Nutritional value of leafy vegetables of sub-Saharan Africa and their potential contribution to human health: A review

Uusiku, Nangula P.; Oelofse, André; Duodu, Kwaku G.; Bester, Megan Jean; Faber, Mieke

doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2010.05.002

Cited by 336 publications

(289 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(114 reference statements)

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“…This highlights the need to identify and prioritise specific NUS that are drought tolerant and nutrient dense. In general, African leafy vegetables contain substantial amounts of carotenoids (lutein and β-carotene), iron, folate, riboflavin and calcium [71]. Many of the known underutilised legumes (e.g., Mucuna spp., Canavalia spp., Sesbania spp.)…”

Section: Nutrition and Product Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status of Underutilised Crops in South Africa: Opportunities for Developing Research Capacity

2017

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Underutilised crops represent an important component of agro-biodiversity with potential to contribute to climate change adaptation, food security and sovereignty in poor rural areas. However, despite emerging research interest, they continue to occupy the peripheries of mainstream agriculture. There is a need to consolidate the gains made and propose a coherent strategy for translating underutilised crops into mainstream agriculture. The status of underutilised crops in South Africa (past, present and on-going research) was reviewed with a view to identifying existing gaps, opportunities and challenges for developing future research capacity. The review confirmed that several underutilised crops are drought tolerant, adapted to low levels of water use and thus suitable for cultivation in most marginal production areas typical of semi-arid and arid cropping systems. In addition, several are nutrient dense and could be used to improve dietary diversity among poor rural people. These characteristics make them ideal for inclusion in climate change adaptation and promotion of food sovereignty. There is need for a paradigm shift away from practices that have promoted a few major crops to an agro-ecology based land use classification system that recognises diversity and strengthens food networks. There is a need to identify those underutilised crops that show the greatest potential for success and can be fitted into semi-arid and arid cropping systems and prioritise them for future research, development and innovation.

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Section: Nutrition and Product Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status of Underutilised Crops in South Africa: Opportunities for Developing Research Capacity

2017

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“…Zinc deficiency has also been identified as a global public health problem, causing 1.4% of all deaths worldwide [2]. Large proportions of households in sub-Saharan Africa, where iron and zinc deficiencies are prevalent, depend on monotonous cereal based diets for energy as well as micronutrients [3]. These diets contain phytate and sometimes tannins, which, even further reduces the already low bioavailability of the non-haem iron and zinc in the diet [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential contribution of African green leafy vegetables and maize porridge composite meals to iron and zinc nutrition

et al. 2015

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Highlights• This study investigated the mineral nutritional value of green leafy vegetable (GLV) dishes and composite and maize porridge meals.• GLV dishes contained average amounts of zinc, but were high in both iron and antinutrients.• Compositing the GLV dishes with fortified maize porridge decreased the iron and zinc contents.• The low antinutrient content of the maize porridge, led to increased amounts of bioaccessible iron and zinc in the meals. AbstractObjectives: This study aimed to determine the mineral nutritive value of different traditional African green leafy vegetable (GLV) dishes and their composite meals with fortified and unfortified maize porridge.Methods: The mineral (Fe, Zn and Ca) and anti-nutrient (phytate, total phenolics and tannins) contents and the in vitro bioaccessibility of iron and zinc were analysed. The iron and zinc contents

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“…Consumption of these vegetables can help to alleviate poverty and food insecurity in rural households (Van Averrbeke et al, 2007). Solanum nigrum also contains high levels of zinc and magnesium (Uusiku et al, 2010). All these vegetables are very common in the Limpopo Province and continuous provision of these vegetables can help reduce malnutrition in households, at the same time reducing food insecurity and making income when sold to markets.…”

Section: Traditional Vegetablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constraints to Vegetable Production Resulting from Pest and Diseases Induced by Climate Change and Globalization: A Review

Phophi¹,

Mafongoya²

2017

JAS

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Vegetable production worldwide is constrained by pests and diseases which effects are exacerbated by climate change and variability. Greenhouse gas emissions are also increasing due to poor agricultural practices and other human activities. This will continue to have a negative impact on the prevalence of insect pests and diseases. This review focuses on the climatic factors that impact on insect pests and diseases of vegetable crops. High atmospheric temperatures and elevated carbon dioxide increases pest development, survival of pests and distribution of pest to new areas. The distribution of insect pests and diseases are not due to climate changes only but are also a result of globalisation and poor biosecurity measures at country borders. There is limited information on the distribution of pests and diseases due to globalisation in African countries. New exotic pests will continue to be introduced to countries if biosecurity measures are not improved. Future research must focus on how to manage emerging pests and diseases influenced by high temperatures and carbon dioxide and other climatic conditions which influence pest severity under smallholder farmers in the southern African regions.

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Nutritional value of leafy vegetables of sub-Saharan Africa and their potential contribution to human health: A review

Cited by 336 publications

References 101 publications

Status of Underutilised Crops in South Africa: Opportunities for Developing Research Capacity

Status of Underutilised Crops in South Africa: Opportunities for Developing Research Capacity

Potential contribution of African green leafy vegetables and maize porridge composite meals to iron and zinc nutrition

Constraints to Vegetable Production Resulting from Pest and Diseases Induced by Climate Change and Globalization: A Review

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