Articles
MEDICINAL PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH IN JAMAICA – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Article number
756_19
Pages
171 – 182
Language
English
Abstract
Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Research in a tropical developing country is a challenge but there are many opportunities as well.
This paper reviews research undertaken by the Medicinal Plant Research Group from its inception in 1999 to the end of 2006. A three-prong approach has been taken to maintain an international standard of research while ensuring local and regional relevancy: 1) formulation of antimicrobial products (including a neem Azadirachta indica) disinfectant); 2) tissue culture studies (micropropagation of medicinal plants including neem, ginger [Zingiber officinalis], turmeric [Curcuma longa], leaf-of-life [Bryophyllum pinnatum], Quako [Mikania micrantha], John Charles [Hyptis verticillata], peperomia [Peperomia hernandifolia], nail cleaner [Arthrostema fragile], lemon grass [Cymbopogon citrates], pineapple [Ananas cosmosus] and sarsaparilla [Smilax regelii]; somatic embryogenesis of ackee [Blighia sapida] and guinea hen weed [Petiveria alliacea]; and de novo organogenesis of scotch bonnet pepper [Solanum chinense]); and 3) business studies including information gathering and dissemination (Jamaican folk medicine practises, UWI medicinal plant research 19482001, e-book on Caribbean medicinal plants, book chapter on Jamaicas medicinal plant biotechnology experience, article on medicinal gene bank and folk recipes of 30 of these plants, over 56 newspaper articles, 13 e-newsletters, marketing and feasibility studies and business plans, plus several presentations at various audiences including of scientists, farmers, government bodies and industrial groups). There has been a conscious effort to be involved in and to tailor research to serve industrial needs.
There has also been a conscious effort to mix short-term research that has immediate application (eg. development of low-cost tissue culture kits) with longer-term research that may take years to apply but for which the potential is much greater (e.g., molecular pharming, and somatic embryogenesis of elite trees). The challenges and opportunities arising from these activities will be discussed.
This paper reviews research undertaken by the Medicinal Plant Research Group from its inception in 1999 to the end of 2006. A three-prong approach has been taken to maintain an international standard of research while ensuring local and regional relevancy: 1) formulation of antimicrobial products (including a neem Azadirachta indica) disinfectant); 2) tissue culture studies (micropropagation of medicinal plants including neem, ginger [Zingiber officinalis], turmeric [Curcuma longa], leaf-of-life [Bryophyllum pinnatum], Quako [Mikania micrantha], John Charles [Hyptis verticillata], peperomia [Peperomia hernandifolia], nail cleaner [Arthrostema fragile], lemon grass [Cymbopogon citrates], pineapple [Ananas cosmosus] and sarsaparilla [Smilax regelii]; somatic embryogenesis of ackee [Blighia sapida] and guinea hen weed [Petiveria alliacea]; and de novo organogenesis of scotch bonnet pepper [Solanum chinense]); and 3) business studies including information gathering and dissemination (Jamaican folk medicine practises, UWI medicinal plant research 19482001, e-book on Caribbean medicinal plants, book chapter on Jamaicas medicinal plant biotechnology experience, article on medicinal gene bank and folk recipes of 30 of these plants, over 56 newspaper articles, 13 e-newsletters, marketing and feasibility studies and business plans, plus several presentations at various audiences including of scientists, farmers, government bodies and industrial groups). There has been a conscious effort to be involved in and to tailor research to serve industrial needs.
There has also been a conscious effort to mix short-term research that has immediate application (eg. development of low-cost tissue culture kits) with longer-term research that may take years to apply but for which the potential is much greater (e.g., molecular pharming, and somatic embryogenesis of elite trees). The challenges and opportunities arising from these activities will be discussed.
Authors
S.A. Mitchell , M.H. Ahmad
Keywords
micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, ethnomedicine, antibacterial, antifungal, natural product development, business development
Online Articles (46)