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Australian Plant Bushfoods

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Australian Plant Bushfoods Food Safety of Australian Plant Bushfoods By M.P. Hegarty, E.E. Hegarty Plantchem Pty Ltd and R.B.H. Wills Centre for Advancement of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Newcastle Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation New Plant Products Research and Development RIRDC Publication No 01/28 ∝ RIRDC Project No AGP-1A © 2001 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 58250 5 ISSN 1440-6845 Food Safety of Australian Plant Bushfoods Publication No. 01/28 Project No. AGP-1A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Drs M.P. and E.E.Hegarty Plantchem Pty Ltd 5 Jenkinson St, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068 Phone/Fax: 07 3378 3530 Email: [email protected] RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in March 2001 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint Foreword Australia has been successful in the marketing of a range of traditional native plant-based foods. However, with increasing emphasis around the world on food safety there is a need to have a greater understanding of the anti-nutritive factors that are, or could be, associated with plant bushfoods to allow more informed selection of plants and assist in marketing to export markets. The aim of the study was to provide information on the food safety of the emerging bushfood industry with a written report which will assist the industry to promote an image of safety for its products, many of which are new on the market and therefore unfamiliar to potential clients. This report details a project that critically examined existing botanical, chemical and toxicological information on the current major commercial bushfoods as well as their history of use in traditional Aboriginal cultures. Information is also included on several additional species which have considerable commercial potential. Based on this assessment, chemical analyses were carried out on a range of bushfood samples provided by the industry, to determine the presence/absence and/or concentration of some of classes of compound or individual compounds with some toxic properties. This project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Federal Government. This report, a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 600 research publications, forms part of our New Plant Products and Native Plants R&D programs, which aim to support development of a profitable and environmentally sustainable plant-based Australian bushfood industry that is founded on an international reputation for the reliable supply of consistently safe and high quality food. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation ii About the Authors Dr Merv Hegarty AM is a research chemist, specialising in the potentially toxic components of native Australian and other plant species. He has studied the chemistry of pasture species at CSIRO in Brisbane since 1952, and has continued in retirement as an honorary Research Fellow. Dr Elwyn Hegarty is a botanist, specialising in Australian native plants, especially rainforest trees and vines. Their consulting company, Plantchem Pty Ltd, undertakes research into the safe commercial use of native and other crop plants for foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals. Professor Ron Wills has over 30 years experience in research on a wide range of raw and processed foods and agricultural commodities with efforts directed towards improving the efficiency of postharvest handling and processing systems, determining commodity and product quality and obtaining more efficient utilisation of crops. He has published 250 refereed research papers and 8 monographs including a 4th edition book on postharvest horticulture which is also published in Spanish, Chinese, Malaysian and Persian. Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to a number of people and organisations, both from within the bushfood industry and elsewhere, who have assisted us in various ways to obtain and assess the information contained in this report. Others have generously provided supplies of bushfoods for analysis. Their assistance is acknowledged in Appendices 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. Dr Brenda Rosser of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in Brisbane kindly arranged for tests of one species for the presence of lectins. The success of the analytical program was made possible by the technical skills and persistent dedication of Ms Debbie Shohet from the University of Newcastle. iii Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................. ii About the Authors.................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ vi 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 1.1 The Brief.....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Background to the study.............................................................................................1 1.3 Possible causes of adverse effects from plant-derived foods ....................................2 2. Review of Existing Information ............................................................................................7 2.1 Methods......................................................................................................................7 2.1.1 Species Investigated.............................................................................................7 2.1.2 Records and Sources of Information Consulted ...................................................7 2.1.3 Comparison of Traditional and Modern (Commercial) Uses of Bushfoods...........8 2.2 Results and Discussion of Records for Leading Commercial Bushfood Species ......8 2.2.1 Acacia Species .....................................................................................................9 2.2.2 Acronychia Species - "aspens" ...........................................................................11 2.2.3 Araucaria bidwillii Hook. (bunya nut) Family: Araucariaceae. ............................13 2.2.4 Backhousias and Anetholea (myrtles). Family Myrtaceae. .................................14 2.2.5 Citrus - Native limes. Family: Rutaceae ............................................................17 2.2.6 Davidsonia Species (Davidson’s plums).............................................................18 2.2.7 Hibiscus Species (rosellas).................................................................................19 2.2.8 Kunzea pomifera F.Muell. (Muntries, native cranberry, muntharis) ...................20 2.2.9 Native mints and basils (various species of Mentha, Ocimum and Prostanthera). ...............................................................................................21 2.2.10 Podocarpus elatus R Br. (Illawarra plum, brown pine).....................................25 2.2.11 Santalum Species (quandongs, sandalwoods).................................................26 2.3 Other (Unrelated) Species Included in Analyses......................................................36 2.4 Some Potentially Toxic Species ...............................................................................37 2.5 Obtaining Samples for Analysis ...............................................................................40 3. Analysis of Bushfoods for Anti-Nutritive Constituents......................................................42 3. 1 Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................42 3.1.1 Oxalic Acid ..........................................................................................................42 3.1.2 Cyanogens..........................................................................................................42 3.1.3 Saponins .............................................................................................................43 3.1.4 Alkaloids..............................................................................................................43 3.1.5 Essential Oil Constituents ...................................................................................44 3.1.6 Lectins.................................................................................................................44
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