (CDDC)

Introduction – History of the formalization of traditional medicine in the Pacific

•  In 1997, a meeting of Health Ministers of Pacific Island countries and territories recommended that the use of traditional medicine should be encouraged where appropriate, and steps taken to incorporate its use into national health care.

•  Palau Action Statement on Healthy Islands in 1999 (WHO). •  World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Strategy for Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific (2011-2020) and the Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014-2023). •  National Medicinal Products Policy of Fiji 2013.

Traditional Medicine cont..

•  Traditional medicine is a health practice with

-strong historical and cultural roots -diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs

-incorporates medicines of plant, animal, and/or mineral origin, spiritual

-therapies, manual techniques and exercises that may be applied

singularly or in combination

•  Some traditional systems of medicine are highly developed and well

documented. They are based on systematized knowledge, a comprehensive methodology and rich clinical experience, often accumulated over centuries of practice e.g. Fijian traditional Healers.

WHO, The Regional Strategy for Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific (2011–2020), Manila, 2012. WHO, WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2014-2023. Geneva, 2013.

Cosmetics in the South Pacific •  Limited knowledge in literature on its application or has been absorbed into Traditional medicinal text and not included as a separate category of

traditional therapeutics.

•  Lack of ethnobotanical knowledge on cosmetically used plants and its uses in customs/rituals at the societal level.

•  Decline in use of these plants thus complete loss of knowledge due to use of more easily obtained substitutes (in-store).

•  E.g. of plant uses in Fiji for cosmetics are

-Oils (Coconut, Dilo)

-Perfumery from essential oils (Mokosoi, Buatoka or Jiale, Makita, Uci, Bua)

-Hair Dye (Tavola, Lime)

Fiji aspect of the Cosmetopoeia project

•  Collaboration between the University of the South Pacific’s Institute of Applied Sciences, the University of French Polynesia (UPF) and University of New Caledonia (UNC).

•  Aim – Locate ideal sites, collect literature and perform surveys to gather data on traditional plants used for cosmetics and find:

1. Areas of application for derivatives e.g. Face, skin, hair etc..

2. Preparations e.g. boiled in water or in coconut oil

- Collect according to Nagoya FPIC’s procedures (MOU’s) - Carryout experiments to ascertain and isolate active constituents

Sampling sites

Initial Samples of interest are Santalum yasi (Sandalwood) and Calophyllum inophyllum (Dilo/Tamanu)

Survey The main areas that will be investigated through village or community survey’s are:

Areas of application

Skin

Face

Hair

Nails

Uses

Hygiene

Embellishment

Perfume

Commercially produced

derivatives which are produced

by Pure Fiji

Fijian traditional plants and their uses

•  Totodro (Centella asiatica) The juice from the leaves is also used in treating eye diseases, pimples, rashes and itchy lumps under

the skin (varicose veins).

•  Tavola (Terminalia Catappa)

Concoction from the leaves can be used as

a hair dye.

•  Wa bitubitu (Bambusa multiplex)

Used for scabies

(Cambie and Ash, 1994; Traditional healer per. comm, WHO Series 19)

Fijian traditional plants and their uses

•  Cevuga (Geanthus cevuga)

In Namosi, used for Aroma therapy and as nasal decongestant.

•  Makosoi (Cananga odorata)

Used to treat toothache. Matured flowers have been cooked in oil to add scent for skin application’s.

Fijian Medicinal plants

Cambie and Ash, 1994

CSIRO

Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific

WHO Series 19, 1998

(Cambie and Ash, 1994; Traditional healer per. comm, WHO Series No 19.)

Fijian traditional plants and their uses

•  Vasa Rewa (Cerbera manghas)

Tips of leaves are steeped in coconut oil to treat skin diseases such as scabies and treat broken bones.

•  Yauyau (Asclepiadaceae)

Reputed to be used for hair restoration.

•  Kadrala (Senana alata)

Plant is used for the treatment of skin diseases especially ringworm.

(Cambie and Ash, 1994; Traditional healer per. comm.)

Fijian traditional plants and their uses

•  Sikeci (Aleurites moluccana)

Curnel in the nuts is used on infant skin to remove rashes and skin diseases either with oil or crushed and used

topically.

•  Dilo (Inophyllum calophyllum)

Oil from curnel is used to alleviate bruises and cuts and Leaves can be used as an eye wash.

•  Buliwai (Garcinia pseudoguttifera)

Leaves mixed with coconut oil provides a body oil for suckling and small infants.

(Cambie and Ash, 1994; Traditional healer per. comm.)

The Nagoya Protocol and Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (ABS)

•  Fiji ratified the CBD in 1993 and the Nagoya Protocol in 2012. The ABS policy which is the

Nagoya Protocol’s strategy to manage genetic resource utilization

•  In 2014, USP/IAS secured a Global Environment Facility (GEF) fund for marine bioprospecting work and build on the ABS policy in Fiji as well. The UNDP was as mandated the fund facilitator and Department of Environment (DOE) was the focal point for ABS and the monitoring agency.

DOE (Competent Authority)

•  Inception meeting for GEF USP/IAS Bioprospecting

UNDP facilitate fund’s

https://absch.cbd.int

Nagoya Protocol and ABS in Fiji

Issues or Hurdles •  - Lack of knowledge of government officials to understand legality issues

pertaining to ABS especially patenting rights.

•  - Lack of researchers and resource users to understand traditional protocols and traditions concerning genetic resources e.g. proper protocols and route for acquiring consent to collect samples.

•  - Lack of coordination for government line ministries and departments

(Centralization of competent authority).

•  - Establishment of a sound financial system by fund facilitator to enable expatriation of funds to USP for research utilization.

Progress

•  Documentation through Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between key stakeholders has been finalized and vetted by all to be endorsed unanimously and forwarded for Cabinet approval.

•  Research at IAS on the GEF project has commenced and is now into its

one and half year in operation.

•  UNDP has facilitated acquisition of consumables and some equipment research.

Pending Key: TRUST

•  Formalization of national ABS policy in Fiji.

•  Endorsement of MOA’s from government

The Acknowledgements

Prof Bill Aalbersberg (Consultant IAS/USP)

Assist Prof Edouard Hnawia (UNC) Prof Phila Raharivelomanana (UPF)

Dr Johan Poinapen (Director IAS)

Dr Katy Soapi (Director CDDC/IAS)

Dr Brad Carte (Coordinator GEF project)

The End

Questions ???