**4. Efficacy**

In general, HMs are used for cure, mitigation, treatment and prevention of diseases especially those endemic to the local environment of the herbs [14, 16, 20]. Numerous plants species with folk claims of health benefits/cure abound, however only few have scientific proof or corroboration of efficacy. All the activities of HMs benefits and toxicities are linked to the presence of especially the secondary metabolites. The increasing attention on HM has also stimulated increased research in this area resulting in more information as far as efficacy and folk claims are concerned. Many research efforts have corroborated claims resulting in the commercialization of many herbal products and their nomination as leads in the development of pharmaceutical drugs. Nevertheless, many native HMs still remain untested and their benefits unauthenticated. The limited knowledge on these products has made information on the therapeutic benefits and side effects very limited thus heightening the doubt of their health benefits. It is also common knowledge that many people use HM concurrently with pharmaceutical drugs and for many HM information on the likely outcome of this practice is not available because no study has been carried out. Hence, there is a need for information regarding the likely outcomes of the interactions of sundry HM and the commonly used conventional medicines. This information should be generated during the research and development stage of all commercialized HM and enforced by regulation. Such interactions should also be disclosed in package inserts of products.
