Medicinal plant biotechnology research in Jamaica - Challenges and opportunities

Acta Horticulturae

Volumn 756, Issue , 2007, Pages 171-182

  Mitchell, S A ^a   Ahmad, M H ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES   (Jamaica)

Author keywords

Antibacterial; Antifungal; Business development; Ethnomedicine; Micropropagation; Natural product development; Somatic embryogenesis

Indexed keywords

ANANAS; ANANAS COMOSUS; ARTHROSTEMA; AZADIRACHTA INDICA; BLIGHIA; BLIGHIA SAPIDA; CAPSICUM CHINENSE; CURCUMA LONGA; CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS; HYPTIS; HYPTIS VERTICILLATA; KALANCHOE PINNATA; MIKANIA; MIKANIA MICRANTHA; PEPEROMIA; PEPEROMIA HERNANDIFOLIA; PETIVERIA ALLIACEA; SMILAX; SMILAX REGELII; SOLANUM; ZINGIBER; ZINGIBER OFFICINALE;

EID: 70449378414     PISSN: 05677572     EISSN: None     Source Type: Book Series    
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.756.19     Document Type: Conference Paper

References (38)

1. Ahmad, M.H. and Mitchell, S.A. 2003. The Impact of Biotechnology on the Economic Development of Caribbean communities. In: Proceedings of the Faculty of Social Sciences conference entitled "The University of the West Indies: Bridging the Gap with the Community", September 11-14, 2003 (in press).
2. Millar 2005. Neem (Azadirachta indica) - chemical and micropropagation studies. MPhil thesis, UWI.
3. Millar, M.K., Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2005. Microprogation studies and antimicrobial evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). Proceedings of the Seventh Biannual Conference of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Mona, Jamaica, May 17-19, p.36-37.
4. Millar, M.K.J., Mitchell, S.A., Ahmad, M.H. and Golden, K.G. 2003. Azadirachtin levels of commercial Neem oils and neem seed grown in Jamaica. In: Proceedings of the Sixth Conference of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Mona, Jamaica, March 17-19, p.79-80.
5. Mitchell, S.A. 2007. Charles Town Feasibility Study: 'Development of a Herb, Spice and Medicinal Plant Industry in the Charles Town Development Area, Portland', 152p, IICA, Jamaica (in press).
6. Mitchell, S.A. 2006. Ethnomedicine in Jamaica - the importance of traditional knowledge. Workshop on Drug Development from Natural Products: Past, Present and Future. 15th Annual Conference, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, Nov. 15-17, 2006.
7. Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2006a. A Review of Medicinal Plant Research at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, 1948-2001. West Indies Medical Journal 55(4):243-269.
8. Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2006b Protecting our medicinal plant heritage: the making of a new national treasure. Jamaica Journal, Institute of Jamaica, Kingston. 29(3):28-33.
9. Mitchell, S.A. 2005a. Jamaican herbs: A "Goldmine" of Possibilities. Alternative and Complementary Medicine Symposium, Medical Association of Jamaica, October 2, p.1.
10. Mitchell, S.A. 2005b. The role of Biotechnology: Jamaica. In: Sharing Innovative experiences, Volume 10: Examples of the development of Pharmaceutical Products from Medicinal Plants. UNDP/TCDC/TWNSO/TWAS, New York p.164-176.
11. Mitchell, S.A. 2005c. Plants promoting health and wealth. The Gleaner, Eye on Science, page B5, October 27, 2005.
12. Mitchell, S.A., Scott, K. and Ahmad, M.H. 2005a. Propagation of neem (Azadirachta indica). using macro- and micropropagation methods. Jamaican Society for Agricultural Sciences conference, June 15-16, Kingston, Jamaica. p.7. (In CD proceedings).
13. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M., Miller, S. and Ahmad, M.H. 2005b. Post-harvest microbial analysis of turmeric (Curcuma longa). and curry products, Jamaican Society for Agricultural Sciences conference. p.18. (In CD proceedings).
14. Mitchell, S.A., Wray, K. and Ahmad, M.H. 2005c. Jamaican 'Do-It-Yourself' tissue culture kit. SIVB 2005 In Vitro Biology Conference, Baltimore, June 5-7th, W8, p.21.
15. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M. and Ahmad, M.H. 2005d. The potential of Jamaican-grown plants for health and wealth: the experience of the Medicinal Plant Research Group, Biotechnology Centre, UWI, Mona. The 29th Caribbean Regional Conference on Nutrition and Dietetics "Emerging areas of interest in nutrition and dietetics", July 2-5th, Kingston, Jamaica. p.18. Powerpoint placed on CD proceedings.
16. Mitchell, S.A. 2004a. The past, present and future of Agrobiotechnology in the Caribbean. Paper presented at the Caribbean Food Crops Society 40th Meeting, St. John's, US Virgin Island, July 19-22nd. Proceedings being published.
17. Mitchell, S.A. 2004b. The potential for Health Tourism in the Caribbean from a biodiversity viewpoint. Presentation given at Telemedicine Conference. July 22-25th, Kingston, Jamaica.
18. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M., Webster, S. and Ahmad, M.H. 2004a. Use of Biotechnology Techniques in the exploration of socio-economically significant plants in the Caribbean. In: Proceeding of REDBIO2004, June 21-25th, Dominican Republic, p.33 http://www.redbio.org/rdominicana/redbio2004rd/Memoria-REDBIO- 2004/Talleres-PDF/t07-PDF/t07-05.pdf.
19. Mitchell, S.A., Wray, K., Miller, M., Lawrence, T.G., McLaughlin, W. and Ahmad, M.H. 2004b. Low-cost agricultural biotechnology solutions for the Caribbean. In: Proceeding of REDBIO2004, June 21-25th, Dominican Republic, p.31.
20. Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2003a. Agricultural Biotechnology in the Caribbean. AgBiotechNet, Vol 5 February (ABN 106). 5 pages.
21. Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2003b. Establishment of ex vitro and in vitro germplasm collections of important trees and medicinal plants of Jamaica. Jamaica Journal of Science and Technology 14:9-16.
22. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M. and Ahmad, M.H. 2003a. Neem (Azadirachta indica). research at the Biotechnology Center: Testing of neem formulations, Azadirachtin levels in neem oil and Micropropagation of neem plantlets. Jamaica Journal of Science and Technology 14:79-89.
23. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M., Webster, S. and Ahmad, M.H. 2003b. The Application of Biotechnology in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development: Medicinal Plant Utilization. In: CD proceeding of the Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals (JIEP). National Scientific Conference on the Environment entitled "Advancing Environmental Knowledge Towards Decision Making in Sustainable Development", Jamaica Conference Centre, Jamaica, April 9-10th, 2003.
24. Mitchell, S.A. 2002. The potential of biotechnology for the improvement of Caribbean medicinal plants. In Proceedings: 'Scientific Forum on Caribbean Ethnomedicine and medicinal plants' December 6-7th, Montego Bay, Jamaica, p.8.
25. Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. (2002). The Wonders of the Neem Tree. Health, Home and Garden Magazine, Jamaica p.78-80.
26. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M. and Ahmad, M.H. 2002. Microbiological and biochemical evaluation of neem oil as a commercial product. In: Proceedings of the Caribbean Academy of Science XIIIth Annual Meeting ,Held in Jamaica June 1-4, 2002 p.25-26.
27. Mitchell, S.A. 2001. Medicinal plant research at UWI: a critical analysis. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Conference of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Mona, Jamaica, January 8-11, p.29-30.
28. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M. and Ahmad, M.H. 2001a. A new approach to an old problem - Control of post-harvest fungal infection of yam (Dioscorea spp.). tubers. 11th Annual Conference, Jamaica Society of Agricultural Scientists, JAGRIST XIII, 10-11.
29. Mitchell, S.A., Millar, M. and Ahmad, M.H. 2001b. The potential of medicinal plants for the bioextraction industry: the example of neem (Azadirachta indica). In: Proceedings of 15th annual SRC conference entitled 'Science and Technology for economic development: the Bioextraction industry', SRC, Jamaica.
30. Mitchell, S.A., Curtello, S., Millar, M., Chin, M., Patrickson, D. and Ahmad, M.H. 2001c. Micropropagation of Jamaican Medicinal Plants and testing of formulations from these plants. International Symposium on 'Utilization of natural products in developing countries: trends and needs', Natural Products Institute, UWI, Kingston, Jamaica. July 9-14; p.162-167.
31. Mitchell, S.A., Asemota, H.N. and Ahmad, M.H. 1995. Effects of explant source, culture medium strength, and growth regulators on the in vitro propagation of three Jamaican yams (Dioscorea cayenensis, D. trifida and D. rotundata). J. Sci. Food Agric. 67:173-180.
32. Morrison, E.Y., Lowe, H. and Mitchell, S.A. 2004. 'Caribbean Medicinal Plants'. E-book. Pelican Publishers. Details on 30 Caribbean Medicinal Plants.
33. Webster, S.A., Mitchell, S.A., Reid, W. and Ahmad, M.H. 2006. Somatic embryogenesis from leaf and zygotic embryo explants of Blighia sapida 'cheese' ackee. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. - Plant. 42(5):467-472.
34. Webster, S.A., Mitchell, S.A., Reid, W. and Ahmad, M.H. 2005. Somatic embryogenic response and embryo conversion in Petiveria alliacea (Guinea hen weed). Proceedings of the Seventh Biannual Conference of the Faculty of Pure and AppliedSciences, Mona, Jamaica, May 17-19, p.53-54.
35. Webster, S., Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2004. Somatic embryogenesis response of Petiveria alliacea leaf explant-derived-callus to sucrose- and glucose-enriched media supplemented with NAA and BAP. In Vitro Volume 40, 2004 World Congress on In Vitro Biology Abstract Issue p.33-A.
36. Webster, S., Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2003a. In vitro propagation of some medicinal plants of commercial value. In: Proceedings of the Sixth Conference of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Mona, Jamaica, March 17-19, p.80-81.
37. Webster, S., Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2003b. A novel surface sterilization method for reducing fungal and bacterial contamination of field grown medicinal explants intended for in vitro culture. In: Proceedings of 17th SRC conference entitled 'Science and Technology for Economic Development: Technology Driven Agriculture and Agro-Processing' SRC, Jamaica. (in press).
38. Wray, K, Mitchell, S.A. and Ahmad, M.H. 2004. Low Cost Micropropagation Techniques. SRC Annual Conference "Science and Technology for Economic Development: Transforming Research Results and Traditional Knowledge into Viable Businesses", November 2004. On CD.