**5. Bamboo building or civil construction materials**

enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The high contents of starch and cellulose, 70–85% of the stem, have given bamboo an advantage as an alternative source of alcohol production. The part transformed to alcohol represents the yield of 250–380 l ton−1 of bamboo [94] while that of sugar cane, when compared gave an average yield of 70 l of alcohol ton−1 [95]. In another study, Azzini et al. [96] developed a combined production process for cellulose fibres and ethanol from *B. vulgaris, which* gave good results to bamboo use. Other common species of

Bamboo is endowed with a long fibre length, and this makes bamboo pulp suitable for papermaking. It has been found out that from 4 tons of bamboo nearly 1 ton of pulp is produced which is utilised in different furnishes for production of paper and board [78]. China and India use bamboo mainly for producing pulp and paper. Bamboo paper has the same quality with paper made from wood. Its brightness and optical properties remain stable while those papers make from wood may deteriorate over time. The morphological characteristics

Bamboo plant is considered medicinal. It has been found to have a high level of acetylcholine, which acts as a neurotransmitter in animals and humans [98]. Culms of many bamboo species secret siliceous materials, which can be used for medicine. This siliceous material is used as a cooling tonic and aphrodisiac, as a remedy for asthma and coughs [98] and other debilitating diseases. Medicine made from the leaves of *Pleioblastus amarus* is used for treating fever, fidgeting and lungs inflammation [98]. Stems and leaves of *Bambusa bambos* are used in traditional Indian medicine as a blood purifier, in the treatment of leucoderma and inflammatory conditions. It is also given internally for treatment of bronchitis, gonorrhoea and fever. The burnt roots of this species are used to treat ringworm, bleed gums and painful joints. The bark is a cure for eruptions [99]. The leaf bud of *B. spinosa* is used in leprosy, fever and haemoptysis. The sap of *B. vulgaris* is given as a remedy for phthisis in the Philippines [100]. Extractives from various parts of the bamboo plant have been used for hair and skin ointment, medicine for asthma, eyewash, potions for lovers and poison for rivals. Bamboo shoot is one vegetable that is free in pollution, low in fat and high in edible fibre and rich in mineral. It functions well in removing sputum, enhancing digestion, relieving toxicity, improving dieresis and it is frequently used for healing swollen tissues or oedema and abdominal disease in which watery fluids collect in cavities or body tissues [76]. The shoot also contains saccharine, which

Drainpipes made from bamboo serve as low-cost substitute to those made from assorted materials. The use of drainage pipes made of various assorted materials is very common in our markets [101]. These materials are very expensive, not readily available, require a high degree of maintenance and pollute water, which they convey due to the pipe's constituents. They include drainpipes made from wood boards or box drains, bricks, horseshoe-shaped

of bamboo fibres give paper made from bamboo a high tear index [97].

can resist little mouse tumour and has anti-ageing elements [20, 80].

bamboo used for this purpose are shown in **Table 5**.

**4.4. Bamboo pulp and paper**

36 Bamboo - Current and Future Prospects

**4.5. Bamboo medicinal products**

**4.6. Bamboo culm drainage pipes**

Bamboo is a principal construction material in many countries, particularly in rural areas. It can be used for almost all parts of houses, including posts, roofs, walls, floors, beams, trusses and fences [14]. At present, the bamboo utilisation in construction is of subjective form and based generally in traditional systems established in each country. In Asia, bamboo is quite common for bridges, scaffolding and housing, but it is usually a temporary exterior structural material. In many overpopulated regions of the tropics, certain bamboos supply the one suitable material that is sufficiently cheap and plentiful to meet the great need for economical housing [103]. However, bamboo offers an ecologically viable alternative to timber for construction due to its low-cost and fast growth rate [3]. Prior to bamboo utilisation in large scale as an economically viable engineering material, a study on properties and structures must be carried out. These studies can provide better cultivation, harvest and processing techniques, besides analysis of mechanical and physical properties of bamboo stems. Bamboo stems present excellent physical and mechanical properties that can be used as a substitute for other materials such as steel aiming fabrication of concrete structures. Several studies were conducted on physical and mechanical characteristics to test the bamboo as construction material. The mechanical properties of bamboo are strongly affected by the age, species and humidity. Bamboos do not break easily, and its original shape is regained when the load subjected to it is removed. It is suitable for reinforcing concrete [75]. Some bamboo products for building or construction purpose include ply bamboo, bamboo panels/composite boards of different types, particle boards, mat boards, bamboo parquet and bamboo fibre-reinforced plastic [5, 76, 104]. The common species of bamboo used for this purpose are given in **Table 5**.
