Novel Plant Bioresources: Applications in Food, Medicine and Cosmetics

The search for new and alternative sources of edible plants has begun. It has been estimated that there are between 300,000 and 500,000 species of “higher” plants, of which about 240,000 have been identified and described. Of these, some 30,000 are edible while 7,000 varieties of plants have been cultivated or collected by humans. Yet only 120 are deemed “important” on a national scale, and just 30 of these crops provide 95% of global dietary intake. The level of biodiversity in the crops we rely upon for food, medicine and cosmetics is weak. Yet wild crop relatives and weedy forms of plants can be important sources of genes for disease resistance, environmental adaptation or other traits that are useful in crop improvement programmes. This book takes a fresh look at marginal and underutilised crops and highlight their potential not only for food and nutrition, but also as promising sources of new ingredients that will add value to existing product lines derived from plants. Novel Plant Bioresources: Applications in Food, Medicine and Cosmetics addresses the critical issues relating to important yet under–utilized plant species that have been neglected over the years for economic, social and cultural reasons. In a climate of growing awareness about the perils of biodiversity loss, the world is witnessing an unprecedented interest in novel plants, which are increasingly prized for their potential use in aromas, dyes, foods, medicines and cosmetics. This book highlights these plants and their uses. The book is the first major scholarly publication dedicated to the diverse potential application of novel plant bioresources in food, medicine, ethnoveterinary medicine and cosmetics. By focusing on novel plants and the agenda for sustainable utilization, this book highlights key issues relevant to under–utilized plant genetic resources, and brings together international scholars on this important topic. This book will serve as the definitive source of information on under–utilized plant species, and fills a key niche in our understanding of the relationship of human beings with under–utilized plants. As such it will be of interest to a wide audience, primarily the major food industries, food scientists, agro/crop specialists and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals companies. It will also be a major resource for universities and libraries, research institutes, students and policymakers.

Ameenah Gurib–Fakim is Professor and Managing Director at the Centre for Phytotherapy Research (CEPHYR) in Mauritius. She has authored several books on medicinal plants and on the flora of Mauritius and Africa and has received several international prizes. In 2013, she receives the Honorary Doctorate from the Universite Pierre Marie Curie (Sorbonne Universites) and is also Honorary Professor at UNISA, Pretoria, South Africa.