Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3 (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World (3))

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have accompanied mankind from its very early beginnings. Their utilization has co-evolved with homo sapiens itself bringing about a profound increase in our scientific knowledge of these species enabling them to be used in many facets of our life (e.g. pharmaceutical products, feed- and food additives, cosmetics, etc.). Remarkably, despite the new renaissance of MAPs usage, ca. 80 % of the world’s population is relying on natural substances of plant origin, with most of these botanicals sourced from the wild state. This first volume and ultimately the series, provides readers with a wealth of information on medicinal and aromatic plants. Foreword Mohamed Neffati Akos Mathe and Hanen Najjaa 1. Introduction to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Africa Akos Mathe, Mohamed Neffati and Hanen Najjaa 2. A review of African medicinal and aromatic plants B.E. Van Wyk 3. Traditional use of medicinal and aromatic plants in Africa Olufunke O. Fajinmi, Olaoluwa O. Olarewaju and J. Van Staden 4. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of World - Africa Ossy MJ Kasilo, Mawuli Kofi-Tsekpo and Francis Gachathi 5. Some Important Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Morocco Saadia Zrira 6. Prunus africana (the African cherry) Melissa Rousseau, Claire Delvaux, Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa, Lawrence Mbwambo, Marie Caroline Momo Solefack, Harisoa Bako Ravaomanalina, Coert Geldenhuys, Ntamwira Niranda Seintsheng and Hans Beeckman 7. Bird plum Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl Ahmad Cheikhyoussef and Alfred Maroyi 8. Aromatic and Medicinal plants of Tunisian Arid and Desert Zone used in Traditional Medicine, for Drug Discovery and Biotechnological Applications Hanen Najjaa, Abdelkarim Ben Arfa, Akos Mathe and Mohamed Neffati 9. Promising indigenous and endemic medicinal plants from Mauritius Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim and Muhammad Zakariyyah Aumeeruddy 10. Some Wild Herbaceous Plants of Nigeria: Biological, Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Review Sunday E. Atawodi, Mubarak L. Liman, Olufunsho D. Olowoniyi and Godwin O. Adejo 11. Some Wild growing Medicinal Trees of Nigeria: Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Therapeutical Potentials Sunday E. Atawodi, Olufunsho D. Olowoniyi, Godwin O. Adejo and Mubarak L. Liman 12. Biological, Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Review of Some Cultivated Medicinal Plants of Nigeria Sunday E. Atawodi, Olufunsho D. Olowoniyi, Godwin O. Adejo and Mubarak L. Liman 13. The halophytic genus Zygophyllum and Nitraria from North Africa: A phytochemical and pharmacological overview Soumaya Bourgou, Wided Megdiche and Riadh Ksouri 14. In Vivo Anticandida Activity Of Three Traditionaly Used Medicinal Plants In East Africa D.P. Kisangau, K. M. Hosea, H.V. M. Lyaruu, C. C. Josep, Z.H. Mbwambo, P.J. Masimba 15. Wild edible Allium from Arid zones of Tunisia: New perspectives of natural compounds Najjaa Hanen, Abelkarim Ben Arfa and Mohamed Neffati 16. Utilization of Pteridophytes as Herbal Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa Alfred Maroyi Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have accompanied mankind from its very early beginnings. Their utilization has co-evolved with homo sapiens itself. Evolution has brought about a profound increase in our scientific knowledge about these species, so that, to date, they find utilization in many facets of our life (eg. pharmaceutical products, feed- and food additives, cosmetics, etc.). Remarkably today, despite the new renaissance of MAPs usage, ca. 80 % of the world's population relies upon natural substances of plant origin, with most of these botanicals sourced from the wild state. This huge increase in demand has put an unparalleled large burden on the natural resources of MAPs endangering their existence. The first volume of the series Medicinal Plants of the World, will briefly summarize the most essential current scientific knowledge about the sustainable sourcing of botanicals from both wild-crafting and cultivation. In these 21 chapters, eminent researchers of the topic will summarize latest scientific knowledge from the versatile and most varied scientific disciplines involved: botany, phytochemistry, plant breeding, biotechnology, agrotechnology, mechanization and economics. Individual chapters will deal with the essentials of phytomedical utilization, as well as utilization in the form of animal feed-additives. The volume concludes with a chapter on the poisonous MAPs in our homes, offices and modern everyday environments. The aim of this volume is to offer basic scientific information on MAPs. It will also enable readers of subsequent volumes to digest and interpret the other volumes in the series, that will deal with important and characteristic wild-crafted and cultivated MAPs of the different geographic and climatic regions of the world. Thus, the series is meant to be a storehouse of up-to-date information on our global wealth of medicinal and aromatic plants on the basis of which MAPs will be collected, cultivated, traded and utilized in a sustainable way This volume in the series is devoted to Africa, a continent that possesses a vast treasure of medicinal plants and has produced some exclusive materials for the world market. This book is expected to strengthen the medicinal plant sector in African countries by providing comprehensive information on medicinal and aromatic plants available to policy-makers and entrepreneurs to frame effective policies and create an environment conducive to the growth of the plant-based medicine industry, bringing economic benefit to African nations from the rising world demand for medicinal plants. It will help health organizations to improve the health of their people by using their own resources and a less expensive system of medicine, which is accepted by African society. It could also lead scientific communities to increase R & D activities in the field This volume in the series is devoted to Africa, a continent that possesses a vast treasure of medicinal plants and has produced some exclusive materials for the world market. This volume is expected to strengthen the medicinal plant sector in African countries by making comprehensive information on medicinal and aromatic plants available to policy-makers and entrepreneurs. It can be used to frame effective policies and create an environment conducive to the growth of the plant-based medicine industry, bringing economic benefit to African nations. It will help health organizations to improve the health of their people by using their own resources and a less expensive system of medicine, which is accepted by African society. It could also lead scientific communities to increase R&D activities in the field.