Exploring the Resource Value of Transvaal Red Milk Wood (Mimusops zeyheri) for Food Security and Sustainability: An Appraisal of Existing Evidence

Abstract

Many African countries are endowed with rich biodiversity with enormous nutritional and economic prospects, but the majority of these resources are not fully harnessed. Exploring these neglected resources, for example, the Transvaal red milkwood tree [(Mimusops zeyheri) Sond. family: Sapotaceae] is of paramount importance for food and nutritional security as well as economic prosperity. This review provides a critical appraisal of the nutritional and health benefits as well as the economic potential of Mimusops zeyheri. The plant is known for its diverse uses among rural communities. In folk medicine, the decoction from the bark and leaves of Mimusops zeyheri are used for treating wounds and ulcers, while the root is used as an infusion taken to treat candidiasis and other health issues. The nutritional profile of the fruit tree is similar to popular exotic fruits and richer in vitamin C when compared to guava and orange. Mimusops zeyheri is a rich source of vitamins, protein, and fatty acids. Based on the rich chemical pool, especially in the fruit and seeds, it has the potential to provide an accessible, readily available, and affordable enriched functional food with valuable health benefits. However, the successful exploration of Mimusopszeyheri for food security and sustainability requires multidisciplinary research. This will help achieve the envisaged food-nutrition security and poverty alleviation potential of the plant, especially among local communities.

Exploring the Potential of Neglected Local Endemic Plants of Three Mediterranean Regions in the Ornamental Sector: Value Chain Feasibility and Readiness Timescale for Their Sustainable Exploitation

“…The fundamental steppingstone for any sustainable exploitation of NUPs is the development of effective propagation and cultivation protocols, which are associated with important agronomical aspects and agroprocessing [6]. It is known that the limited knowledge on products' shelf life, ambient conditions and longevity during preservation under storage and processing may undermine the commercialization potential of crops and NUPs [26]. Furthermore, information and storytelling on value-added products with unique identity and commercial prospect are absolutely necessary to attract consumers, stakeholders, producers, wholesalers and retailers.…”

“…Furthermore, information and storytelling on value-added products with unique identity and commercial prospect are absolutely necessary to attract consumers, stakeholders, producers, wholesalers and retailers. Hence, a multidisciplinary research approach is required in conjunction with necessary political preference and coherent policy awareness for the sustainable exploitation of NUPs [26].…”

“…The availability and critical appraisal of existing knowledge on NUPs including single-country or single-region floristic elements have the potential to contribute towards mitigating important barriers for the sustainable exploitation of unique resources at local scales and beyond [26]. In this framework, our study (outcome of the research programme Multi-Val-End, ARIMNet2) brings research focus on NUPs, and especially unique floristic elements (single-country or single-region endemic plants) of three Mediterranean regions (Crete, Greece; Mediterranean coast-Rif of Morocco; Tunisia).…”

Food Security and Sustainability: Discussing the Four Pillars to Encompass Other Dimensions

“…Food security is interrelated with sustainability. However, the associated contexts are complex and uncertain [17], showing that these interrelationships deserve continuous attention from several stakeholders and organizations [18], including the subnational governments [19], and multidisciplinary approaches [20] for particular cases [21].…”

Advancing indigenous fruits consumption to promote self-management in ill-health: a critical narrative review

“…This significance of this observation is in both health behaviour and health economics of a people. [20][21][22] It is common knowledge that medical doctors consider affordability of medicines in prescribing treatment.…”