Food, Feed, and Phytochemical Uses of Wild Edible Plants: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are potential food, feed, and health benefit sources. The present study describes a comprehensive synthesis on the food, feed, and pharmaceutical uses of WEPs distributed in different parts of Ethiopia. A systematic literature search strategy retrieved 689 articles from PubMed and Semantic Scholar electronic databases. The online search of articles was conducted from January to April 2023. The retrieved articles were screened against inclusion criteria. Finally, 129 full-text articles complying with eligibility criteria were included. The results of the reviewed articles revealed that there are 679 WEP species registered in Ethiopia, and the distribution of WEPs among different regions of the country is widely different. The results indicated that various aspects of 286 WEP species were described in at least two or more pieces of literature. Though there are differences in modes of consumption and preparation across communities living in different regions of Ethiopia, there is a similar tradition of consuming fruits, leaves, roots, young stems, and whole parts of WEPs for food, feed, and/or health benefit purposes. WEP families (i.e., Fabaceae, Moraceae, and Malvaceae) and species (i.e., <i>Syzygium guineense, Cordia africana, Carissa spinarum</i>, and <i>Ficus sur</i>) were reported to be widely consumed by different communities. Shrubs were reported as major plant growth forms, followed by trees, herbs, and climbers. The results indicated that WEPs have rich potential in Ethiopia. Thus, investigating the food, feed, and pharmaceutical aspects of WEPs is vital to alleviate food security challenges and explore alternative sources of pharmaceutical ingredients.