Tadesse Daniel, Masresha Getinet, Lulekal Ermias, Wondafrash Melaku
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Biology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 1;14(1):17821. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-67421-y.
Wild edible plants (WEPs) are important food sources globally due to their accessibility and affordability. In Ethiopia, where diverse cultural groups consume WEPs, this systematic review explores their diversity, edible parts, and role in supporting food security. The review examined 38 original studies on the ethnobotany of WEPs in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2022. It identified a total of 651 WEP species from 343 genera and 94 families, with the Fabaceae family having the most species (51). Herbs and shrubs were the predominant growth habits, and fruits were the most consumed plant parts. The review prioritized nine WEP species for cultivation and promotion. However, threats such as overgrazing, agricultural expansion, and the use of woody species for construction, firewood, and charcoal have depleted WEP resources and eroded traditional knowledge about their use. The review suggests that WEPs have the potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in Ethiopia if these threats are effectively managed. However, the limited coverage of ethnobotanical studies on WEPs requires further investigation. The study recommends integrating the prioritized WEPs into the national food system for promotion, cultivation, and nutrient analysis to evaluate their nutritional bioavailability.
野生可食用植物（WEPs）因其可获取性和可承受性，在全球范围内都是重要的食物来源。在埃塞俄比亚，不同文化群体都食用野生可食用植物，本系统综述探讨了它们的多样性、可食用部分以及在保障粮食安全方面的作用。该综述查阅了2000年至2022年期间关于埃塞俄比亚野生可食用植物民族植物学的38项原始研究。共识别出343个属、94个科的651种野生可食用植物，其中豆科植物的种类最多（51种）。草本植物和灌木是主要的生长习性，果实是最常食用的植物部分。该综述将9种野生可食用植物列为优先种植和推广对象。然而，过度放牧、农业扩张以及将木本植物用于建筑、柴火和木炭等用途，已使野生可食用植物资源枯竭，并侵蚀了有关其用途的传统知识。该综述表明，如果能有效应对这些威胁，野生可食用植物有潜力为埃塞俄比亚的粮食和营养安全做出贡献。然而，关于野生可食用植物的民族植物学研究覆盖范围有限，需要进一步调查。该研究建议将优先野生可食用植物纳入国家粮食系统，以进行推广、种植和营养分析，评估其营养生物利用度。
