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A Review of African Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

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Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3

Part of the book series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World ((MAPW,volume 3))

Abstract

The botanical and cultural diversity of the African continent provides numerous opportunities for the development of innovative new crops and new products. However, many of African medicinal and aromatic plants remain scientifically poorly known and in need of detailed investigation. To contribute to this process a broad review of commercially important African medicinal and aromatic plants is presented. The following data are given for a selection of 246 indigenous and 12 naturalised/commonly cultivated species: Scientific name, author citation, plant family, trade name and/or vernacular name(s), part(s) used, main uses, region of origin within Africa, African countries involved in local, regional or international trade and recent references (general publications since 2000). Important publications at global, continental and regional levels are briefly mentioned. The categories of use include traditional medicines, phytomedicines, dietary supplements and functional foods, sources of extracts or chemical entities and sources of essential oils. Examples of several African plants and their products in each of these categories are illustrated in colour.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the University of Johannesburg and the National Research Foundation of South Africa for providing logistic and financial support to the National Research Chair in Indigenous Plant Use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Ben-Erik Van Wyk

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  1. Ben-Erik Van Wyk
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Correspondence to Ben-Erik Van Wyk .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arid Zone Research Institute, Médenine, Tunisia

    Mohamed Neffati

  2. Min of Agriculture, Range Ecology Laboratory, Arid Zone Research Institute, Médenine, Tunisia

    Hanen Najjaa

  3. Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University of West Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary

    Ákos Máthé

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Van Wyk, BE. (2017). A Review of African Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. In: Neffati, M., Najjaa, H., Máthé, Á. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_2

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