Nutritional and medicinal values of common green leafy vegetables consumed in Delta State, Nigeria: a review

Authors

  • Taiwo Esther Dada School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Orange, Australia http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8271-387X
  • Kekere Otitoloju Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
  • Randy Adjonu School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia
  • Judith Crockett School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Orange, Australia
  • Ezekiel Uba Nwose School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Orange, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20211789

Keywords:

Nutritional value, Medicinal value, Green leafy vegetables, Indigenous foods, Malnutrition, Nigeria

Abstract

Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) play an important role in human nutrition. In sub-Saharan African countries, GLVs are a vital source of essential micronutrients, and their consumption has long been a part of the cultural heritage of African households. In Nigeria, GLVs are either cooked as a stew or consumed raw and used as a main or a supporting dish. These GLVs have great nutritional and medicinal value. It is hypothesized that providing knowledge about the botanical description, nutritional and medicinal benefits to consumers could improve consumption, but much of existing knowledge is poorly documented and inaccessible. This paper aims to address this gap by collating information on some consumed in Delta State, Nigeria: African jointfir (Gnetum africanum, locally known as Ukazi), jute mallow, (Corchorus olitorius, locally known as Malafiya), and cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz), giant yellow mulberry (Myrianthus arboreus), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and bush buck, (Gongronema latifolium, locally known as Utazi) leaves.

Author Biography

Taiwo Esther Dada, School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Orange, Australia

Ph.D. Candidate, Charles Sturt University Australia, Department of Community Health. Esther has a research interest in food and nutritional science, improving healthy food consumption for promoting and sustaining the future through agriculture, public health, and wellbeing in rural and remote communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Plant Science and Biotechnology (Nigeria) and has completed a Master’s degree in crop improvement (UK) with agriculture promotion, agronomy, and community development and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture (Australia). Esther is currently a Ph.D. Candidate within the School of Community Health. She is formerly an agricultural staff member in an agricultural firm in Nigeria. And formerly a female Hall manager in a Private University in Nigeria.

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Published

2021-04-27

How to Cite

Dada, T. E., Otitoloju, K., Adjonu, R., Crockett, J., & Nwose, E. U. (2021). Nutritional and medicinal values of common green leafy vegetables consumed in Delta State, Nigeria: a review. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(5), 2564–2571. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20211789

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Section

Review Articles