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Crude extracts of fruits, herbs, vegetables, cereals and other plant materials rich in phenolics and antioxidant activity are of prime interest to the food industry because of their ability to retard oxidative degradation of lipids and hence improve the quality and nutritional value of functional food. Concomitantly, the importance of antioxidant constituents of plant materials in the maintenance of health and protection from coronary heart disease and cancer is also raising interest among scientists, food manufacturers and consumers as part of the current trend towards the use of herbal medicine. In addition, the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) by patients suffering from chronic disorders, such as cancers, heart, stroke and immune disorders has been well documented. CAMs are either used on their own (alternative treatments) or in addition to conventional medicine (complementary treatments). CAMs can be grouped into herbal medicines derived from medicinal plants, food supplements that include vitamin preparations, trace elements and other substances such as omega-3 fatty acids

Introduction For thousands of years, plants have formed the basis of sophisticated traditional medicinal systems in many parts of the world and remain a repository of new remedies for mankind (Gurib-Fakim, 2006). The healing properties of various plants are not only recognized by humans but, amazingly, are also widely utilized by other primates such as monkeys and apes (Halberstein, 2005). These primates have been observed to select for consumption specific botanical species that may act as analgesics, anti-microbials, anti-inflammatories, immunostimulants, anti-diarrheals, digestive aids and fertility regulators (Baker, 1996; Glander, 1994; Plotkin, 2000). It is noteworthy that an interesting review by Huffmann (1997) draws attention to the fact that monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees as well as humans have been found to use the same plants for the treatment of similar diseases, injuries and other health problems.