Traditional Uses and Sustainable Collection of Ethnobotanicals by Aboriginal Communities of the Achanakmaar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve of India
Tarun Kumar Thakur,
Yogesh Kumar,
Arvind Bijalwan,
Manmohan J Dobriyal
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2017
Pages:
39-49
Received:
27 February 2017
Accepted:
9 March 2017
Published:
16 June 2017
Abstract: In the due course of study, focus was prearranged on the traditional use of trees, herbs and shrubs (ethnobotanicals) which are little or unknown to modern societies. Through questionnaire and interviews, the present study was attempted to collect the information about the people who still live in traditional world. A total 40 tree species, 94 herbs including tubers, grasses, climbers and 13 shrubs utilize by aboriginal communities of Achanakmaar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR), were renowned/ explored for different utilization pattern. The most important tree species collected from the forests and nearby village areas by the local people are Madhuca indica, Buchanania lanzan, Diospyrus melanoxylon, Mangifera indica, Shorea robusta and Terminalia tomentosa etc. Similarly, herbs collected are Eclipta alba, Panicum antidotale, Smithia conferta, Phyla nodiflora, Dioscorea bulbifera, Curculigo orchioides, Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca oleracea, Echinochloa colona, Solanum nodiflorum, Achyranthus aspera, Leucas aspera, Corchorus trilloularis, Cassia tora etc. The most common reported shrubs of these areas are Phoenix sylvestris, Randia dumetorum, Zizipus zilopyrus and Lantana camara. The reported botanicals have variety of uses like vegetable, fruit, furniture, religious use, rituals use, and for handloom preparation. Besides the consumption value, forest also source of subsistence for this hidden and marginalized society of the world. The current study confirmed that there is a vital necessity for documentation of traditional knowledge associated to the Bagia aboriginals and others insubstantial cultural inheritance regarding traditional plant uses. Further, it can provide a baseline ethnobotanicals utilization pattern data that may be guiding parameter for the prioritization and conservation of these natural resources along with bio-prospecting indigenous traditional knowledge.
Abstract: In the due course of study, focus was prearranged on the traditional use of trees, herbs and shrubs (ethnobotanicals) which are little or unknown to modern societies. Through questionnaire and interviews, the present study was attempted to collect the information about the people who still live in traditional world. A total 40 tree species, 94 herb...
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Effect of Different Sun Drying Surfaces on the Functional Properties and Microbial Loads of Unripe Plantain Flours
Olorode Omobolanle Omowunmi,
Ewuoso Latifat Motunrayo
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2017
Pages:
50-55
Received:
25 March 2017
Accepted:
25 April 2017
Published:
11 August 2017
Abstract: In order to test the effect of commonly used traditional sun-drying surfaces on some qualities of the product, four traditional sun drying surfaces; wooden, corrugated iron sheet, rock and cement surfaces were used to sundry unripe plantain. The sundried samples were milled to flours. Functional, pasting properties and microbial loads of the resulting flours were determined using standard methods. Values of the functional properties determined except bulk density (packed) and solubility were higher in the rock followed by samples dried on cement surface compare to others. Functional properties except oil absorption and solubility generally improved with storage. Pasting property shows that, samples dried on the rock followed by samples dried on cement surface had the highest values in terms of peak viscosity, trough and final viscosity. There was no significant difference (P≥0.05) in breakdown and pasting temperature. Results of the microbial loads monitored for a period of two months show that at the initial stage, flours of samples sundried on rock had the highest microbial growth while samples dried on corrugated iron had the lowest. There was no significant difference (P≥0.05) in others. There was increase in microbial loads of samples dried on rock and corrugated iron but decreased in others after one month of storage. After storing for a period of two months, microbial loads of samples dried on the rock and cemented surfaces increased while no growth was recorded for samples from wooden and corrugated iron. The report from this research work revealed that rock and cemented surfaces are recommended for sun drying unripe plantain for better functionality of the flour while wood and corrugated iron surfaces are recommended based on microbial load for better storability.
Abstract: In order to test the effect of commonly used traditional sun-drying surfaces on some qualities of the product, four traditional sun drying surfaces; wooden, corrugated iron sheet, rock and cement surfaces were used to sundry unripe plantain. The sundried samples were milled to flours. Functional, pasting properties and microbial loads of the result...
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