Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance
In sub-Saharan Africa, indigenous knowledge is a vital source of information about the local environment, including the identification and use of various plant species. One plant species that has attracted much attention in the area is <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam., as local communities...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Sanele Nomfundo Sandisiwe Thothela Elizabeth Kola Mwazvita T. B. Dalu Peter Tshepiso Ndhlovu |
| author_facet | Sanele Nomfundo Sandisiwe Thothela Elizabeth Kola Mwazvita T. B. Dalu Peter Tshepiso Ndhlovu |
| author_sort | Sanele Nomfundo Sandisiwe Thothela |
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| description | In sub-Saharan Africa, indigenous knowledge is a vital source of information about the local environment, including the identification and use of various plant species. One plant species that has attracted much attention in the area is <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam., as local communities utilise it for various purposes, such as medicinal, nutritional, and cultural. A systematic search for eligible studies was carried out by exploring different electronic databases, such as JSTOR, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The survey yielded 61 eligible studies, highlighting the diverse of uses of <i>S. spinosa</i>. The literature indicates that 37% of African countries have studied <i>S. spinosa</i>, mainly in Southern Africa. Most studies used semi-structured interviews, but over 70% did not analyse the plant’s nutritional and bioactive compounds. The research highlighted six distinct <i>S. spinosa</i> plant parts used for managing different ailments and conditions in Africa. Roots (25%), along with bark and fruits (23%), are primarily used for digestive disorders and fever; this was followed by leaves (20%) and wood (6%). The least utilised plant part was the radix or cortex (3%). These findings emphasise a significant gap in the understanding of <i>S. spinosa</i>’s nutritional and bioactive compounds, emphasising the need for quantitative research on its phytochemical properties and therapeutic applications within African traditional medicine. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c517cc09ca984cf4a49d8891c9939c3d |
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| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c517cc09ca984cf4a49d8891c9939c3d2025-08-20T02:28:28ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-03-0117422810.3390/d17040228Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural SignificanceSanele Nomfundo Sandisiwe Thothela0Elizabeth Kola1Mwazvita T. B. Dalu2Peter Tshepiso Ndhlovu3School of Biology & Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Science, University of Mpumalanga, Cnr R40 and D725 Road, Mbombela 1200, South AfricaSchool of Biology & Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Science, University of Mpumalanga, Cnr R40 and D725 Road, Mbombela 1200, South AfricaSchool of Biology & Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Science, University of Mpumalanga, Cnr R40 and D725 Road, Mbombela 1200, South AfricaSchool of Biology & Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Science, University of Mpumalanga, Cnr R40 and D725 Road, Mbombela 1200, South AfricaIn sub-Saharan Africa, indigenous knowledge is a vital source of information about the local environment, including the identification and use of various plant species. One plant species that has attracted much attention in the area is <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam., as local communities utilise it for various purposes, such as medicinal, nutritional, and cultural. A systematic search for eligible studies was carried out by exploring different electronic databases, such as JSTOR, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The survey yielded 61 eligible studies, highlighting the diverse of uses of <i>S. spinosa</i>. The literature indicates that 37% of African countries have studied <i>S. spinosa</i>, mainly in Southern Africa. Most studies used semi-structured interviews, but over 70% did not analyse the plant’s nutritional and bioactive compounds. The research highlighted six distinct <i>S. spinosa</i> plant parts used for managing different ailments and conditions in Africa. Roots (25%), along with bark and fruits (23%), are primarily used for digestive disorders and fever; this was followed by leaves (20%) and wood (6%). The least utilised plant part was the radix or cortex (3%). These findings emphasise a significant gap in the understanding of <i>S. spinosa</i>’s nutritional and bioactive compounds, emphasising the need for quantitative research on its phytochemical properties and therapeutic applications within African traditional medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/4/228biodiversity conservationethnobotanyindigenous knowledge<i>Strychnos spinosa</i>plant diverse use |
| spellingShingle | Sanele Nomfundo Sandisiwe Thothela Elizabeth Kola Mwazvita T. B. Dalu Peter Tshepiso Ndhlovu Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance Diversity biodiversity conservation ethnobotany indigenous knowledge <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> plant diverse use |
| title | Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance |
| title_full | Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance |
| title_fullStr | Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance |
| title_short | Indigenous Knowledge and Utilisation of <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> Lam. in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Its Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cultural Significance |
| title_sort | indigenous knowledge and utilisation of i strychnos spinosa i lam in sub saharan africa a systematic review of its medicinal nutritional and cultural significance |
| topic | biodiversity conservation ethnobotany indigenous knowledge <i>Strychnos spinosa</i> plant diverse use |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/4/228 |
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