Inhibitory and Bactericidal Potential of Some Indigenous Functional Food-Plants Used in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality of South Africa

Acinetobacter species have been found in a variety of environments, including soil, food, plants, hospital environments and water. Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic and emerging waterborne pathogen. It has been implicated in several nosocomial infections that demonstrate resistance to commonly administered antibiotics. We investigated phenotypic antibiotic resistance (PAR) and relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in A. baumannii isolated from three freshwater resources in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; A. baumannii (410) was confirmed by the recA and gyrB genes of 844 suspected Acinetobacter species in the water samples. The PAR of the confirmed isolates was assessed using a panel of 11 antibiotics by the disc diffusion method, while ARGs were investigated in isolates exhibiting PAR. The A. baumannii isolates were resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam (11.2%), ceftazidime (12%), cefotaxime (18.8%), cefepime (8.8%), imipenem (2.7%), meropenem (4.15%), amikacin (2.4%), gentamicin (8.8%), tetracycline (16.8%), ciprofloxacin (11%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (20.5%). For multidrug resistance (MDR), two isolates were resistant to all antibiotics and 28 isolates were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. Moreover, β-lactamases blaTEM (64.4%) and blaOXA-51 (28.70%) as well as sulphonamides sul1 (37.1%) and sul2 (49.4%) were common ARGs. Overall, PAR and ARGs had positive correlations (r) in all rivers. Detection of MDR-A. baumannii in freshwater resources could be linked to possible wastewater discharge from the nearby animal farms, indicating potential implications for public health.

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the Sustainable Harvesting of Edible Insects in South Africa, with Reference to Indigenous Knowledge, African Science, Western Science and Education

The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education ◽

10.1017/s1326011100004828 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 36 (S1) ◽

pp. 145-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rob Toms

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Knowledge Systems ◽

Food Plants ◽

Western Science ◽

Edible Insects ◽

Ongoing Research ◽

Sustainable Harvesting

AbstractIn our ongoing research on edible insects in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, we have found evidence of the unsustainable harvesting of edible insects and the food plants of certain insects. The decline in the edible insect industry, together with the need for food security provides a strong incentive to investigate possible causes of problems using different knowledge systems. Any solution to these problems needs to take Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into account if it hopes to be successful and sustainable. We have found that different communities have different explanations for the same phenomena. Some of these explanations correspond with the explanations for the same phenomena in Western science. Where areas of overlap between IKS and Western science exist, these can be used in education in such a way that recommendations for sustainable harvesting can be developed with reference to African science. In this process, the area of overlap between the systems may grow as information from one system is incorporated in another. In this contribution the overlapping roles of IKS, African science and Western science are explored in the teaching of the sustainable harvesting of Indigenous resources for food security and conservation. This creates opportunities to teach relevant science in such a way that the concerned communities can benefit through better food security and the conservation of culturally important plants and animals.

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Climate change risk to southern African wild food plants

10.1101/2020.08.22.262535 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carina Wessels ◽

Cory Merow ◽

Christopher H. Trisos

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Species Richness ◽

Food Security ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Safety Net ◽

Food Plants ◽

Climate Change Risk ◽

Warming Scenario ◽

Language Groups

AbstractClimate change is a threat to food security. Wild-harvested food plants (WFPs) are important for the diets of millions of people and contribute to food security, especially in rural and low-income communities, but little is known about climate change risk to these species. Using species distribution models, we examined climate change risk to 1190 WFP species used by 19 native language groups in southern Africa. We project that 40% of species will experience a decrease in range extent within southern Africa by 2060–2080 under a low warming scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6), increasing to 66% under a high warming scenario (RCP 8.5). Decreases in geographic range are projected for >70% of WFP species traditionally used by some language groups. Loss of suitable climatic conditions is projected to decrease WFP species richness most in north-eastern southern Africa – with losses of >200 species – while increases in species richness are projected in the south and east of South Africa. Availability of WFP species for food security during lean times is also projected to change. Specifically, in south-eastern South Africa, local diversity of WFPs is projected to increase, while maize and sorghum yields decrease. However, this potential WFP nutritional safety net may be lost in central parts of the region, where declines in both crop yield and WFPs are projected. By looking beyond conventional crops to the exceptional diversity of WFPs, this research makes a first step towards understanding the linkages between WFPs, traditional knowledge, agriculture, food security, and climate change.

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Concept of producing of the Russian national system of functional food

Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding ◽

10.18699/vj18.421 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 776-783

Author(s):

Yu. V. Fotev ◽

V. F. Pivovarov ◽

A. M. Artemyeva ◽

I. M. Kulikov ◽

Y. K. Goncharova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Food ◽

Mineral Elements ◽

Food Plants ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Insurance Fund ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Active Components ◽

National System ◽

Human Habitat ◽

Business Structures

Statistics show negative forecasts of the demographic indicators of the Russian population including their size and health. The human habitat which has been deteriorating in recent decades causes cardinal changes in the assortment and variety of food and significantly contributes to the reduction of their biological value. The depletion of food products (FP) of vegetable and animal origin in vital mineral elements, vitamins and other physiologically active components represents a serious long-term threat to human health and the national security. Industrial methods of enriching FP have certain limitations: a narrow set of micronutrients, their interaction among themselves and accessibility for not all groups of the population. One way to reduce the negative consequences is through the introduction and breeding of new for Russia species and varieties of agricultural plants and organize a mass production of functional foods (FF) that contribute to the prevention and/or suspension of the development of dangerous diseases and slowing down the aging process. The solution of this multifaceted problem lies in changing the consumption structure of foods and their chemical composition conditioned by both the assortment of grown plant species and cultivars of food plants, as well as the composition and quality of soils, fertilizers and the conditions for crop cultivation. Taking into account the prevailing demographic situation in the Russian Federation, it is necessary to create a comprehensive national program for the allocation of new high-content sources of FF ingredients based on traditional and underutilized crops, cultivars and forms of cereal, vegetable and fruit crops and their inclusion in agricultural production as well as existing and newly created technological processes in food industry. The advantages of creating and developing a national system of the functional food in Russia will be: the improvement of public health and life expectancy, the reduction of the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund expenditures and the development of business structures involved in the production of the FF.

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Introduction of not widespread fruits and berries in Siberia for their application as functional food products

Bulletin of NSAU (Novosibirsk State Agrarian University) ◽

10.31677/2072-6724-2018-49-4-62-73 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 62-73

Author(s):

A. B. Gorbunov

Keyword(s):

Functional Food ◽

Apple Tree ◽

Botanical Garden ◽

Food Plants ◽

Cosmetic Products ◽

Cherry Tree ◽

Wild Fruit ◽

Mountain Ash ◽

Blue Honeysuckle ◽

Red Currant

The paper shows the results of more than 70 years activities on creation unique collection of non-traditional fruit and berry plants in the laboratory of food plants introduction at the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of SD RAS. The collection consists of 85 species from 29 genera and 10 families, 314 varieties and 567 selected forms. The paper shows the results of research on introduction and breeding of wild apple-tree, mountain ash, bird cherry tree, cherry, cranberry, blueberry, red currant, blue honeysuckle and hawthorn in Siberia. Such berries as mountain ash, bird cherry, cranberry and blueberry are of particular interest as they are rather new to horticulture of Siberia. The article highlights the outlooks of introduction of non-traditional fruit and berry plants into horticulture of Siberia. The paper contains characteristic of chemical composition of wild fruit and leaves and bred exotic species. The author explores the possibility of their use as food, medical and cosmetic products; the paper shows promising use of rare fruit and berry plants of Siberia as a functional food.

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Functional food plants in Debre Markos district, East Gojjam, Ethiopia

Asian Journal of Ethnobiology ◽

10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y020102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

HIRUT BELAY ◽

TIGIST WONDIMU

Keyword(s):

Functional Food ◽

Central City ◽

Lupinus Albus ◽

Matrix Analysis ◽

Food Plants ◽

Eragrostis Tef ◽

Important Species ◽

Preference Rating ◽

Debre Markos ◽

Lupinus Albus L

Abstract. Belay H, Wondimu T. 2018. Functional food plants in Debre Markos district, East Gojjam Ethiopia. Asian J Ethnobiol 2: 8-21. An ethnobotanical analysis of functional food plants was conducted in Debre Markos District, East Gojjam, Ethiopia, to record indigenous knowledge. Ethnobotanical methods were used to collect data from October 2015 to July 2016. Ten villages were chosen at random from the District's 21 villages to perform the analysis. A total of 80 informants (61 men and 19 women) ranging in age from 20 to 79 were chosen to participate in the study and provide information on functional food plants grown and used in the District. Twenty of the 80 informants were chosen (as key informants) on the basis of recommendations from elders and kebele administrators, while the rest were chosen at random. Semi-structured interviews and group discussions were used to gather ethnobotanical data. As functional food plants grown in the District, 29 species from 27 genera and 19 families were identified. The Poaceae and Fabaceae families proved to be the most diverse, with 5 and 4 species, respectively. Herbs (23), shrubs (3), and trees are the species' habits (growth forms) (3). Grains (23.4%) and leaves (23.4%) were the most commonly used plant components (13.8%). Cooking/boiling seeds was the most common form of preparation (23.4%), followed by raw/unprocessed seeds (12.9%). According to informant consensus, Lupinus albus L. (Gibto) was the most commonly recorded species (90%) followed by Eragrostis tef L. (Dabbo teff) (78.8%). Linum usitatissimum L. (Telba) was found to be the most favored species for preventing multiple diseases in a preference rating. Based on the general use-value of functional food plants, a direct matrix analysis showed that Eragrostis tef L. (Dabbo teff) was the most important species. Cinnamomum verum L. was identified by the fidelity level index. Lupinus albus L. (Kerefa) (Gibto) to have a high practical benefit in the prevention of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The key threat to a few functional food plants such as Lupinus albus (Gibto) in the study area was the loss of agricultural lands due to new building construction. The woreda is the central city of East Gojjam Zone. As a result, stalk owners must focus their efforts on resolving the problem

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Size Variation in the Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) and Late Quaternary Climatic Change in South Africa

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1006/qres.1996.0059 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 193-207 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Richard G. Klein ◽

Kathryn Cruz-Uribe

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Late Quaternary ◽

Size Variation ◽

Food Plants ◽

Adult Size ◽

Rock Hyrax ◽

Mean Size ◽

Procavia Capensis ◽

The Relationship

The average adult size of the rock hyrax varies greatly across South Africa. Regression analysis suggests that mean hyrax size is more closely linked to precipitation than to temperature, probably because precipitation has a much greater impact on preferred hyrax food plants. The relationship between mean size and precipitation is curvilinear, such that size increases up to about 700 mm/annum and declines thereafter. This parallels a tendency for less palatable grasses to replace more palatable ones where rainfall exceeds 700 mm/annum. In conjunction with other indicators of past climate, hyrax size variation can be used to reconstruct precipitation history near deeply stratified South African late Quaternary sites, including Elands Bay Cave, Die Kelders Cave 1, and Nelson Bay Cave.

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Home gardens in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: A promising approach to enhance household food security and well-being

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d220953 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Pelisa Ngcaba ◽

Alfred Maroyi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Well Being ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Food Plants ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Household Food

Abstract. Ngcaba P, Maroyi A. 2021. Home gardens in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: A promising approach to enhance household food security and well-being. Biodiversitas 22: 4045-4053. The current study is aimed at documenting the diversity and composition of food plants cultivated and maintained in home gardens; and also assessing their role at enhancing household food security and well-being in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. This study was undertaken in six villages in the province, between June 2014 and March 2016. Information on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the respondents, home garden practices, food plants grown and maintained in home gardens were collected by means of questionnaires and guided field walks with 129 respondents. A total of 32 edible plants belonging to 27 genera and 18 families were recorded. The main uses of plants grown and managed in home gardens were edible fruits or seeds (56.3%), leaves cooked as leafy vegetables (28.1%), edible bulbs, roots and tubers (21.9%), beverage, cereal, and culinary herb or spice (3.1% each). The most preferred species were Zea mays (64.3%), followed by Brassica oleracea (59.7%), Solanum tuberosum (58.9%), Spinacia oleracea (52.7%), Allium cepa (51.9%), Cucurbita moschata (44.2%), Capsicum annuum (38.0%), Cucurbita maxima (31.8%) and Daucas carota (31.0%). This study showed that home gardens can provide alternative sources of diverse and nutritious food to households, making home gardens an important agricultural resource for increasing food security in the province.

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