Exploration of Foods and Foodomics

Table 1. Culinary applications and traditional uses of selected edible wild plants (EWPs) in various regions of Nigeria [1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15–38].

S/N	Species	Locations	Local names	Common names	Parts of selected EWPs	Culinary use	Traditional medicinal use	References
1	Adansonia digitata L.	Northern/Western/Middle belt region	Kuka, Igiose	Baobab/lemonade tree	Fruit	The dried pulp can be eaten as is or added to porridge after it has cooled following cooking. It can also be ground to prepare a refreshing drink.	The fruit pulp is used in cases of dysentery.	[1, 15, 16]
					Leaves	Hausas use the leaves for soup, e.g., miyankuka.	Leaves are used in traditional medicine as an antipyretic or febrifuge to overcome fevers.	[15, 17]
					Seed	The seeds serve as a thickening agent in soups and are also fermented for use as a flavoring agent. They can be roasted and eaten as snacks or processed into a valuable cooking oil. Additionally, the seeds can be ground into flour for bread making.	Powdered seeds are used to promote perspiration.	[15, 17]
2	AfIzelia Africana	Northern/Western/Eastern region	Kawo/Apa/Aparata	African mahogany	Fruit	-	The pulp has been used to treat cough, cold, and bronchitis.	[6, 19]
					Leaves	-	-	-
					Seed	Oil can be extracted from the seeds, which are also used as condiments in soups.	-	[19]
3	Balanites aegyptiaca	Northern region	Aduwa	Desert date	Fruit	The fleshy fruit pulp is edible and can be consumed either fresh or dried. The sweet pulp is commonly used as food.	The fruit is used to treat bladder stones.	[5, 18, 21]
					Leaves	The leaves are used in soup preparation, while the flowers can be eaten fresh or used as a flavoring in dawa.	Help prevent worm infections and aids in the treatment of liver and spleen disorders.	[5, 22]
					Seed	-	The kernel has traditionally been used to treat various ailments, including jaundice, intestinal worm infections, malaria, syphilis, epilepsy, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids.	[5, 20]
4	Detarium microcarpum	Northern/Western/Eastern region	Taura	Sweet dat tock	Fruit	The fruit is used as a seasoning for food.	The fruits are used to treat diarrhea.	[8, 10]
					Leaves	The leaves are used for cooking.	Prevent infection and treat wounds.	[18]
					Seed	The seed flour is traditionally used as an emulsifier, flavoring, and thickening agent in the preparation of cakes, bread, couscous, body food, and local beer.	-	[8]
5	Dialium guineense	Western/Eastern region	Awin/Icheku	Black velvet/velvet tamarind	Fruit	Fruit pulp is combined with local millet porridge or bread and consumed as a delicacy. Fresh fruit pulp is consumed as a snack in the northern parts of Nigeria.	The fruit pulp is used to treat swellings, sore throats, rheumatism, alcohol intoxication, and sunstroke. In southeastern Nigeria, it is also used to promote lactation and prevent genital infections.	[1, 23–25]
					Leaves	The young leaves are chewed for their tangy taste and are also cooked as vegetables.	The leaves can be squeezed and applied to wounds. Additionally, they are used as a vitamin supplement by some tribes in southern Nigeria.	[23, 26]
					Seed	Seed powder is used as a coffee substitute. Dehulled seeds are soaked overnight in water and consumed, often with sugar or salt.	-	[24, 25]
6	Parkia biglobosa	Northern/Western/Middle belt region	Dawa-dawa/lyere	Locust beans	Fruit	The pulp is traditionally eaten fresh, serves as a nutritious baby food, and is used to prepare a refreshing drink.	-	[1, 10, 27]
					Leaves	The leaves can be boiled, combined with cereal flour, and consumed as a vegetable.	-	[27]
					Seed	The seeds are fermented to produce a seasoning condiment known as “soumbala”, “dawadawa”, “netetu”, or “afinti”, which is used to flavor sauces, stews, and soups.	The beans help strengthen the immune system, alleviate diseases such as diarrhea and diabetes, and lower the risk of heart attacks. They are also used as a remedy to counteract the effects of poisons, including snake bites and scorpion stings.	[27]
7	Ageratum conyzoides	Northern/Western/Middle belt region	Miesu/Ula ujula/Ahenhen	Goat weed	Fruit	-	-	-
					Leaves	-	The beans help strengthen the immune system, alleviate diseases such as diarrhea and diabetes, and lower the risk of heart attacks. They are also used as a remedy to counteract the effects of poisons, including snake bites and scorpion stings.	[28]
					Seed	-	-	-
8	Blighia sapida	Western/Eastern region	Okpu/Isin	Akee apple	Fruit	The aril of the ackee fruit is eaten raw or sometimes cooked with vegetables. It can also be made into a paste and enjoyed with kenkey.	It has been proven effective in treating colds, fever, and various diseases such as edema and epilepsy. It also helps heal circulatory and heart diseases.	[29]
					Leaves	-	-	-
					Seed	-	-	-
9	Irvingia wombulu	Western/Eastern region/North Central	Ogbono/Goron/Apon	Bitter bush mango	Fruit	-	-	-
					Leaves	-	The leaves are traditionally used in African medicine to treat fever.	[30]
					Seed	The seeds are popularly used as a condiment (soup thicker).	The seeds have been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels and body weight in obese individuals.	[30]
10	Irvingia gaonensis	Western/Eastern region/North central	Ogbono/Goron/Apon	African wild mango	Fruit	The ripe fruit pulp is eaten fresh or processed into juice and wine.	The ripe fruit pulp is known for its anti-diarrheal, anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.	[31]
					Leaves	-	The leaves support renal and hepatic functions, protecting these vital organs from the harmful effects of toxins.	[31]
					Seed	The seeds are commonly used as a condiment and thickening agent in soups. They are also pounded for soup preparation.	The seeds aid in weight reduction and the treatment of obesity. Traditionally, they have been used as blood thinners and anti-diabetic remedies. They are rich in ellagic acid and its glycosides, powerful antioxidants with anti-tumor effects.	[31]
11	Chrysophyllum albidum	Northern/Western/Eastern region	Udara/Agbalumo/Agwaluma	African star apple	Fruit	The ripe fruit pulp is consumed fresh	The ripe fruits are consumed to relieve laryngitis due to their mucilaginous content and are also effective in treating diabetes mellitus.	[32]
					Leaves	-	Leaf extracts are used to manage cardiovascular diseases. The leaves also serve as an emollient and are used to treat skin eruptions, stomach aches, and diarrhea.	[32]
					Seed	-	Seed extracts possess anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and anti-hemorrhoidal properties, making them useful in home remedies and herbal treatments for various diseases.	[33]
12	Datura stramonium	Northern/Western/Eastern region	Zaqami/Aparo/Myanku	Thorn Apple	Fruit	-	Young fruits are sucked to relieve tonsillitis and sore throat and applied to abscesses and swollen glands. The fruit is heated in hot ash, then cooled, and its juice is extracted for use as ear drops to treat earaches. Additionally, an infusion of fruit ash is consumed to alleviate stomach aches.	[34]
					Leaves	-	Dried leaves, roots, or flowers are smoked to relieve asthma, cough, tuberculosis, and bronchitis. A decoction or infusion of leaves is used as a sedative for mental and schizophrenic patients, while leaf ash is consumed to treat whooping cough.	[34]
					Seed	-	Dried and ground leaves and seeds are mixed with fat and consumed to treat ringworm. Additionally, seeds are added to alcoholic beverages to enhance their intoxicating effect.	[34]
13	Syzygium guineense	Northern/Western/Middle belt region	Malmo/Orinla/Nkwu-osa	Water berry or African rose apple	Fruit	The fruit pulp is fermented to make wine, vinegar, and flavoring for spirits	Fruit is eaten as a remedy for dysentery. Powdered fruit is used for diarrhea and diabetes.	[35]
					Leaves	-	Leaf decoctions treat intestinal parasites, stomachaches, diarrhea, and ophthalmia, while flower buds relieve toothaches, gum inflammation, coughs, colds, neuralgic pain, and rheumatism. They are also used for bathing and massaging sprains.	[35, 36]
					Seed	-	-	-
14	Strychnos spinosa	Northern/Western/Middle belt region	Kukar gagai/Iya/Nchi	Spiny monkey orange	Fruit	The fruits are primarily consumed fresh and also processed into jam, jelly, and other products.	The fruit is used to treat malaria, hypertension, warts, dysentery, and gonorrhea, while the unripe fruit supports child growth.	[37]
					Leaves	The leaves are turned into a vegetable sauce.	The leaves possess anti-trypanosomal properties and are boiled to treat malaria, fatigue, fever, and respiratory congestion.	[37]
					Seed	-	The seeds are used as an emetic and as an antidote for snake bites.	[37]
15	Saba comorensis	Northern/Western/Middle belt region/Eastern region	Gwanda/Omo/Utu	Wild loquat, Bungo fruit, or Saba fruit,	Fruit	Ripe fruits are eaten fresh for their sweet-acidic taste and can be used to make juice or as a seasoning for rice.	The fruit pulp aids digestion, boosts immunity, and is used to treat various conditions, including anemia, infections, skin diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and postpartum recovery.	[38]
					Leaves	-	The leaves are used to treat helminth infections and urinary tract disorders.	[38]
					Seed	-	-	-

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Declarations

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the International Centre for Biotechnology (ICB) under the Auspices of UNESCO, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410105, Nigeria, for support.

Author contributions

OEO: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft. CSN: Visualization, Writing—original draft. JTM, AAB, CFO, OSO, SJI, and JIE: Writing—review & editing. CME, ECO, TAA, MUA: Visualization, Writing—review & editing. All authors read and approved the submitted version.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent to publication

Not applicable.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Funding

Not applicable

Copyright

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Open Exploration maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliations and maps. All opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the author(s) and do not represent the stance of the editorial team or the publisher.

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