Abstract
B. aegyptiaca has a long history for use as a resource and has diverse traditional and cultural roles in many societies, especially African desert peoples. It has probably been cultivated in Egypt for more than 4000 years; stones of the fruits were placed as votive offerings in the tombs of the Twelfth Dynasty. Biblical connections have also been established, the tree reputedly being the source of one of the ingredients of the perfume 'spikenard' (Holland, 1922). Conventional products from B. aegyptiaca are varied and have prompted local planting and management of the resource even though heavy exploitation of wild trees continues. Commercial exploitation has been shown to be a feasible development option: a US$80 million pharmaceutical and food industry for Sudan has been suggested (Abu-Al-Futuh, 1983). The fruit has potential in industrial utilization. Abu-Al-Futuh (1983) provides information on world production, demand and prices of fruit products and estimates that products worth US$80 million, providing a net revenue of US$25 million, are obtainable from 400,000 tonnes of fruits. Diosgenin, a natural sapogenin, is the most valuable product of B. aegyptiaca, but world demand is threatened by microbiologically-derived steroids. However, natural sapogenins could support growing pharmaceutical industries in developing countries which may lack the technology for manufacturing sapogenins (Abu-Al-Futuh, 1983; Davis et al., 1983). World demand for fermentation products is also increasing, together with alcohols, fuel oil, carbon dioxide, etc. and products from this tree could support local perfumery and chemical industries. Limited market surveys indicate that debittered kernels and vegetable oil are valued foods and wider markets could be sought. Seed cake and fermentation by-products can be used as fodder; the former is a good protein source with potential importance for poor rural areas. B. aegyptiaca generally shows much promise as a multipurpose tree for the Sahelian zone and is highly recommended for plantation trials and agroforestry development. More toxicological testing is necessary before it can be recommended as a food (despite having been eaten for years), but it can be used in the manufacture of many products (diosgenins, fuel oil and fermentation products) which may aid industrial development and provide useful byproducts, for example, protein rich fodder for many developing countries.