Egyptian Drug Authority Launches the Fifth Edition of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph, Marking the Largest Update Since the Project’s Inception

73 New Monographs Added, Including 72 on Traditional Herbal Formulations Used in Egypt for More Than 15 Years

EDA: New Edition Facilitates the Registration of Herbal Medicinal Products and Enhances Their Quality, Safety, and Efficacy

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The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) has announced the launch of the fifth edition of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph for 2026, marking the largest update to the project since its inception. The new edition includes 73 newly added monographs, 72 of which cover traditional herbal formulations that have been used in Egypt for more than 15 years, bringing the total number of monographs in the Egyptian Herbal Monograph to 179.

The new edition reflects the EDA’s commitment to developing national scientific and regulatory references in the field of medicinal plants and herbal medicinal products, and to documenting the traditional uses of plants and herbal substances according to a scientific methodology. This supports the rational use of traditional medicine, preserves Egypt’s herbal heritage, and promotes its utilization within a framework of quality, safety, and efficacy.

The fifth edition comprises 179 monographs across four volumes. The first volume contains 26 monographs on wild medicinal plants in Egypt; the second includes 69 monographs on medicinal plants used in Egypt; the third comprises 82 monographs on herbal formulations used in Egypt; while the fourth contains two monographs on essential oils used for medicinal purposes.

The Egyptian Herbal Monograph serves as a national scientific reference that contributes to facilitating the registration of herbal medicinal products, reducing the effort required to prepare scientific dossiers, and supporting the timely completion of registration procedures. It also strengthens the scientific and regulatory foundations governing the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicinal products.

The current edition builds on a scientific and regulatory journey that began in 2020, with the establishment of a specialized committee to develop monographs on wild medicinal plants in Egypt. The committee brought together a group of EDA specialists and members of the Specialized Scientific Committee for Herbal Medicines, including experienced academics in the field.

Since its inception, the project has undergone continuous development. The first volume of the Monograph of Wild Medicinal Plants in Egypt was launched in November 2020, followed by the release of the second and third volumes in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The first complete edition of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph was then launched in 2022, followed by the second edition in 2023, the third in 2024, and the fourth in 2025.

The fifth edition reflects the significant progress achieved by the project, particularly through the addition of 73 new monographs, expanding the scope of the national scientific reference to cover a broader range of medicinal plants and traditional herbal formulations used in Egypt, while documenting them in accordance with modern scientific and regulatory principles.

The EDA emphasizes that the regular updating of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph forms part of its efforts to establish an integrated national scientific database covering medicinal plants, essential oils, and traditional herbal formulations used in Egypt. This supports the national pharmaceutical industry, enhances the competitiveness of Egyptian herbal medicinal products, and creates opportunities for their further development and utilization in accordance with the latest scientific and regulatory standards.

With the launch of the fifth edition, the EDA continues to develop a comprehensive national reference for traditional medicine and herbal medicinal products, combining the documentation of Egypt’s herbal heritage with the application of the latest scientific and regulatory principles. This supports the development of the national industry, enhances the quality and safety of herbal medicinal products, and paves the way for greater utilization of Egyptian medicinal plants and strengthening their competitiveness in regional and international markets.

The electronic version of the fifth edition of the Egyptian Herbal Monograph for 2026 is scheduled to be made available through the official EDA website, enabling relevant entities, companies, specialists, and researchers in the field of herbal medicinal products to benefit from the reference.