Ethnobotanical use of lichens: lichens for food review

Abstract

Traditional uses of lichens for food, food preparation, and chemical constituents of lichens with regards to their nutritional value are briefly reviewed. Reports that indicate significant use of lichens, primarily as food material, are gathered together and presented. The cohesion of data from available studies gives reason to accept that lichens present a great potential source of functional foods. It remains a challenge to explore the effect of lichens in food with respect to the nutrigenomics advent and explore them as a source for nutraceuticals, new foods and food additives. Scripta Scientifica Medica 2009; 41(1): 11-16.