How FRIN’s locust beans research breakthrough can benefit you

Parkia biglobosa, popularly known as locust beans needs no introduction to most people in Nigeria. Its most popular use is for food; it is commonly used as seasoning especially among the people of the South-West of Nigeria.

It is also one of the tree species that Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, has recorded breakthrough in multiple shoot generation through nodal culture.

This species is of great economic importance.

Its germination in the past has been hastened through the treatment of the seeds. This method was discovered to be consuming in terms of time and resources. However, through tissue culture techniques optimum germination rate can be achieved. Protocols have been developed in the past to propagate this species, but multiple shoots have not been generated.

However, in FRIN’s Biotechnology section, protocols have now been developed to generate multiple shoots from each sub-cultured plantlet, hence mass produce the species at a faster rate.

This is good news for farmers producing locust beans and for persons interested in cultivating the species for other commercial purposes, as they can now save time and resources when investing in a locust beans venture.

• Benefits of poverty eradication

For medical purposes, Parkia species has found application in treating hypertension. In a survey conducted in Guinea relating to their use of antimalarial plants, Parkia biglobosa was cited among those most often successfully used. The tree was also one of two plants “listed as having real wound-healing properties in South-Western Nigeria, influencing the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts significantly.

In an analysis on the antibacterial properties of the plant, another study found that “these properties compare favourably with those of streptomycin, making it a potential source of compounds used in the management of bacterial infections.

Locust beans pods are used as animal feed and for making insecticidal powders. Extracts from the pods can also be used in construction industry for adding elasticity to ceramics, walls and floors.