Subsistence
demand for medicinal plants by the existing population at its
existing level of income;IN WADI ALLAQI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
The
purpose of project is to extend
sustainable development options for Wade Allaqi
Biosphere Reserve to include the cultivation of medicinal plants which
are indigenous to this
region. The specific focus
of project is on sources and conservation of medicinal plants that it is an
integral part of an environmental management and socio-economic development plan
for Wade Allaqi and, more broadly, for the wadis and the entire borders of Lake
Nasser.
An
existing and projected demand for
the cultivation of medicinal plants briefly summarized as follows:
Subsistence
demand for medicinal plants by the existing population at its
existing level of income;
Growth
in the foregoing demand as populations continue to slowly increase and as
incomes increase in response to opportunities provided by other components of
the Wade Allaqi project;
Sales
of the medicinal plants to the town of Aswan;
Increase
of cultivated lands for commercial use of medicinal plants in the
Wade Allaqi area and other locations.
The
project on the cultivation of the medicinal plants
carried out from 1995 to 2001 by multidisciplinary team of Assiut
University and the Unit of Environmental Studies and Development (UESD) in
Aswan, South Valley University, where
a comprehensive and systematic inter-disciplinary
research programme, including field and laboratory work, is conducted
together with field trials and experiments in the Wade Allaqi Biosphere Reserve.
As a result of taxonomical, ecological and economical studies on indigenous plants, as well as taken into consideration of indigenous knowledge, a following plants with high economic value have been identified for cultivation in experimental plots: Balanites aegyptiaca, Solenostemma arghel, Cymbopogon proximus, Acacia albida and Acacia raddiana.
Following
is an example of the short description of two plants, which cultivated in Wade
Allaqi experimental farms:
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Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. Vernacular names: Lalobe and Heglig (Arabic); Shashoba (Bisharia); Korak and Kurio (Nuba).
Balanites aegyptiaca could be consider the vulnearable species because it is rare and
actually decreased in Egypt. The alter of all Nile valley to the agricultural lands caused the loss of most favourable habitat, while in the surrounding desert this tree overused for grazing, fuel-wood and timber.
Uses of Balanites aegyptiaca
The economic value of Balanites aegyptiaca has been known in Egypt since ancient times. Its most important use in the past was the extraction of oil from the kernel, in addition, the fruit pulp was eaten raw or made into cakes and also used for the preparation of an alcoholic drink. Its leaves were used as herbs and the wood was used in the manufacture of ships.
Different parts of the Balanites tree, which include the fruit, kernel oil, leaves, resin, root, bark, shoots and seeds, are used traditionally to treat a wide range of illnesses. A chemical extracted from the fruit and bark of Balanites is used by people in some localities as a pesticide, which can kill the fresh water snails, which carry the bilharzia parasite and the water flies, which carry the guinea worm. The main potential for industrial utilization of Balanites lies in extraction of the group of chemicals known as saponins.
Despite
its nutritional and medicinal value and other uses, Balanites is practically unutilized in Egypt, probably because its
natural growth is relatively small and scattered, making it difficult to
establish a Balanites industry.
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Solenostemma arghel (Del.) Hayne Arabic names: Argel, Arghel, Hargal
Solenostemma arghel is a vulnerable species which has a limited distribution in Egypt being under threat because of its intensive overuse. The largest population of this plant is growing in the upstream part of Wadi Allaqi conservation area is protected by Egyptian law since 1989. Solenostemma arghel has been cultivated in the farm in the downstream part of Wadi Allaqi in order to increase its population and promote the cultivation of this economically important plant as the desert crop in other areas of Egypt.
Uses
Argel leaves is used in indigenous medicine for the treatment of some diseases such as of liver and kidney and allergies. It is an effective remedy for bronchitis and is used to treat neuralgia and sciatica. It is used as incense in the treatment of measles and sometimes crushed and used as remedy for suppurating wounds. The leaves are infused to treat gastro-intestinal cramps, stomach-ache, colic, cold and urinary tract infections and is effective as an anti-syphilitic if used for prolonged periods of 40-80 days. Leaves possess purgative properties which may be due to the latex present in the stems. Several active compounds were extracted from Solenostemma.
Seeds of Solenostemma argel germinate in a wide temperature range. The maximum germination was observed at 35°C. Pre-sowing of seeds with growth stimulators promote their germination. Seeds germinate better, grow faster and bear more fruits in sandy soils. A few young individuals of Solenostemma argel were brought from the upstream part of Wadi Allaqi and planted in the university campus at Aswan. These plants were the main source of seeds used for research studies and cultivation in Wadi Allaqi experimental farm.
