ABSTRACT
Despite the dramatic increase in food production thanks to the Green Revolution, hunger is increasing among human populations around the world, affecting one in nine people. The negative environmental and social consequences of industrial monocrop agriculture is becoming evident, particularly in the contexts of greenhouse gas emissions and the increased frequency and impact of zoonotic disease emergence, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Human activity has altered 70-75% of the ice-free Earth's surface, squeezing nature and wildlife into a corner. To prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide, the UN has launched a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. In this context, this review describes the origin and diversity of cultivated species, the impact of modern agriculture and other human activities on plant genetic resources, and approaches to conserve and use them to increase food diversity and production with specific examples of the use of crop wild relatives for breeding climate-resilient cultivars that require less chemical and mechanical input. The need to better coordinate in situ conservation efforts with increased funding has been highlighted. We emphasise the need to strengthen the genebank infrastructure, enabling the use of modern biotechnological tools to help in genotyping and characterising accessions plus advanced ex situ conservation methods, identifying gaps in collections, developing core collections, and linking data with international databases. Crop and variety diversification and minimising tillage and other field practices through the development and introduction of herbaceous perennial crops is proposed as an alternative regenerative food system for higher carbon sequestration, sustaining economic benefits for growers, whilst also providing social and environmental benefits.
ABSTRACT
Spondias mombin is one of the species belonging to the (Family: Anacardiaceae), its ethnomedicinal uses may be justified through many studies that reported potential pharmacological properties due to its phytochemical compounds. This review aimed at examining the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical compounds and pharmacological properties of S. mombin leaf extracts on the African continent, to justify its use in the management and/ or treatment of viral infections and cancers. Electronic databases such as Google Scholar, SciHub, PubMed and Science Direct with search dates between 1999 and 2019 were used. Findings from this review confirm the ethnomedicinal uses, of decoctions and infusions of S. mombin leaf extracts for management diseases such as malaria, sore throat, and inflammation disorders;studies confirmed the presence of phytochemical compounds such as Geraniin, 2-O-Caffeoyl-(+)-allohydroxycitric acid, Quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and pelandjuaic acid, responsible for the antiviral and chemotherapeutic properties. However, there is a need for bio-assay guided extractions, isolation, identification and characterization of phytochemical compound(s) in the leaf extracts of S. mombin that may be responsible for antiviral and anticancer activity. Investigations of the pharmacological action, in silico and in vitro studies of known and /or newly isolated compounds are warranted in the management and /or treatment of viral infections such as, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, and cancers to justify the use of leaf extracts of S. mombin on the African continent for the management of viral infections and or cancer.
ABSTRACT
The entire world is entrapped by the contagious, lethal infectious Corona disease, brought about by the extreme intense respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has been more devastating than the first. The arrival of corona virus vaccines has meant good news for resuming a normal life. However, there are some cases that have been reported that the persons who have been vaccinated still test positive for COVID-19. Unlike the first wave (in 2020), the younger population is getting infection by a corona virus, especially those with comorbidities are at high risk. Evidence from the first wave of data on the mortality rate also suggests that people with weak immune systems, e.g., older people, children, and those with underlying medical issues, are more likely to be affected by Covid-19 disease. Therefore, by improving the human body's immunity, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections can be reduced. In this regard, medicinal plants can play an effective role in improving the body's immunity. Thus, in this paper, attempts are made to compile and discuss the use of various plants to boost immunity and also for the prevention of many respiratory diseases having symptoms and signs similar to Corona disease.