Ethnobotanical survey of indigenous leafy vegetables in Ehlanzeni District of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Madonna N Mashabela,Wilfed O Mbeng

doi:10.4102/jomped.v5i1.129

Abstract

Background: There is a high loss of indigenous knowledge, resulting in negative effects on the health and lives of cultural people living in poor communities mostly in the rural areas, hence, an urgent need for indigenous knowledge conservation. Aim: This study is aimed at presenting the potentials of leafy indigenous vegetables as an essential source of food and nutrition for poor communities. We argue that through knowledge transfer, these species have a chance of being revitalised and used, thereby conserving plant biodiversity while ensuring food and nutrition security. Setting: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Ehlanzeni District of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, to uncover and document the indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) from the area as well as to evaluate the community’s indigenous vegetable knowledge and utilisation state. Methods: Using a structured questionnaire, 95 respondents were interviewed. Older women were particularly targeted since they are the repositories of ethnobotanical information related to ILVs. Results: The study revealed 17 indigenous leafy vegetable species from 10 families. About 85% of the ILVs cited possessed medicinal properties. The most common means of preservation was sun-drying, although consumption of vegetables in their fresh state was most preferred. Conclusion: High blood pressure was cited to be treated by most of the ILVs; therefore, there is a need to include these vegetables in our daily diets.

Highlights

The inclusion and consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) in many cultures of the world is as old as the story of civilisation
The socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the interviewees including their level of indigenous knowledge on ILVs species are reported
Our findings are the variance is that the current study revealed that 17 plant species from 15 genera as reported by 95 respondents are used for medicinal purposes in the Province, Tshikalange et al (2016) identified, recorded and collected a total of 82 plant species covering 77 genera and 42 families in all districts of Mpumalanga province (Gert Sibande, Nkangala and Ehlanzeni district)

Summary

Introduction

The inclusion and consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) in many cultures of the world is as old as the story of civilisation. Several studies in taxonomic classification and chemical compositions of ILVs have been conducted (Pieroni et al 2002) Their outcomes mainly report the nutritional properties and medicinal uses of these ILVs. their outcomes mainly report the nutritional properties and medicinal uses of these ILVs These ILVs grow in the wild without the need for cultivation or management (Tardío, Pardo-de-Santayana & Morales 2006). In Sub-Saharan Africa, ILVs are a contributor of significance when it comes to the socio-economic well-being of different communities Their roles as culinary in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya and other parts of the world have been documented (Adebooye & Opabode 2004). ILVs are known as women’s crop in the community because they are the ones mostly responsible for their cooking and uses This shows the diverse uses of plants in this area for both culinary and therapeutic purposes in the study area. There is a high loss of indigenous knowledge, resulting in negative effects on the health and lives of cultural people living in poor communities mostly in the rural areas, an urgent need for indigenous knowledge conservation

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Discussion

Conclusion