OVERVIEW OF FUNCTIONAL FOOD IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

摘要

Brunei Darussalam is situated on the northwestern coast of the Borneo Island and covers an area of 5765 square kilometers. Brunei Darussalam's population for 2001 was 348,200. The country has a humid equatorial climate characterized by warm temperatures, high rainfall and high humidity. Soils varies greatly owing to the wide variation in factors influencing soil formation processes. The diversity in soils and microclimate conditions provide favourable climate for the growth of the natural vegetations. An estimated 5000 native species of seed plants consisting of trees, shrubs, liane and creepers can be found in the country. There is therefore, a rich source of genetic materials with therapeutically and biologically important substances available in the country. The vast genetic resource could be explored for potential therapeutic, drugs and other useful functional food products.