Abstract
A burgeoning population of aging adults is associated with the search for substances with medicinal activity, and bioactive plants have always been alluring. The North American continent consists of a large bioregion of prairie grasslands rich in biodiversity and natural botanicals appreciated by indigenous and nonindigenous peoples. This chapter reviews the medicinal/cultural uses and chemical properties of selected prairie plants: Hierochloe odorata , Zizania spp. , Glycyrrhiza lepidota , Astragalus crassicarpus , Helianthus tuberosus , Artemisia ludoviciana , Artemisia scoparia , Asclepias syriaca , Asclepias incarnata , Amelanchier alnifolia , Monarda fistulosa , and Mentha arvensis . Their common names in English, French, and indigenous languages are also given. In addition to their nutritive value, a range of bioactivities have been found in these native plants including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral. Further study of these plants/compounds is warranted and can lead to increased value of complementary and alternative medicines/functional foods, appreciation of ethnobotany, and preservation of prairie grasslands.
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