Industrial Potential of Underutilized Plants in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is blessed with a variety of plant biodiversity.  Out of more than 5,000 plant species available in the country, less than 20 are currently developed and used for food and as industrial raw materials.  While some of the remaining plants are employed for various applications such as food, medicine, rope, etc., their utilisation at industrial level is presently constrained by inadequate development. In the present circumstances of the Nigerian economy occasioned by low price commanded by crude oil, it has become imperative that some of these resources be developed for various industrial applications.  Available information indicated that the underutilised plants can be employed as industrial raw materials in the fats and oils, pharmaceutical, fruit juice and beverages and composite seasoning producing industries. For instance underutilised plant species such as Dacryodes edulis, Monodora myristica, Pentachletra macrophylla, have been reported to contain 66.87%, 42.0% and 58.15% oil respectively.  Also, Garcinia cola, Irvingia wombolu and Zanthoxylum species have been used in disease control locally while Dalium guineense, Parkia biglobosa and Tarmarindus indice have been used locally for production or fruit juice by native communities.  Species such as Piper guineense, Oscimum gratissimum and Culcuma longa have also been employed as seasoning agents.  In addition, plant species such as Sterculia setigera and Sterculia oblonga have been reported to produce long fibre pulp based on their fibre characteristics.  In view of their industrial utilisation potential, it has become mandatory for these plant species to be sustainably developed for industrial use in order to reduce foreign exchange expenditure on raw materials importation and to earn foreign exchange for the country through their export.

Keywords: Underutilised, Fruit Juice, Industrial Utilisation, Long Fibre, Seasoning.