Global Health and Wealth from Medicinal Plants
The International Phytomedicine and Medical Cannabis Institute (IPI) is a premier global health and development collaboration initiative focused on research and development, commercializing and education on evidence-based phytomedicines. The institute involves faculty from the world's leading institutions, industry partners and other stakeholders collaborating to convert medicinal plants from the farm to the bedside of patients or populations across the world.
Because the initiative involves stakeholders from different institutions, the information on this website does not reflect the views of any one institution. Instead, the IPI provides an open platform where anyone interested in phytomedicines can participate, or submit medicinal plants or products for study or quality assurance and education. Phytomedicines are used by billions across the world. The Institute is the first in the world to focus on integrating phytomedicines for global health and development. Join the growing collaboration movement to leverage phytomedicines for global health and wealth.
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In the News
Recent news
IPI Research Fellowships program launched
January 1 2022
Applications are invited for Global Health Catalyst (GHC) visiting Faculty Fellowships and Research fellowships beginning July 1, 2022. These fellowships are available to support outstanding faculty or Fellows whose teaching and research focus is on global oncology, or phytomedicines.Fellows will be supported to work with faculty at different world-leading institutions. Learn more and apply here
IPI Football Legend Calvin Johnson inducted in the hall of fame
August 8, 2021
Calvin Johnson is a name that resonates with football fans across the world. The former Detroit Lions wide receiver, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 in his first year of eligibility and inducted in 2021. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace the gridiron. Known as “Megatron” for his physical and athletic prowess, Johnson dominated the game with his record-breaking achievements, his impact on the game, and his character on and off the field Learn more
IPI Scientists at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania publish on Phytoradiotherapy
Feb 8, 2021
Phyto, or plant-based, medicines offer a way to add to radiation treatment, while also protecting patients from its toxic side effects, as highlighted in new publication by Scientists. Learn more
IPI Scientists Isolate hemoglobin from a Justicia plane
January 25, 2020
Isolated extracts from Justicia (family Acanthanceae) plant leaves used in Africa as remedy for anemia are found to contain significant amounts of hemoglobin potentially justifying their used for anemia treatment and opening up major new doors for research in developing a blood substitute
IPI to partner with the Jamaican Government for global health and economic development
October 1, 2019
A local phytomedicine and cannabis institute will be established in short order to explore Jamaica’s vast botanical resources and validate the country’s medicinal plants for safety, efficacy, and dosage in clinical use. This will be done in collaboration with the IPI.
IPI Scientists show that flavonoids from cannabis significantly prolong survival in animals with pancreatic cancer
August, 21, 2019
Like most plants, cannabis contains chemical substances called flavonoids. IPI scientists working at Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that a specific cannabis flavonoid, FBL-03G, has major potential in treating pancreatic cancer. I cancer cells. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers on Oncology in July 2019
A revolutionary Institute is launched
June 1, 20219
The IPI is launched during the 2019 Global Health Catalyst summit at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Participants at launch included leading scientists and healthcare professionals, government leaders, and NFL players including legend Calvin Johnson (Megatron)
Can Phytomedicines Make America Healthy Again?
April 12, 2025
On February 13, 2025, the President of the United States issued an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission, a government-wide initiative focused on decreasing chronic diseases. Phytomedicines, derived from plants, hold significant potential in addressing chronic diseases and align well with the MAHA vision. These natural remedies are rich in bioactive compounds like polyphenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties
Antiviral Activity of Jamaican Medicinal Plants and Isolated Bioactive Compounds
April 12, 2025
Plants have had historical significance in medicine since the beginning of civilization. The oldest medical pharmacopeias of the African, Arabian, and Asian countries solely utilize plants and herbs to treat pain, oral diseases, skin diseases, microbial infections, multiple types of cancers, reproductive disorders among a myriad of other ailments. IPI scientists publish a review of some important Jamaican medicinal plants, with particular reference to their antiviral activity.