1st Edition

Food as Medicine Functional Food Plants of Africa

By Maurice M. Iwu Copyright 2017
    406 Pages 26 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    This comprehensive book documents African plants used for functional and medicinal foods. It contains more than 60 detailed monographs of African foods, describing foods with various characteristics such as prebiotic, probiotic, satiety, immune modulation, stress-reduction, sports performance, mental acuity, sleep-supporting, metabolic syndrome, antioxidant, and unsaturated fats. Plant description, botanical names and synonyms, plant part used, habitat and distribution, folk use, nutritional content, and chemistry are all fully detailed. The book highlights indigenous African food processing technologies up to the modern era.

    INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN FUNCTIONAL FOODS

    Foods, Phytochemicals, and Nutraceuticals: The New Health Imperative
    Phytonutrients: Nature’s Own Medicine
    How Do Phytochemicals Work
    How Do We Get Enough Phytochemicals
    Raw versus Cooked Food
    Low Consumption of Animal Protein
    Gluten-Free African Food Plants
    African Functional Foods in Commerce
    Glossary
    References

    Historical Introduction: The Role of Dietary Plants in Traditional Medical Care in Africa
    References

    Major Nutraceuticals of African Origin
    Introduction
    Polyphenols
    β-Carotene
    Phytosterols and Phytostanols
    Catechin
    Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate
    Resveratrol
    Proanthocyanidins
    Tocotrienols
    Ubiquinone
    Essential Oils
    Glucosinolates and Isothiocyanates
    5-Hydroxy-l-Tryptophan
    Dietary Fiber
    References

    Modern Trends in the Use of Functional Food Plants of Africa
    Introduction
    Polyherbal Formulations as Bioenhancers
    Use of Nanoparticles to Enhance Bioavailability
    African Fermented Foods
    Fruit and Vegetable Smoothies
    References

    FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN DISEASES

    Oxidative Stress, Plant Antioxidants, and Health

    Introduction
    Alzheimer’s Disease
    Parkinson’s Disease
    Sources of Antioxidants in Foods
    References

    Effect of Phytonutrients on Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Aging
    Introduction
    Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases
    Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Culinary Herbs and Spices
    Inflammation and Aging
    References

    Digestive System Dysfunction: Dietary Interventions
    Introduction
    Gut Microbiota
    Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Symbiotic
    Gut and Immune System
    Gastrointestinal Information Exchange System
    Functional Foods, Gut Health, and Diseases
    Maintenance of Optimum Gut Health
    References

    Functional Foods and Phytonutrients in Diabetes Management
    Introduction
    Functional Foods
    Fiber-Rich Diets in the Prevention of Diabetes and Obesity
    Polyherbal Formulations
    Problem with Sugars: Health Implications of High-Fructose Corn Syrup
    References

    Dietary Supplements in Cancer Prevention and Management
    Introduction
    Functional Foods with Chemoprotective Properties
    Aloin and Related Aloe Compounds
    Green Tea
    Cocoa Polyphenols
    References

    MONOGRAPHS

    Monographs of Major African Functional Foods

    Introduction
    Alligator Pepper, Grains of Paradise
    Aloe Vera
    Cape Aloe
    Aridan
    Balanites: Desert Date
    Bambara Groundnut
    "How to Eat It"—Taken from FAO
    Dumplings
    Baobab
    Bissap: Zobo
    Bitter Kola
    Bitter Leaf
    Boscia
    Buchu
    Bush Cane
    Bush Mango: Ogbono
    Cacao: Cocoa
    Calabash Nutmeg
    Cashew
    Value-Added Products from Cashew
    Clove
    Coconut
    Coffee
    Cowpea: Black-Eye Bean
    Egyptian Chamomile: Msolo
    Enset
    Ethiopian Pepper
    False Nutmeg
    Fenugreek
    Frankincense: Olibanum
    Garden Egg: African Eggplant
    GarlicGinger
    Globe Artichoke: Cardoon
    Gnetum: Eru, Okazi
    Gongronema: UtaziGriffonia
    Guava
    Guinea pepper
    Gum Arabic
    Honeybush Tea
    Indian Ginseng
    Kidney Bean
    Kinkeliba
    Kola Nut
    Cola Nitida
    Lemongrass
    Locust Bean
    Marama: Morama Bean
    Marula
    Mondia: White’s Ginger
    Moringa: Horseradish Tree
    Myrrh
    Nutmeg Tree
    Okra
    Palm Tree
    Pawpaw: Papaya
    Pigeon Pea
    Red Pepper
    Cayenne Pepper
    Rooibos
    Scent Leaf
    Ocimum suave
    Ocimum sanctum
    Sesame Seed: Benniseed
    Shea Butter Tree
    Sisal
    Sorghum: Guinea Corn
    (African) Star Apple
    Tamarind
    Tigernut
    Trichilia
    Turmeric
    Ugu: Fluted Pumpkin
    Velvet Bean: Lacuna Bean
    Wild Olive
    References

    Biography

    Maurice M. Iwu (M. Pharm., Ph.D. Bradford) was a Professor of Pharmacognosy at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and a Senior Research Associate at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington D.C. He is the President of Bioresources Development Group (BDG), an African-based independent biosciences research and development organization that cultivates, processes and produces medicines and cosmetics from natural products.

    He is a member of the Board of Directors of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc (formerly Pfizer Nigeria). He is the founder and chairman of Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme (BDCP), Bioresources Institute of Nigeria (BION), Intercedd Health Products (IHP) and the International Centre for Ethnomedicine and Drug Development (InterCEDD). He was the Vice President, Research and Development at Tom’s of Maine. Prof. Iwu has received many academic and professional honors, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Visiting Scholar at the Dyson Perrins Laboratory, University of Oxford (1980), Fulbright Senior Scholar Award (Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio and the Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York (1983); Senior Research Scholar Award, U.S. National Research Council, Washington D.C. (1993 – 1995) and the Richard Schultz International Prize for Ethnobiology (1999). Commendation and tribute at the United States House of Representative, 106th Congress (2002). He was awarded the Doctor of Letters degree (Honoraris Causa) of Imo State University, Nigeria (2009).

    He has presented over 300 scientific papers, published more than 200 research articles and is the author of four books, including the highly cited "Handbook of African Medicinal Plants" (First Edition 1994; Second Edition 2014) published by CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. He is the Series Editor of the Elsevier Science Series "Advances in Phytomedicine". He is also a member of the Editorial Board of several international scientific journals. He has a number of patents to his credit. He is a member of the Treatment Research Group (TRG) on Ebola virus disease established by the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, Clinical Trial Technical Working Group (CT-TWG) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria, and the African Regional Standards Organization ARSO) Committee for the Harmonization of Standardization of Traditional Medicines and Medicinal Plants.