Ethnobotanical study of edible wild plants in Ensaro district, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia

Background: Ethiopia is one of the biodiversity-rich countries in Africa. Most rural communities are highly dependent on forest products including edible wild plants. Thus, many plant taxa are under greater threats before they are documented and their nutritional values are evaluated. This study was carried out to document edible wild plants and associated indigenous practices, and the correlations with socio-demographic variables on edible wild plants in Ensaro district, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. It also examined the habitats and major threatening factors of edible wild plants.Methods: The study was conducted from September to December 2020 in Ensaro district, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviews was made with 98 community members regarding edible wild plant species, parts used, harvesting and consumption time, preparation methods, supplementary uses, life forms, habitats and threatening factors. The socioeconomics characteristics of the study participants was also documented. Excel and R-package were employed for statistical analysis. Analysis of Variance (P < 0.05) was used to observe the correlation of socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics with indigenous knowledge of respondents on edible wild plants.Results: Forty-three edible wild plants recorded in this study area. Fabaceae and Moraceae families were the most popular edible wild plant species in the study area. Shrubs were the dominant life forms of recorded plants (37%). Ripe fruits (72%) were the most commonly used plant parts. Indigenous knowledge of respondent on edible wild plants positively correlated with socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. There was no knowledge difference between genders. The number of species, genera and families of edible wild plants were higher in mid-land agro-ecology than in lowland and highland agro-ecologies of the study area. The distribution of edible wild plants found to be less in the highland agroecology. Edible wild plants in the study mainly found in shrub land areas which are highly threatened by fuelwood collection.Conclusion: Forty-three edible wild plants recorded in the study area. The community consumes edible wild plants during normal and famine periods. Edible wild plants such as Snowdenia polystachya (Muja), Eleusine coracana (Degelie or wanga), Urtica simensis(Sama) and Medicago polymorpha (Amaqito) are not used during normal period and young people do not know them even how to use them. In addition, edible wild plants are under greater pressure due to farmland expansion in the study area. This has led to the reduction of edible wild plants and associated indigenous knowledge.

Gathering an edible wild plant: food or medicine? A case study on wild edibles and functional foods in Granada, Spain

A study on wild edible resources has been performed in the western part of Granada Province (Spain) using ethnobotanical methods. We document and analyze knowledge concerning wild edible plants and mushrooms and their folk medicinal uses in the study area. Several botanical features and use characteristics have been analyzed for the species included, with special attention to their medicinal uses, highlighting a large number of edible-medicinal species. Local importance of the medicinal uses for these resources has been confirmed. Up to 135 species are gathered from the wild in the study area, from which 46 can be considered folk functional foods. In addition, 45 crop plants with uncommon edible or medicinal uses are included, 29 of these being considered functional foods as well. Therefore, a total of 75 plant species are used as edible medicines which serve to treat 36 different conditions. The local concept of food and medicine regarding wild plant resources seems not to be well established. Studies on the pharmacological properties of these foods are needed in order to establish their real or potential benefits for the treated affections.

Antioxidant and Prebiotic Activity of Selected Edible Wild Plant Extracts

Edible wild plants were investigated as potential sources of antioxidants and prebiotics to benefit human health. Antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid and total dietary fibre contents were determined in edible wild plants from Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa. Pure probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis (ATCC 25527), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (TUTBFD) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (ATCC 314) were cultured in broth containing edible wild plant extracts to assess their prebiotic activity. Cyperus esculantus had the highest arscobic acid content of 603±64.1 mg/100 g edible dry plant material followed by Rosa rubiginosa (500.8±48.8 mg/100 g). The two plants had IC50 of 10.7±0.2 µg/mL and 47.8±0.2 µg/mL for DPPH inhibition, respectively. Forty percent (40%) (n=30) of the edible wild plants had significant (p<0.01) total antioxidant activity (IC50<60 µg/mL) and high ascorbic acid content (>200 mg/100 g). Nasturtium officinale reported the highest yield for soluble fibre (25%) while Hypoxis hirsute had the highest total dietary fibre content (7.3%). Rorippa nudiuscula enhanced the growth of B. animalis significantly (p=0.001), 8-fold more than inulin. Chenopodium album and Urtica dioica stimulated the growth of L. rhamnosus significantly (p=0.0001) than inulin, respectfully, while Tragopogon porrifolius significantly (p=0.0001) stimulated the growth of L. acidophilus than inulin. It was concluded that the investigated edible wild plants from southern Africa have antioxidant and prebiotic properties that may be beneficial to human health.