Indigenous Wild Plants Research Articles

Cultivation of honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) in neo-colonial and multispecies landscapes of South Africa

The indigenous wild plants of Southern Africa are intertwined with human cultures, histories and livelihoods. By focusing on commercial cultivation of a wild plant, honeybush (Cyclopia spp.), an indigenous plant that is endemic to parts of South Africa, we discuss changing colonial relations of domination and alienation affecting its use by local communities. We draw from an interdisciplinary study of honeybush conducted in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, which included archival research, life history interviews, participant observation and a review of honeybush cultivation science. Anna Tsing’s notion of non-scalability and a multispecies critique of plant domestication guides our analysis of the changing relations and approaches to honeybush use. We show the impact these changes exert on human and human-non-human relations. We conclude that the persistence of scalable projects in the commercial use of honeybush sustains and reconfigures relations that strengthen the alienation of (certain) humans from nature. Our interdisciplinary research highlights how historical violence continues to be subsumed in plant domestication and commercialisation.

Floristic composition and diversity of indigenous wild food resources in northwestern Cagayan, Philippines

Abstract. Cacatian SB, Tabian JLT. 2023. Floristic composition and diversity of indigenous wild food resources in Northwestern Cagayan, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 2324-2333. The indigenous knowledge of the floristic composition and the species diversity of wild food resources are primary indicators for wildlife management and conservation. The present study surveyed the ethnobotany of the indigenous wild plants, the possible environmental threats, and the traditional conservation practices of the rural people in the remote barangays of Sta. Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona and Abulug in Northwestern Cagayan, Philippines. The study employed a field-based cross-sectional design. Forty-eight wild plant species belonging to 42 families, mainly Moraceae, Solanaceae, Amaranthaceae and Cucurbitaceae, were harvested for food by the rural communities in the study areas. Among the identified species, trees and perennials were reported to be the most dominant. The most significant proportion grows in the lowland. Fruits and leaves are the most harvested plant parts consumed raw and or cooked. The phenological calendar was developed in relation to the specific months when the edible plant parts are available for harvest within the study sites. Agricultural land expansion or development, overexploitation of wildlife, and excessive rainfall are the greatest threats to plant diversity. Considering the importance of these food resources, the locals primarily keep and protect them from potential threats through harvesting and use of selected plants or plant parts, collecting firewood from dead and fallen trees, and domesticating and cultivating indigenous wild plants.

Unveiling Chemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Fagonia indica Grown in the Hail Mountains, Saudi Arabia.

The Aja and Salma mountains in the Hail region are home to a variety of indigenous wild plants, some of which are used in Bedouin folk medicine to treat various ailments. The purpose of the current study was to unveil the chemical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Fagonia indica (Showeka) grown widely in these mountains, as data on the biological activities of this plant in this remote area are scarce. XRF spectrometry indicated the presence of some essential elements, which were in the order of Ca > S > K > AL > CL > Si > P > Fe > Mg > Na > Ti > Sr > Zn > Mn. Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, phenols and cardiac glycosides in the methanolic extract (80% v/v). GC-MS showed the presence of 2-chloropropanoic acid 18.5%, tetrahydro-2-methylfuran 20.1%, tridecanoic acid 12-methyl-, methyl ester 2.2%, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester 8.6%, methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate 13.4%, methyl linoleate 7.0%, petroselinic acid methyl ester 15%, erucylamide 6.7% and diosgenin 8.5%. Total phenols, total tannins, flavonoids, DPPH, reducing power, -carotene and ABTS IC50 (mg/mL) scavenging activity were used to measure the antioxidant capabilities of Fagonia indica, which exhibited prominent antioxidant properties at low concentrations when compared to ascorbic acid, butylate hydroxytoluene and beta-carotene. The antibacterial investigation revealed significant inhibitory effects against Bacillus subtilis MTCC121 and Pseudomona aeruginosa MTCC 741 with inhibition zones of 15.00 ± 1.5 and 12.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) ranged between 125 to 500 μg/mL. The MBC/MIC ratio indicated possible bactericidal efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and bacteriostatic activity against Pseudomona aeruginosa. The study also showed that this plant has anti-biofilm formation activity.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States: Restoring Cultural Knowledge, Protecting Environments, and Regaining Health ed. by Devon A. Mihesuah and Elizabeth Hoover

Reviewed by: Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States: Restoring Cultural Knowledge, Protecting Environments, and Regaining Health ed. by Devon A. Mihesuah and Elizabeth Hoover Letitia M. McCune Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States: Restoring Cultural Knowledge, Protecting Environments, and Regaining Health. Edited by Devon A. Mihesuah and Elizabeth Hoover. Foreword by Winona LaDuke. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2019. ix + 355 pp. Illustrations, tables, index. $20.97, paper. It was with great pleasure that I accepted the offer to review this book. I have heard Devon Mihesuah speak inspiringly at conferences, know of the acclaimed books written and university affiliations of both editors Mihesuah and Hoover, and of course Winona LaDuke is a world-renowned advocate of Indigenous rights and environmental action. LaDuke's foreword is spot on, calling the chapters in the book a good balance of history and policy coupled with the hands-on approaches going on in Indigenous communities. These stories of resilience and approaches to food sovereignty are easy to read but as jam-packed with information as a textbook. Definitions of Indigenous food sovereignty and the encompassing mix of issues are addressed in the introduction, followed by personal narratives of advocates that have led to such incredible work as the Hualapai Ethnobotany Youth Project, Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, Slow Food Turtle Island Associations, I-Collective, American Indian Health and Diet Project, Food Sovereignty is Tribal Sovereignty (FSiTS), Traditional Foods Protocols of the Muckleshoot Kitchen, Decolonizing Diet Project (DDP), Tribal Alliance for Pollinators (TAP), North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS), Climate Change Strategic Plan of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and Yazzie the Chef. Food sovereignty is defined as a growing movement and a process with interconnected tribal projects as illustrated by Hoover's compilation of interviews from community-based farming and garden projects. For those interested in seed rights (as I am), groups protecting heritage seeds are highlighted as well as the importance of recognizing seeds as living relatives. White's chapter focuses on rematriculation of seeds and the work of the Indigenous SeedKeepers Network (ISKN) including a Seed Sovereignty Assessment toolkit, while Gwin's chapter focuses on the founding and operational issues of the Cherokee Nation SeedBank & Native Plant Site. The chapter on Hopi traditional agriculture, by Wall and Masayesva, illustrates the importance of corn, not just as seeds but as an integral part of the culture, the central bond. Additional agriculture chapters include one on the Indigenous wild plant management practices in California and another on Indigenous classifications of soils and insights into companion and cover crops. For those specifically interested in the Great Plains, Mihesuah has a chapter that covers the history of Oklahoma, and with the many tribal nations relocated there, the complex issues surrounding healthy and Indigenous foods. She also has a chapter on the Comanche's traditional hunter foodways in conjunction with the decline of health associated with colonization. No matter the location described, each chapter has profound insights in the fight for Indigenous food sovereignty and traditional food systems. Sustainability and community accountability is illustrated in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in Hawaii, nutritional colonialism in Alaska, using Indigenous ingredients against addiction in Arizona (White Mountain Apache), approaches to Indigenous climate justice in Turtle Island/North America, as well as effective examples of working through tribal challenges in wellness programs (Diné). I cannot recommend this book highly enough or give it justice in a short review. All the chapters are excellent reading for everyone interested in these topics. [End Page 223] Letitia M. McCune Consultant in Plant Sciences and Nutrition BotanyDoc LLC Copyright © 2021 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Indigenous wild plants and fungi traditionally used in folk medicine and functional food in District Neelum Azad Kashmir

Western Himalaya where District Neelum is situated is the most important source of flora and fauna, which provides handy species for the local people. The purpose of the present study was to document indigenous wild plants and fungi along with traditional uses, this combined study was conducted for the first time in District Neelum. The field study was completed during three years 2017–2019 continuous observation; information on ethnobotanical uses of plants and fungi was gathered through questionnaires, group discussion and semi-structured interviews with knowledgeable local informants. Plants were identified with the help of authentic taxonomic literature floras and online plant list database. Calculations were made using different indices fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor and use value. For this purpose, 100 informants were selected randomly. In this study, 66 wild taxa (59 higher plants and seven fungi) belonging to 35 families (30 tracheophytes families and five fungi families) were reported in the research area, in which 51 were found herbs, seven mushrooms, five shrubs, one tree and one epiphyte. All 66 reported taxa are medicinally important used in 17 disease categories, of them 32 taxa 48% were used for food purposes, nine taxa have been exploited commercially who have a significant role in the local economy. Root and leaves parts are used regularly in folk medicine, respectively, but the selection of leaves and aerial parts in food was common. The decoction was a common method of drug preparation, and the majority of drugs were administered orally. The area was conquered by herbs (77%) most exploited plants. The Compositae (8 species) Lamiaceae (5 species) Polygonaceae (4 species) were leading families in the study area. The prime time of collection, consumption and preservation was recorded from April to August. Some taxa with high FL value were Morchella esculenta (96), Aconitum heterophyllum (94), Aucklandia costus (94), Bergenia stracheyi (94), Geranium wallichianum (94), Ajuga bracteosa (92), Impatiens glandulifera (92), Mentha longifolia (92), Berberis lycium (88), Senecio analogus (84), Pleurotus ostreatus (82), Swertia ciliata (80), Taraxacum oblongatum (80), Arnebia benthamii (74), Dolomiaea megacephala (74) and Lavatera cachemiriana (70). The people of District Neelum used folk medicine for health care on priority basis than cure. The native people of District Neelum are rich in understanding traditional knowledge. The current study highlights important medicinal plants and fungi by validating their traditional uses. Many taxa can improve local economies through perfect harvesting, adequate management, sustainable uses, and development of modern techniques to maximize their use.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica simensis) as Potential Resource of Vitamin E

Abstract Objectives The aim of the current study was to assay the content of vitamin E in stinging nettle (Urtica simensis) Methods Urtica simensis type of stinging nettle is an indigenous wild plant which is widely growing in different parts of Ethiopia. Samples of leaves were collected from Chacha, one of the central highlands in Ethiopia and portioned into sun dried, shade dried and lyophilized groups. For comparison, samples of leaves were also taken from spinach. Vitamin E family such as tocopherols ((α, β, γ, and λ) and tocotrienols (α, β, γ, and λ) were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at department of Food Biofunctionality, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Results The results showed that the total tocols of stinging nettle in sun-dried, shade dried, and lyophilized groups were 14.1 ± 1.1 mg, 13.8 ± 1.1 mg and 16.9 ± 1.2 mg per 100 g, respectively. In spinach, this value was 3.04 ± 0.7 mg/100 g. Of all vitamin E family, α- tocopherol was the maximum and identified in shade dried group (16.5 ± 1.2 mg/100 g). As compared to stinging nettle, spinach contained very small amount of α- tocopherol (1.7 ± 0.5 mg/100 g). Conclusions In conclusion, Urtica simensis type of stinging nettle contains considerable amount of tocols and can serve as potential resource of vitamin E. Further research is warranted on the nutritional and medicinal values of Urtica simensis stinging nettle. Funding Sources None.

Invasiveness of biofuel crops: implications for energy research and policy in Botswana

ABSTRACT In developed countries, biofuel development was largely driven by a desire to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing energy security, whereas in developing countries, in addition to energy security, the quest for rural development and employment creation incited an interest in biofuel production. Notwithstanding the benefits of biofuels, there are reservations about their potential invasiveness. These concerns stem from the fact that the traits that characterize an ideal biofuel crop such as rapid growth rate, tolerance to drought and low soil fertility as well as pest and disease resistance, match those of invasive plants. The objective of this paper was to review literature on experiences of other countries on invasiveness of biofuel crops, with a view to providing lessons for biofuel production in Botswana. The review has revealed that most plants proposed for biofuel production are classified as invasive. The review concludes with recommendations for the Government of Botswana: Improve the cultivation of indigenous wild plants with high oil content for biodiesel production, screening of exotic species through a science-based risk-assessment procedure to evaluate their invasive potential before embarking on large-scale cultivation, and development of appropriate management practices and regulations to mitigate risk of invasion.

Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in Hasankeyf (Batman Province, Turkey)

Hasankeyf is an ancient city located on the shores of the Tigris River in Batman Province, southeast Turkey. The town and some of its surrounding villages will be soon submerged, due to the construction of Ilısu Dam, which will force the residents to move to new settlements. The aim of the present study was to collect and record the traditional knowledge regarding the indigenous wild plants that will be submerged by this flooding. The study was carried out between March 2017 and April 2019. Interviews were conducted with 72 women and 53 men in the town center and 22 rural settlements, with a focus on the five villages that are due to be submerged. Information about a total of 86 wild edible plants belonging to 32 families was recorded. Interviewees reported that these were used as green vegetables (45 taxa), ripe fruits and seeds (25 taxa), seasoning and preservatives (16 taxa), beverages (nine taxa), and children’s snacks (seven taxa). In addition, the data were analyzed on the basis of the cultural importance index to determine the cultural significance of these wild edible plants and the informants’ knowledge about them. Culturally, the most significant species included <em>Mentha longifolia</em>, <em>Polygonum cognatum</em>, <em>Rosa canina</em>, <em>Chenopodium album</em>, <em>Urtica dioica</em>, <em>Amaranthus retroflexus</em>, and <em>Malva neglecta</em>. In addition, the data were compared with relevant data in the ethnobotanical literature of Turkey and its neighboring countries. Several uses mentioned here are documented here for the first time. Our research highlights the importance of wild edible plants in the daily lives of inhabitants and their potential for economic use. The present study also provides information for future archaeobotanical studies in this region.

Ten years of native seed certification in Germany - a summary.

Many renaturation projects and compensation areas are based on the use of seeds from regional indigenous wild plants; in the following: native or regional seeds. Despite this, such seeds make up only a small proportion of the total number of seeds used for greening projects; in Germany, for example, it is only around 1% (=200t per year). Although the market for regional seeds is small, it is highly competitive. High-priced native seeds compete with flower mixes of unspecified origin and can only be differentiated from them by reliable quality seals. A quality assurance system based on seed legislation (EU Directive 2010/60, preservation mixtures) has been developed in a few European countries. However, quality assurance ends with the sale of the seeds. Thus, seed use remains unmonitored, and often unsuitable material, or material foreign to the region, is planted in restoration areas. Unfortunately, nature conservation has not made seed-based restoration one of its key issues, neither at the European nor at the national level. Currently there are many different local and regional standards, methods and private certificates that are confusing for users and which provide little continuity and predictability for producers. We recommend the establishment of an EU directive or a broadly agreed recommendation to the EU member states, spearheaded by nature conservation, which would define the standards for producing and using native seeds (e.g. harmonised regions that cross national borders, quality regulations). At the same time, wild plant interest groups should combine existing structures in order to strengthen seed-based restoration through international cooperation.

Screening of some Algerian medicinal plants for the phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity

Since recent times, there is a growing interest in the food industry and in preventive health care for the development and evaluation of natural antioxidants from medicinal plant materials. In the present work we have investigated the antioxidant potency of phenolic compounds of 11 indigenous wild plant species from the Algerian Atlas commonly used in Arab folk medicine for a wide range of conditions. The antioxidant activity of each phenolic extracts has been assessed by using the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) as a chemical test, and in a dynamic way by a biological assay based on whole blood resistance to free radical aggression. Of the 11 tested plants, 2 showed prominent antioxidant activity: Anthemis arvensis and Artemisia campestris. These plants had a very high level of Trolox equivalents and induced a strong delay of free radical-induced red blood cells hemolysis compared to antioxidant references. Artemisia campestris was the best inhibitor, its effect was far stronger than that of caffeic acid and was more than three times as high as ascorbic acid and two times higher than α-tocopherol efficiency. HPLC analysis showed a good correlation between the antioxidant activity and hydroxycinnamic derivatives. These preliminary results on the in vitro protection of blood against oxidative stress emphasized the benefit of the phenolic compounds of these medicinal plants. Our results enable us to proceed towards more detailed chemical and pharmacological understanding of these plant materials and show the interest of natural antioxidant in medicinal plants for the prevention of much free radical-mediated pathology.

Screening of selected indigenous plants of Cambodia for antiplasmodial activity

The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of 117 aqueous, methanol and dichloromethane extracts derived from different parts of 28 indigenous wild plant species was studied. These plants are commonly used in Cambodian traditional medicine. The plant extracts were tested for in vitro activity against a chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain (W2). Nine extracts were moderately active with IC 50 values ranging between 5 and 10 μg/ml, 17 extracts were active with IC 50 values ranging between 1 and 5 μg/ml. These 26 extracts derived from eight plants belong to six families. The most active extracts were dichloromethane and came from Stephania rotunda and Brucea javanica with IC 50 values of 1 μg/ml and a selectivity index ≥25. It is interesting to note that some aqueous extracts were as active as dichloromethane extracts especially aqueous extracts of Stephania rotunda, Brucea javanica, Phyllanthus urinaria and Eurycoma longifolia with IC 50 values of ≤4 μg/ml. These results are in agreement with statements of healers on traditional uses of these plants for the treatment of malaria and/or fever. In this study, we report the antiplasmodial potential activity of eight plant species from Cambodia. Among them four are tested for the first time.

Screening of selected indigenous plants of Lebanon for antimicrobial activity

The objective of this study is to test in vitro the antimicrobial efficacy of 39 water and 39 methanol extracts derived from different parts of 27 indigenous wild plant species that have been commonly used in Lebanese folk medicine. The antimicrobial efficacy was determined using the single disk diffusion method, with 10 and 20 μl load extract volume per disc. Nine test microorganisms were used namely, Escherichia coli, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteria, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. Only one water extract out of 39 derived from whole plant of Alchemilla diademata showed an antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The percentage of test organisms that were susceptible to 10 most efficacious methanol plant extracts (20 μl/disc) were as follows: Achillea damascena whole plant (88.8%), Anthemis scariosa flower (88.8%), Cirsium sp. whole plant (88.8%), Centaurea ainetensis flowers (88.8%), Hieracium sp. whole plant (88.8%), Origanum libanoticum whole plant (99.9%), Ranunculus myosuroudes whole plant (88.8%), Nepata curviflora leaf (88.8%), Nepata curviflora stem, and Verbascum leptostychum flower (99.9%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined on plant extracts that showed high efficacy against the test organisms. The chance to find antimicrobial activities was more apparent in methanol rather than water extracts of the same indigenous plants of Lebanon, with higher antimicrobial activities in 20 μl methanol extract-discs in comparison to that present in the 10 μl discs ( P<0.05).

Nutrient values in indigenous wild plant greens and roots used by the Nuxalk people of Bella Coola, British Columbia

Nutrient compositions of green leaves or roots from 18 different species of wild plants used by native Indian people of Western British Columbia, Canada, are given. Proximate composition including ash, moisture, fat, and protein and values for total carbohydrate and approximate energy are computed. Neutral detergent fiber is also reported. Values are given for calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and strontium and for the vitamin determinations for thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, ascorbate, carotene, and folate. This is the first comprehensive nutrient report for most of these species of greens and roots, and the first report of any nutrient data on the roots of Lupinus nootkatensis and Polypodium glycyrrhiza. Also presented are data for the inner bark of Populus trichocarpa and the fruit of Pyrus fusca. It is the first report of strontium, folate, and neutral detergent fiber for any species of wild plant greens or roots used by Indian people of Western British Columbia.

Wild Plant Industry of the Southern Appalachians

T NHE major industry in many parts of the Southern Appalachian Mountains is the gathering of indigenous wild plants which nature provides in quantity throughout this region where the lumberman has not been too active in his exploitation of timber resources. The roots, stems, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits of the wild flowers, the weeds of the waste places, the shrubs and trees of this section, each make a contribution to the wellbeing or the happiness of man somewhere throughout the civilized world. Two seasons of the year supply products for this industry--summer, when botanical drugs are gathered, and winter, when decorative greens are gathered for the floral markets. There is some overlapping of the two seasons as will be explained later.