Ethnobotanical review of Ethiopian spices and condiments: traditional uses, cultural significance, and applications

Ten plant species, Cuminum cyminum seed, Foeniculum vulgare seed, Trachyspermum ammi seed, Nigella sativa seed, Coriandrum sativum seed, Aframomum corrorima fruit, Zingiber officinale rhizome, Cinnamomum aromaticum bark, Rosemary officinalis leaf and stem, and Thymus schimperi leaf, which are traditionally used as spices in Ethiopia were hydrodistilled to isolate their volatile constituents in order to identify their character-impact odorants. These spices comprise of 4%, 5.5%, 4%, 0.8%, 0.3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 1.2% and 0.7% essential oil by mass. The GC-MS analysis of these essential oils obtained from these ten species led to the identification of 64 compounds. Twenty-three formulations were developed, of which 16 were from powdered spices to flavor bread (food) while the remaining seven were obtained from essential oil for flavoring bread and local areki (beverage). The flavor characteristics of these formulated samples were investigated by using GC-MSD and descriptive sensory analysis techniques. The key aroma impact compounds in each flavor were detected and the ultimate customer sensory taste of the products was determined for all samples. Results from the organoleptic evaluations of bread samples showed that the flavors prepared by adding essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum, Aframomum corrorima, Nigella sativa, and Trachyspermum ammi after fermentation had highest overall acceptability. Furthermore, local areki comprising of formulas developed from oil samples obtained from Foeniculum vulgare and Coriandrum sativum had better overall acceptability.

The Bignoniaceae family encompasses numerous species of ecological, medicinal, and cultural significance, yet its ethnobotanical value remains underexplored in many regions of Thailand. This study investigates the diversity, phenology, cultural relevance, and traditional uses of Bignoniaceae species in Maha Sarakham Province, Northeastern Thailand. Through semi-structured interviews with 260 local informants across 13 districts—alongside field observations and herbarium voucher collections—we documented 27 species across 21 genera. These integrated methods enabled the identification of key culturally significant species and provided insights into their traditional uses. Phenological data revealed clear seasonal patterns in flowering and fruiting, aligned with the regional climatic cycle. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices—including Species Use Value (SUV), Genera Use Value (GUV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Cultural Importance Index (CI), and Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI)—were employed to evaluate species significance. Results indicate that species such as Dolichandrone serrulata, D. spathacea, and Oroxylum indicum hold high cultural and practical value, particularly in traditional medicine, spiritual practices, and local landscaping. These findings underscore the critical role of Bignoniaceae in sustaining biocultural diversity and emphasize the urgency of preserving traditional botanical knowledge amid environmental and socio-economic change. Moreover, the insights contribute to broader efforts in cultural heritage preservation and biodiversity conservation across tropical and subtropical regions.

BackgroundKorarima (Aframomum corrorima) is a perennial and aromatic herb native and widely distributed in southwestern Ethiopia. It is known for its fine flavor as a spice in various Ethiopian traditional dishes. Few molecular studies have been performed on this species so far. In the present paper, the ISSR technique was employed to study the genetic diversity in populations of cultivated A. corrorima.ResultsSeven ISSR primers produced a total of 86 clearly scorable DNA bands. High levels of genetic diversity were detected in cultivated A. corrorima (percentage of polymorphic bands = 97.67%, gene diversity = 0.35, Shannon’s information index = 0.52). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 27.47% of the variation is attributed to the variation among populations and 72.53% to the variation within populations. The Fst (0.28) value showed a significant (p < 0.0001) genetic differentiation among populations. This was supported by the high coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst = 0.32) and low estimated gene flow (Nm = 1.08). A neighbor-joining dendrogram showed that the thirteen cultivated populations were separated into three clusters, which was in good accordance with the results provided by the two dimensional and three dimensional coordinate analyses. However, the clusters did not reveal clear pattern of populations clustering according to their geographic origin. This could be due to human mediated transfer of genetic material among different localities.ConclusionThe genetic diversity in populations of A. corrorima from the southwestern part of Ethiopia was relatively high. This finding should be taken into account when conservation actions, management policies for the species and site identification for in situ and ex situ conservation strategies are developed. Mizan Teferi II population displayed the highest genetic diversity; this population should be considered as the key site in designing conservation strategies for this crop. In addition, Jimma I and Jimma II populations with lowest genetic diversity, should also be considered due to the putative risk of extinction that they face because of the low genetic diversity.

Plant-based insecticides may serve as suitable alternative as biocontrol techniques in the future. The present study has explored the effect of ether extracts of Emblica officinalis, Ricinus communis, Acacia coucinna, Cinnamomum tejpata, Piper nigrum, Coriandrum sativum, Olea vera, Linum usitatissimum, Syzygium aromaticum and Nigella sativa against larvae of Aedes albopictus under laboratory conditions. Larvae were exposed to a range of concentrations of each extract. The larval mortality was assessed after 24 and 48 hours exposure and LC50s were calculated for each time interval. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal activity. The lowest LC50 was found in Coriandrum sativum, Nigella sativa and Syzygium aromaticum at a dose of 363.7 ppm, 377.5 ppm and 403.4 ppm, respectively, after 24 h exposure while the amount of extracts used reduced to 263.9 ppm, 300.8 ppm and 342.2 ppm, respectively, after 48 h. In terms of lethal time response again Coriandrum sativum, Nigella sativa and Syzygium aromaticum showed less time to produce 50 % mortality (14.28, 17.77 and 17.99 h). These plants extracts are therefore promising as alternative to synthetic insecticides in mosquito control programmes. Thus providing the basis to use the plant extracts against Aedes albopictus.

This research aims to investigate the inclusion of approaches and ideas of heritage materializa- tion and modernity through analysis and case studies of both the period of modernity and the preservation of cultural heritage. The relationship we find between the materialization of cultural heritage and modernity is a dynamic interaction between the preservation of cultural heritage and the rapid transformations that occur with modern architecture. Materialization is both physical for cultural identification and historical heritage that is related to concrete places and traditions of a certain space or a physical place. The preservation of objects of important cultural value, such as old buildings, monuments, are part of the process of materializing the value of heritage. The methodology used shows how the modern method tries to protect the materialization of the heritage from the influences of the modern period such as urban expansions, mass productions by making an adaptation of the traditional methods to the contemporary ones. The methodology will be developed by comparing the materialization and modernity without affecting its history, but preserving it. The aim of this study helps us to understand how modern conservation navigates practical chal- lenges, in innovative technologies, strongly preserving materialized heritage in the face of new modern forces. By promoting a dialogue that maintains the balance between the materialization of heritage and modernity, in this way a sense of continuity with the past is preserved in the com- plexity between the present and the future. The initial hypothesis is related to the research question: What is the connection between modern conservation and modernity? Heritage has an important role in determining not only the physical identity of objects, but also the individual and collective identity of people. It connects us with the past, influences the present and informs the future. The results are expected to show how heritage is a factor that is preserved, passed on to future generations, materialized and guarantees important values in our society. In general, the materi- alization of cultural heritage is fundamental in the transmission and preservation of data. Every object and building must be preserved physically and also from a historical point of view, since they have a certain value.

Before and after Climate Change: The Snow Country in Australian Imaginaries

News have been compiled and reused long before photocopying and scanning technologies, long before Google News appeared. However, with the arrival of digital technologies press-clipping and, more recently, news aggregation services have boomed. Their economic significance may well conflict with the legitimate interests (i.e., copyright) of the “content” providers such as newspaper publishers, broadcasters and news agencies. At the same time, it is undeniable that news aggregation has a social and cultural significance that goes well beyond the scope and interests protected by copyright. This chapter will analyze the copyright implications of news aggregation activities, and specifically of the Google News service, evaluating the current statutory and case law solutions, while taking into account its economic, social and cultural significance in terms of access to information.KeywordsSearch EngineCopyright OwnerSafe HarborBerne ConventionNews SiteThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

The pre-Qin and Han Silk Road opened up the Central Plains Dynasty to the Eurasian- African continent, not only having extraordinary political, economic and cultural exchanges complementary strategic significance, but also becoming an irreplaceable important window and way for the Central Plains Dynasty to gain cognitive knowledge of the broader world. In particular, the exploration of the artistic and cultural relics and historical background of the Silk Road is a deep excavation and collation of historical materials of exchanges between the East and the West, especially between China and the nationalities in the Western regions in the fields of traditional politics, commerce, economy, art and culture. This depth of excavation and collation of historical materials, so as to clarify the origin of the Silk Road under different historical conditions and the background of its political, economic, art, and cultural significance in forming the civilisation of the countries along the route. This mutual understanding among various nationalities inevitably promotes the shared development of Eastern and Western civilizations. Therefore, the topic discussed in this paper is a retrospective and complementary approach to the Silk Road as a distant civilisation. This exploration is also another purposeful search for the roots of this road, which was known as the “Journey of Adventure” and “Journey of Intercommunication” from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the two Han Dynasties. Accordingly, this paper promotes the discussion from three aspects: the long historical context of the Silk Road, the channel of multi-ethnic art exchange constituted by Silk Road, and the exchange and dissemination of handicraft culture on the Silk Road, excavating these three rich historical materials is more in order to reveal the historical values of the Silk Road.

This study explores the impact of cultural tourism on the well-being of local populations in Sikkim, India. It highlights the dual nature of cultural tourism, emphasizing both its potential benefits and challenges. Key findings indicate that cultural tourism can enhance residents' well-being through economic opportunities, social cohesion, and the preservation of cultural heritage, exemplified by events like the Losar Festival. However, issues such as over-tourism and cultural commodification pose significant risks. The study emphasizes the importance of sustainable tourism practices, community involvement in planning, and policies that prioritize local interests to ensure equitable benefits. By focusing on local well-being, Sikkim can develop a tourism model that not only attracts visitors but also enriches the lives of its residents, preserving its unique cultural identity for future generations. The findings underscore the necessity of balancing tourism growth with the preservation of cultural heritage and the enhancement of local quality of life.

One hundred twenty five samples from five different Ethiopian sauce spices were examined for the incidence and level of contamination of Bacillus species. The spices consisted of fenugreek (Trigenella foenum-graecum), black cumin (Nigella sativa), Ethiopian caraway (Trachyspermum ammi), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and korarim cardamon (Aframomum corrorima). Spore counts ranged from log 1.63 cfu(g)-1 in cumin to log 8.32 cfu(g)-1 in ginger. Of the 781 Bacillus isolates obtained, the most frequently encountered species was Bacillus pumilus (43.7%) followed by B. subtilis (16.6%), B. circulans (11.2%), B. licheniformis (8.2%) and B. cereus (4.9%). The B. pumilus and B. subtilis isolates were active in proteolysis and lipolysis, whereas B. cereus isolates were more proteolytic and amylolytic. All test strains grew well in three different types of traditional Ethiopian sauces, but growth was markedly lower in vegetable-based sauces. Spoilage was manifested only in the form of foul odour, and was noted faster in legume-based sauces ( SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 23, No. 1 (June 2000), pp. 87-101 Key words/phrases: Bacillus spp., Ethiopia, sauces, spices, spoilage

From ancient civilization, spices and herbs have played an important role in the lifestyle of people around the world. As Spices are being used from generation to generation as food additives and traditional medicines, these have been used as study materials to investigate its different bioactive properties and phytochemicals for their potential usage in the pharmaceutical industries. Phytochemicals are the compounds produced by plants, but not directly used for the growth and development rather engaged in protection against environmental and pathogenic stress. Plant materials were collected and water extraction method was applied for the preparation of extracts. After extraction all of the experiments were done according to standard protocols. Our study focused on the screening of the presence of valuable phytochemicals in ten widely used spices in Bangladesh. Among phytochemical screened tannin, glycosides and phenolic compounds are most abundant in all spices. The highest phenolic content was found in Syzygium aromaticum (67.77 µg GAE/ml of extract) and the lowest phenolic content was found in Coriandrum sativum (4.22 µg GAE/ml of extract). Among the spices, Myristica fragrans contained the highest tannin content (78.75 µg TAE/ml Extract) and Elettaria cardamomum contained the lowest tannin content (61 µg TAE/ml Extract). The study also employed the antibacterial activity of the spices extracts. The extracts showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the gram-positive bacteria when compared to the gram-negative bacteria. The highest zone of inhibition for Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhi were found 8.31 mm, 10.4 mm and 8.61 mm in Nigella sativa, Elettaria cardamomum and Amomum subulatum respectively, and the lowest zone of inhibition for Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhi were found 5.18 mm, 5.36 mm and 5.86 mm in Coriandrum sativum, Coriandrum sativum and Syzygium aromaticum respectively. Thin layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis was also done to check the presence of phyto-constituents. Our study revealed several spots (From 1 to 3) for different samples and their retention factors (Rf) were calculated. It is concluded that, results of these investigations had provided valuable information on further discovery of noble drugs.

Nowadays, the use of different nanoscale structures has been introduced to a large number of research areas. One of these is the treatment and remediation of water through photocatalytic processes, seeking to reuse wastewater for agriculture. In this paper, Lactuca sativa, Coriandrum sativum, and Capsicum annuum were used as crop models to observe the effects in plant growth and the secondary metabolism of different water qualities and types used in the watering process. Initial results show that the photocatalytic process's water maintains a pH and ion concentration within the allowed limits, significantly reducing the number of bacteria. Along the growth process, an influence on germination times, appearance of true leaves, maturation, and fruit production depending on the type of water used is observed, obtaining the best results in both growth times and quantity of fruits, for the 50% and 70% disinfected water/tap water (DW/TAW) study groups. Secondary metabolites, such as phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity, were studied to evaluate changes in the vegetables' composition, showing increased concentration for the disinfected water groups in most specimens. Additionally, no traces of metals and microorganisms were detected, concluding that the crops are viable to be consumed by human beings.

Six companion crops, i.e. Tagetes erecta, Daucus carota L., Coriandrum sativum L., Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala, Capsicum annuum L. and Zea mays L., were evaluated for their efficacy in suppressing field populations of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom on French bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. Each companion crop was interplanted with French beans in a 3 × 10 m plot and replicated three times in a completely randomized block design. Fhe thrips populations on French bean flowers in experimental plots were compared with those on beans treated with two insecticides: l-cyhalothrin (Karate 1.75% EC) and methiocarb (Mesurol 500 SC) or untreated (control). Coriandrum sativum, Z. mays and T. erecta are recommended as companion crops for intercropping with French beans to reduce populations of thrips and hence minimize the use of chemical insecticides on this crop. Six plantes associees, i.e. Tagetes erecta, Daucus carota L., Coriandrum sativum L., Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala, Capsicum annuum L. et Zea mays L., ont ete evaluees pour leur capacite a controler les populations naturelles de Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) et Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom sur le haricots vert Phaseolus vugaris L. Chaque plante a ete plantee en alternance avec des haricots verts dans des parcelles de 3 × 10 m, a raison de trois repetitions par plante dans un bloc completement aleatoire. Les populations de trips presentes sur les fleurs de haricots verts dans les differentes parcelles experimentales ont ete comparees a celles de haricots verts traites avec deux insecticides L-cyhalothrin (Karate 1,75% EC) et methiocarb (Mesurol 500 SC) et, un temoin. Les resultats montrent que C. Sativum, Z. mays et T. erecta sont les meilleures plantes associees pour reduire l’utilisation des insecticides.

In this research work, biological dyes containing beta-carotene have been utilized for developing the botanical dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The DSSC setup consisted of TiO2 nanoparticles coated with dye molecules as a working electrode for experimental work. Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles was carried out using the sol-gel method. Extracts of Capsicum Annuum and Coriandrum Sativum rich in beta carotenes act as natural sensitizers, and when used with TiO2, they act as light photon catchers. A mixture of KI, acetonitrile, and iodine served the solid-state thin-film electrolyte function. UV-VIS spectrophotometer and X-ray diffractometer were used to learn the semiconductor thin films’ optical and structural characteristics. I–V characteristics of the fabricated TiO2 thin film were also studied. The efficiency of DSSC, fabricated with two different biological dyes, was found to be 1.6% for Capsicum Annuum and 1.03% for Coriandrum Sativum.

A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of red pepper (Capsicum annuum) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) on seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The aqueous extracts treatment of red pepper and coriander showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in root, shoot and seedling length, number of leaves and seedling dry weight of wheat (T. aestivum) as compared to control. The inhibitory different effect on growth of wheat (T. aestivum) was directly proportional to the increasing concentration (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%) of aqueous extracts of red pepper and coriander as compared to control treatment (0%). The root, shoot, seedling length and number of leaves of T. aestivum significantly p < 0.05 decreased at 5% concentration of red pepper as compared to control. The root, shoot and seedling growth of T. aestivum was also significantly reduced at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% concentration of coriander as compared to control. The root, shoot and leaves dry weight of T. aestivum at 5% coriander extract treatment concentration decreased as compared to control. The tolerance in seedlings of T. aestivum to red pepper and coriander extract treatment was dose dependent as compared to control. The seedlings of T. aestivum showed low percentage of tolerance to pepper extract treatment than coriander extract treatment.