Atiye Nejad Falatoury - Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)

Sesame or Tahini halvah, known in Iran as Halva Ardeh, is known in many European and Asian countries. It is produced and consumed in various forms from the Balkans and Poland to the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Turkey and the Caucasus. Soapwort is one of the ingredients traditionally used in this halva in Iran. Some species of Caryophyllaceae contain significant amounts of saponin in their roots, whose extracts are used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and health industries. In different countries this substance is produced by boiling wooden roots of various species. In Mediterranean countries the root of Saponaria officinalis is used, in Turkey some Gypsophila perennial species and Ankyropetalum are used. However, in Iran it is derived from the root extract of several species of Acanthophyllum (such as Acanthophyllum laxiusculum and A. squarrosum). In Iran, halva factories usually buy Soapwort from traditional producers (herbal distributors). Most traditional sweet factories are located in the central regions of Iran, especially Yazd province. Picking wild Acanthophyllum species in this province has limited the population of this plant, therefore, plant picking in this province is currently banned. Due to limited monitoring around the Torbat-e-Jam and the Afghanistan border, herbal distributors now usually obtain their Acanthophyllum’s roots from these areas. Since plant harvesting in these areas will soon lead to the extinction of these valuable species in terms of biodiversity, it is suggested that in the Yazd province or adjacent provinces establish industrial farms for different usable species. By producing enough plants, while preventing plant picking from natural habitats, this substance can also be used in the production of other products.

Biodiversity, Conservation biology, Tahini