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Abstract Detail


Society for Economic Botany/BSA Economic Botany Section

Mortensen, Danielle [1], Brendler, Thomas [1].

Inventory and rapid throughput screening of indigenous utilized plant species of Namibia for the purpose of developing new natural products.

We present the outline and methodology of a project conducted in collaboration with Rutgers University, GIBEX, and AAMPS, which is funded by the Namibian Millennium Challenge account. This is a work in progress, having started in March 2011 and to be completed within approximately one year. We have surveyed and inventoried the utilized indigenous Namibian flora for the purpose of identifying potentially new ingredients for indigenous Namibian natural products in foods, flavors, health, nutrition, and cosmetic products in a context of loca sustainable economic development. The survey and inventory has drawn from all available sources including early explorer's and other historical accounts in order to include traditional plant use which may have been lost over time. From this inventory some 100 species are being selected for investigation based on a variety of criteria, with focus on local stakeholder's interests. Samples and herbarium specimen are being collected and uses will be verified in the field. Plant material is subjected to Screens-to-Nature technology, where we introduce 11 portable, field-deployable pharmacological screens, and facilitate into Namibia the training associated with their use. This approach does not remove any natural resources from its country of origin for the purpose of analysis. Based on the results of the screening process, select species will be subjected to further investigation including chemical profiling, development of quality assurance standards, regional and international market assessments, sustainability (wild-crafting vs. cultivation) and feasibility of creating a product development value chain benefitting Namibian PPOs. This work will lead to a shortlist of around 10 candidate species for product development employing science-based marketing strategies and establishing public-private sector partnerships.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - Plantaphile, Belforter Strasse 20, Berlin, 10405, Germany

Keywords:
natural products
Namibia
Africa
indigenous plant use
screening
Quality assurance.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 09
Location: Maryland Room/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 11:00 AM
Number: 09004
Abstract ID:489


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