Prospects for the Domestication of Aloe mzimbana in Zambia
Keywords:
Aloe mzimbana, Asphodelaceae, Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants
Abstract
Zambia, located on the Luombe River, which forms part of the Bangweulu Basin drainage system. The geomorphological nature of Chishimba Falls is such that it consists of two waterfalls called the Mutumuna and Chishimba and the Kaela Rapids. The Chishimba Falls Heritage Site covers an area of 777 hectares. It is surrounded by human settlements and residences for staff of the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation and the Zambia National Service. Out of a total of 314 plant species recorded at this site, 138 species of flowering plants are of ethnobotanical value. Vegetation studies conducted at this heritage site generated an idea on the prospects to domesticate species of Aloe, particularly Aloe mzimbana, as a source of pharmaceutical compounds.References
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2. Allen Q, Mwanza I, Chalcraft H. Guide to Little-Known Waterfalls of Zambia. New Horizon Printing Press, Lusaka. 2005.
3. Lipp FJ. Ethnobotanical Method and Fact: A Case Study. In: RE Schultes & S. von Reis (eds.). Ethonobotany: Evolution of a Discipline. Timber Press. Oregon; 2008.
4. Van Wyk, B-E, Gericke N. People’s Plants: A Guide to Useful Plants of Southern Africa. Briza Publication. Pretoria; 2007.
5. Cotton CM. Ethnobotany: Principles and Applications. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Chichester, U.K; 1998.
6. Kokwaro JO. Ethnobotany in Africa. In: In: RE Schultes & S. von Reis (eds.). Ethonobotany: Evolution of a Discipline. Timber Press. Oregon, USA; 2008.
7. Crubben GJH, Denton DA, Messiaen CM, Schippers RR, Lemmens RHMJ, Oyen LPA.. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2: Vegetables. PROTA Foundation/Backhuys Publishers,Wageningen, Netherlands; 2004
8. Liengne CA. A survey of ethnobotanical research in southern Africa. Bothalia, 14 (3&4) 1983: 621-629.
9. Kapongolo EL, Kabwe G, Phiri, PSM. A history of plant collecting (1927-1986) at Chishimba Falls, Kasama District, Zambia. Archives of Natural History, 49 (1) 2022: 210-214.
10. Bano A, Ahmad M, Ashraf MA. Quantitative ethnomedicinal study of plants used in the skardu valley at the high altitude of Karakoram-Himalayan range, Pakistan, Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2014. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-10-43.
11. Fanshawe DB, Mutimushi JM.A checklist of plant names in the Bemba languages. Lusaka: the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Rural Development; 1965.
12. Smith P, Allen Q. Field guide to the trees and shrubs of the miombo woodlands. Royal Botanic Gardens. 2004.
13. Fowler DG. Zambian plants: their vernacular names and uses. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2007.
14. Museba J. Site Manager for Chishimba Falls Heritage Site. Personal communication. 2019.
15. Ballick MJ, Cox PA. Plants, People and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American Library, New York. 1996.
16. Bussmann RW. East African plant uses–differences in plant use between nomadic and agricultural societies. In: N. Beau, S. Dessein and E. Robbrecht (eds.). African Plant Diversity, Systematics and Sustainable Development. Proceedings of the XIXth AETFAT Congress, held at Antananarivo, Madagascar, 26-30thApril 2010. 2013.
17. Van Wyk BE, Wink M. Medicinal Plants of the World: An Illustrated Scientific Guide to Important Medicinal Plants and Their Uses. Briza Publications, Pretoria. 2004.
18. Klopper RR, Smith GF. Aloes of the world: when, where and who? Aloe, 50 (1&2). 2013: 44-52.
19. Williamson G. Notes on Zambian Aloes. Aloe, 39 (3 & 4). 2002.: 83-91.
20. Phiri PSM. A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32, Pretoria. 2005.
21. Van Wyk, B-E. Uses of aloes in traditional and modern medicine. Aloe, 50 (1&2). 2013: 53-57.
22. Van Wyk BE, Smith GF. Guide to the Aloes South Africa, Third Edition, Briza Publications, Pretoria. 2014.
23. Harborne JB, Baxter H, Moss GP. Phytochemical Dictionary: A Handbook of Bioactive Compounds From Plants, 2nd Edition. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London. 1999.
24. Carter S. Aloaceae. In: G.V. Pope (ed.). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 12 Part 3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2001.
25. Burrows J, Willis C. Plants of the Nyika Plateau: An account of the vegetation of the Nyika National Parks of Malawi and Zambia. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31, Pretoria. 2005.
26. Newton L. An aloe miscellany. Aloe, 50 (1&2). 2013: 58-60.
Published
2022-11-03
How to Cite
1.
Kapongolo E, Kabwe G, Phiri P. Prospects for the Domestication of Aloe mzimbana in Zambia. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 3Nov.2022 [cited 26Aug.2025];6(2). Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/876
Section
Agriculture Sciences
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