Thesis (M. Env. St.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Graduate Centre for Environmental Studies, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-117).

Thesis (Doctoral)--University of Stockholm, 1983. / Cover title. Abstract and summary in English and Swedish. English title: Nutritive values of wild Swedish plants : analyses and physiological studies of different components, with special reference to carbohydrates, proteins and ascorbic acid"--P. 1. Author's "Vilda växter som füda under 10 dagar vid en 250 km lang överlevnadsmarsch" appended as Supplement. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in landscape architecture)--Washington State University, May 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-71).

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Geography. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/01/16). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/30). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 103 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-83).

Human subsistence within the Cape Floristic Region (Cape) dates back to our inception as a distinct species. Unique archaeological evidence found here for the defining attribute of cognitive modernity, as well as coinciding paleo-climatic challenges to survival, both highlight the Cape’s potential to support the existence of pre-historic hunter-gatherers. This habitat, with its unprecedented diversity of geophytes and other plant growth forms, has not yet revealed its potential to provide carbohydrate resources for early Homo sapiens sapiens. In order to investigate this potential, an ethnobotanical survey of the south Cape coastal area near Still Bay was conducted. Despite 17th Century colonialism marking the onset of indigenous plant knowledge decline, the 18 people of Khoe-San descent interviewed in this survey still actively used 58 indigenous edible plant species with a variety of 69 uses. Fruit showed the highest popularity of plants used (52 percent) followed by nectar, with plants having underground storage organs (USOs) ranking third (34 percent). Among growth forms, shrubs dominated (34 percent) followed by geophytes and trees (both 21 percent). With the exception of Prionium serratum, which was rare in the research area, this study failed to identify species that could have formed a staple source of carbohydrate for pre-colonial Khoe-San peoples of the Cape south coast. While eight species of USOs were identified (12 percent of total) only Cyphia species emerged as an important carbohydrate source. This study indicated the importance of Thicket Biome species as a source of edible plants. The second component of the study comprised a two year phenological survey of indigenous edible plant species in four primary vegetation types. A total of 32 USO species and 21 species with aboveground edible carbohydrates (fruiting species) were identified across all sites. Limestone Fynbos had the richest flora of edible species (21 USO species and 18 fruiting species), followed by Strandveld (15 USOs and 13 fruiting species), Renosterveld (8 and 8, respectively) and lastly Sand Fynbos (5 and 5, respectively). The season of highest apparency showed slight variation amongst the four sites over the two years, with more variation evident in the period of apparency. The first survey year had below average rainfall, while the second year received an average rainfall amount. The second year saw a dramatic increase in apparency of abundance for all sites (50 to 60 percent increase) except for the Sand Fynbos site, which showed little change. The other sites showed a one month increase in the period of apparency in the second survey year. Overall, late summer to autumn was the period of lowest apparency of USOs. The ripening of certain fruiting species during this time would have provided a source of carbohydrate when USO availability was at its lowest. Strandveld had the highest biomass in the peak of apparency (over 80 kgha-1) in the first year with a nearly 20 percent increase for the second year. The combined biomass for the four study sites in the first survey year was roughly 150 kgha-1 and 185 kgha-1 for the second year. The apparency of abundance (ripe and edible phase) of fruiting species did not increase much for Renosterveld and Strandveld in the second survey year, except for Limestone Fynbos (49 percent increase) and Sand Fynbos (53 percent). A multivariate analysis showed seven phenophases for high apparency of edible USOs and ripe fruit across the four vegetation types. Given the contribution of evergreen USOs and fruiting species, there would always have been carbohydrates available for foragers to collect in the major vegetation types of the south Cape coast. However, harvesting and processing this carbohydrate resource would have posed cognitive challenges for MSA hunter-gatherers, given the interwoven taxonomic complexity of numerous toxic plant species, and the diverse phenology of edible plant species within the varied vegetation types. These challenges were undoubtedly mastered, highlighting the Cape environment as a possible catalyst to improved human cognitive maturity.

Looking at the use of plants as food reflects how humankind has fashioned nature. There has been a significant change in production patterns from hunter-gathering through subsistence agriculture to technologically advanced commercial agriculture with a subsequent reduction in the diversity of plants used as food. A parallel trend in consumption patterns has occurred, from home-based food processing for subsistence through small- scale production to large-scale industrial processing and the commodification of food. The overall result of such trends is a narrowing of the food resource base and an increasing reliance on processed foods at the expense of traditional diets, accompanied by increasing diet-related health risks. This research is an ethnographic case study on the use of indigenous food plants by the community of Tuku A village in the Eastern Cape using interviews and observations as the main data collecting strategies. A nutritional analysis of some wild food plants was also carried out. An inventory of more than 70 food plant species was compiled, with the knowledge of such plants found among both the elderly and the youth. The incorporation of this knowledge into education systems is recommended. Of the wild food plants documented, some were non-indigenous indicating the dynamic nature of indigenous knowledge. Some wild spinach were left to grow amongst cultivated food plants, hinting at some form of ‘domestication’ in process. This observation together with the observation that wild fruit trees were selectively conserved highlights the possibility of the continued use of wild food contributing to conservation of botanical diversity. Community use of indigenous food was found to be diminishing. Stigmatisation of indigenous food plants, urbanisation, formal education, changes in lifestyle, and media were some of the factors possibly influencing this dietary shift. The community made links between diet and health, which correspond to modern scientific knowledge, with modern diet being lamented for ill health. The nutritional analysis revealed that wild food plants do contain essential dietary nutrients, an area recommended for further research.

Submitted in fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Technology (Biotechnology) in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 2009. / Information regarding the nutritional value of wild food plants in Africa and current information varies from source to source. Prior to commercialization of wild foods the nutritional, ethnobotanical, medical, chemical, anthropological and toxicity requires investigation. Plants from the Amaranthaceae family were chosen because the family is characterized by several species which are used by indigenous communities as a source of nutrition in different plants of the world. The focus of this study was to investigate the nutritional and biological activities of three plants from the Amaranthaceae family viz. Achyranthes aspera, Alternanthera sessilis and Guilleminea densa that are considered famine plants. This study aimed to determine the nutritional value (proximate, minerals and vitamins), biological activity, toxicity and potential of a tissue culture system for three species from the family Amaranthaceae. Nutritional analysis comprised of determining moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fibre and energy. Mineral analysis of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium and zinc was performed by microwave digestion and then analyzed by ICP Spectrophotometry. Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C were also analyzed. For biological and safety analyses aqueous and methanolic extracts were prepared. Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of the extracts were tested; antimicrobial activity was tested by evaluating the bactericidal, fungal effect and minimum inhibitory concentration on selected bacteria and fungi using the agar disk diffusion method. Anti mosquito potential was determined by setting up repellency, larvacidal assay and insecticidal assay. The safety and toxicity analysis was carried out by measuring cytotoxicity, toxicity and mutagenicity. The potential of an in vitro tissue culture system of A. aspera, A. sessilis and G. densa was determined using micropropagation. A. aspera indicated significant amounts moisture, ash, dietary fibre, protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, magnesium and manganese. Plant extracts of A. aspera had antibacterial activity against the Gram negative bacteria Esherichia coli, Pseudomas aeroginosa and Salmonella typhi; Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermis and Staphylococcus aureus. The methanolic extract had antifungal activity against Sacchromyces cerevisiae and exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity as well as 85% repellency against Anopheles arabiensis. The aqueous extract stimulated the growth of the K562 (Chronic Myclogenous Leukaemia) cell line and the plant extracts showed no mutagenicity or toxicity. A. sessilis indicated significant levels of ash, dietary fibre, protein, energy, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, iron, magnesium and manganese present. Plant extracts of A. sessilis had antibacterial activity against Gram negative bacteria P. aeroginosa and Gram positive bacteria S. epidermis. The plant also showed antifungal activity against the yeasts S. cerevisiae and Candida albicans. The methanolic plant extract showed excellent antioxidant activity. The aqueous plant extract stimulated the growth of the K562 cell line and the plant extracts possessed no mutagenicity or toxicity. This plant grew well in a tissue culture system where it was propagated from callus to a fully grown plant able to survive in environmental conditions. G. densa has ash and dietary fibre, vitamin B2, vitamin B3 and iron. The plant extracts had antibacterial activity against Gram negative bacteria E. coli, P. aeroginosa and Klebsiella. oxytoca; Gram positive bacteria Baccilus stereathermophilus and S. aureus. The plant also has antifungal activity against C. albicans and significant repellency activity against A. arabiensis where it showed 100% repellency. This plant was not found to be mutagenic or toxic. The results obtained from this study show promising potential for the plants to be exploited as famine food plants. The nutritional value, biological activity and ability to micropropagate A. aspera, A. sessilis and G. densa indicates a good potential for purposes of harnessing biotechnological products.

Thesis (M.Ed. (Education)) - Rhodes University, 2009. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education.