Main Article Content
Medicinal plants at the ethnobotany–biotechnology interface in Africa
Abstract
Africa bears a long history of people–plant
interaction that has been significantly enhanced by biotechnology.
Ethnomedicinal plants have been targeted in the search for new natural products
but their exploitation has led to concern for their conservation. Biotechnology
has applications that extend beyond conservation to optimising natural product
research and adding value to useful plants. African ethnomedicinal plants with
valuable secondary metabolites and established in vitro propagation
protocols may be likely candidates for genetic transformation when
biotechnology becomes more accessible on the continent. The ethnic and floral
wealth of southern Africa lends a prime example of how biotechnology may enrich
people–plant interactions.
South African Journal of Botany
2004, 70(1): 89–96
interaction that has been significantly enhanced by biotechnology.
Ethnomedicinal plants have been targeted in the search for new natural products
but their exploitation has led to concern for their conservation. Biotechnology
has applications that extend beyond conservation to optimising natural product
research and adding value to useful plants. African ethnomedicinal plants with
valuable secondary metabolites and established in vitro propagation
protocols may be likely candidates for genetic transformation when
biotechnology becomes more accessible on the continent. The ethnic and floral
wealth of southern Africa lends a prime example of how biotechnology may enrich
people–plant interactions.
South African Journal of Botany
2004, 70(1): 89–96
