Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu

North-West University | NWU · Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre

One of the most serious challenges threatening agricultural sustainability in Nigeria is land degradation. Although this issue has received little attention, soil and water conservation practices have been identified as a possible pathway out of the potential problems posed by land degradation. Therefore, the central research question that this pap...

Plants serve as an important source of medicine and provide suitable candidate compounds to produce eco-friendly therapeutic agents. They also represent a source of bio-reducer and stabilizer for the development of nanoparticles for downstream applications. This study focused on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticle (CTAgNP) using Cullen tomen...

The study evaluated the effects of feeding incremental levels of sericea lespedeza (SL; 0, 62.5, 125, 187.5 and 250 g/kg diet) substituted for lucerne on meat production, quality, and oxidative shelf-life of feedlot lambs infected or non-infected with Haemonchus contortus. There were no diet × infection status, and diet × retail display period effe...

The current study investigated the growth, uptake and distribution of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L) grown in soil collected from two sites near Kette-Batouri Goldmines, Eastern Cameroon. Seeds were germinated and grown in the two soil types for 12 weeks under greenhouse conditions. The length of the roots and...

Diarrhea is a condition in which feces is discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form. It is one of the frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The impact of Diarrhea is worsened by the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance among the causative agents, and this is now categorized as a global heal...

Colleagues, You are kindly welcome to submit your research

Dear Colleagues, You are kindly invited to submit your research to this special issue.

Context: Cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens L.) is a multipurpose medicinal legume endemic to southern Africa, reported to grow in a variety of soils, from very poor to fertile ones. However, there is limited knowledge on how L. frutescens is able to thrive in diverse soils and particularly, nothing has been reported on the benefits from the microbe...

Spiny monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa Lam.) is one of the neglected indigenous fruit trees occurring in tropical and subtropical Africa. This chapter provides a critical appraisal of the nutritional composition, phytochemical content and health-promoting attributes of Strychnos spinosa. Spiny monkey orange remains a commonly consumed edible fruit...

Antibiotics are regularly used in animal husbandry to treat diseases. This practice is beneficial to animals’ health and helps ensure food security. However, the misuse of antibiotics, especially in food-producing animals, has resulted in the advent of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its dissemination among foodborne pathogens. The occurrence of...

The book is an evidence-based reference about biochemical mechanisms of action of plant secondary metabolites. It conveys an understanding about how plant-based therapies work, and explains their role in the treatment of complementary and alternative medicine for in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, microbial infection...

Purpose Soil acidity and nutrient stress are the major abiotic factors affecting crop production thus contributing to food insecurity. Some plants including crop legumes may thrive in such poor conditions by regulating their secondary metabolites. In this study, we investigated how four Vigna unguiculata varieties regulated their phenolic acid conc...

Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is one of the most important natural products in the genus Capsicum. Due to its numerous biological effects, there has been extensive and increasing research interest in capsaicin, resulting in increased scientific publications in recent years. Therefore, an in-depth bibliometric analysis of published li...

Purpose Legumes have been used to improve soil fertility however, most legume research focuses on crop and not forage legumes. Forage legumes, including Pisum sativum L., increase the nutritional value in pastures and provide high amounts of soil protein and minerals required for plant growth. We investigated the effects of varying soil compositio...

Ethnoveterinary practices and ethnobotanical knowledge serve as potential therapeutic approaches used to manage and prevent cattle diseases within poor communities in developing nations. Most of the knowledge and practices remain inadequately documented and threatened with extinction in the future. This study aimed to explore the ethnoveterinary pr...

In the past few decades, biostimulants have emerged as new and promising products able to increase crop yields and quality through efficient nutrient uptake, assimilation and translocation, water use, and the promotion of crop tolerance towards environmental factors. Although there is a large body of knowledge on the application of biostimulants in...

Bovine mastitis (BM) is the traditional infectious condition in reared cattle which may result in serious repercussions ranging from animal welfare to economic issues. Owing to the high costs associated with preventative practices and therapeutic measures, lower milk output, and early culling, bovine mastitis is accountable for most of the financia...

Our remodelled research agenda suggests setting priorities that outline a clear framework for making decisions on current and future research activities. We propose collaborative and collective global approaches to maximize our joint efforts, especially among early-career researchers (ECRs), to remodel research agendas for the ultimate benefit of h...

The potential value of the efficient utilization of rural lands to cultivate indigenous fruits and vegetables to improve the livelihood of farming households cannot be overemphasized. Using primary data from 400 randomly selected rural farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria, this study applied probit regression, principal component analysis (PCA...

Harvesting of medicinal plants in the wild has an impact on sustainability of medicinal plants, which leads to the need for intervention in terms of conservation strategies. Siphonochilus aethiopicus, commonly known as African ginger or wild ginger is used to cure a variety of health conditions/illnesses, such as coughs, colds, asthma, nausea, head...

Traditional medicine is typically the most accessible primary healthcare for a large proportion of the people in Nigeria. However, its potential remains under-explored, especially with regards to their documentation. This research investigated and documented the use of medicinal plants in the management of various health conditions/diseases among l...

Purpose Soil acidity and nutrient stress in grassland and savanna ecosystems are the major abiotic factors affecting crop production thus contributing to food insecurity. Some plants including crop legumes may thrive in acidic and nutrient stressed soil environments by regulating their secondary metabolites. In this study, we investigated how four...

Biostimulant application during the cultivation of underutilized crops is an environmental-friendly approach for their production and utilization to promote food security and human health. This study investigated the effect of two commercial biostimulants (a seaweed-based extract, Kelpak® (1:100, 1:40, and 1:20, dilutions), and plant growth promoti...

The high diversity and occurrence of Aloe species in African landscapes often translates to their frequent utilisation for meeting the medicinal needs for human health and well-being. In addition, their value in ethnoveterinary medicine has been intermittently indicated amongst ethnic groups in Africa. This review entails a critical analysis on the...

The Brachystelma genus (family: Apocynaceae) consists of geophytes that are traditionally utilised among rural communities, especially in East Africa, southern Africa, West Africa, and northern and western India. Apart from being used as a food source, they are indicated as treatment for ailments such as colds, chest pains, and wounds. This review...

The use of medicinal plants for contraception remains a common practice among South African ethnic groups. The present study assessed the phytochemical profile, cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity and efficacy of a herbal mixture used for contraception by the Batswana of South Africa. An aqueous extract was prepared from equal quantities (in terms of...

Purpose Vigna unguiculata is a staple food with high nutritional value and commonly consumed among many rural communities in South Africa. Its success in low nutrient soil has been attributed to the establishment of efficient symbioses with soil bacteria and fungi. We investigated how legume-microbe symbiosis affect nitrogen (N) nutrition, and grow...

Climatic change is often manifested as changes in the intensity, frequency, and extent of abnormally low or high thresholds of factors such as temperature, precipitation, radiation, and concentrations of atmospheric gases. These changes will eventually extend to a state where it will be difficult to ameliorate the impact of those factors in agricul...

Globally, the potential of medicinal plants is increasingly being recognized due to their relative availability, particularly in rural areas. This review explored the ethnobotanical and economic values of six selected medicinal plants widely used to treat and manage childhood diseases in South Africa. Acalypha glabrata, Aloe maculata, Datura stramo...

Strychnos spinosa Lam. is among the top nutrient-dense indigenous fruit species that are predominant in Southern Africa. It is a highly ranked indigenous fruit based on the nutrition and sensorial properties, which make it an important food source for the marginalized rural people. On the basis of the high vitamin C, iron, and zinc content, it has...

Ipomoea oblongata is a popular plant known for its diverse therapeutic uses in South African folk medicine but currently has limited empirical evidence to support some of these uses. In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro anti-diabetic and cytotoxic effects of the root extracts of Ipomoea oblongata. Methanol and water extracts were tested...

Mucuna pruriens is a legume with high nitrogen (N) fixing efficiency which makes it an ideal plant for soil N inputs/enrichment in nutrient-poor ecosystems. The current study investigated how soil nutrient availability and microbe symbiosis influence the nutrient assimilation rates, growth carbon (C) cost and phytochemicals in Mucuna pruriens under...

Globally, the use of ethnoveterinary medicine as remedies for animal health among different ethnic groups justify the need for a systematic exploration to enhance their potential. In addition, the increasing popularity and utilisation of woody plants remain common in traditional medicine, which may be attributed to their inherent benefits. The curr...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Spiny monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa Lam.) is an African endemic fruit tree which is widely consumed by humans and animals for its nutritional value. In folk medicine, different parts of the plant are widely used for the management of the health and well-being of humans and livestock. Aim We provide a critical appr...

In South Africa, traditional medicine remains the first point of call for a significant proportion of the population seeking primary healthcare needs. This is particularly important for treating common conditions including pain and inflammation which are often associated with many disease conditions. This review focuses on the analysis of the trend...

Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae) is popular medicinal plant used for the treatment and management of a wide range of diseases. In this study, the foliar micromorphology, phytochemicals and elemental composition of two cultivars (Hass and Nigerian avocado pears denoted as ‘HAP’ and ‘NAP’, respectively) of P. americana leaves were evaluated. Fresh l...

The use of medicinal plants in the management of diverse ailments is entrenched in the culture of indigenous people in African communities. This review provides a critical appraisal of the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants for the management of headache in Africa. Research articles published from 2010 (Jan) to 2021 (July) with keywords such a...

Cattle farming is a traditional agricultural system that contribute to the rural economic, social and cultural values of the communities. Cattle as common with other livestock, are affected by many diseases that cause mortality and economic losses. In many rural households, the use of plants and associated knowledge are popular for managing cattle...

Seed germination is a crucial step in plant propagation, as it controls seedling production, stand establishment and ultimately crop yield. Approaches that can promote seed germination of valuable crops remain of great interest globally. The current study evaluated the effect of biostimulant (Kelpak® and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria-PGPR) b...

Cytokinins (CKs) are involved in several developmental stages in the life-cycle of plants. The CK content in plants and their respective organs are susceptible to changes under different environmental conditions. In the current study, we profiled the CK content in the above and underground organs of three legumes (Lessertia frutescens, Mucuna pruri...

The genus Brachystelma morphologically ranges from slender climbers to geophytes that mainly occur in Australia, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. These species are well-known for their nutrition and medicinal values. The current study evaluated the effect of cytokinins (CKs) on the phenolic acid content and antioxidant activity of two in vitr...

Horticultural crops undergo various physiological and biochemical changes that lead to undesirable physiological disorders, decay and subsequent economic losses during storage. Quality degradation of horticultural crops is mainly caused by postharvest pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium spp., etc. The application of synthetic fungici...

Using a cross-sectional dataset, this study examines the factors influencing the income and willingness to pay for indigenous plants by rural households in the North West Province of South Africa. The method of data analysis was based on a two-stage Heckman model. Based on empirical data, the majority (93%) of the households are willing to pay for...

Developing countries need to explore their undervalued indigenous plants to fully enhance their food-nutrition security, health, and economic viability. This review explores the nutritional, phytochemical and economic potential(s) of the marama bean (Tylosema esculentum, family: Fabaceae), a non-nodulating indigenous legume that can be cultivated a...

Ethnopharmacological relevance In sub-Saharan Africa, African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) is used for treating common illnesses including colds, coughs, inflammation and related symptoms. The available literature survey on this plant provided scarce anecdotal information, particularly in western and eastern Africa, with a few reports on its...

Issues relating to food availability, accessibility/affordability, and food utilization remain paramount among different stakeholders such as policymakers and academics. Using data from 250 maize farming households in Nigeria, the study used Foster–Greer–Thorbecke and probit regression model to investigate the factors determining households food se...

Cleome gynandra (Syn. Gynandropsis gynandra) is fast emerging as one of the most widely consumed leafy vegetables due to its nutrition and health-promoting properties. In addition to its high nutritional content, the plant has a rich pool of diverse antioxidant phytochemicals. The current review provides a critical appraisal on the increasing nutri...

Successful seed germination results in the production of the next generation of plants, and is a critical phase in their growth and survival. Germination involves different processes including imbibition, protein synthesis, and phytohormone production. All of these processes can be manipulated by extrinsic factors including the application of biost...

Drought, heat, salinity, and nutrient deficiency are major abiotic stressors limiting crop productivity and affecting global food security. In particular, the combined impact of drought and heat stress is expected to worsen because of projected effects of climate change. Plants exhibit variable species- and genotype-dependent responses to environme...

Saffron (Crocus sativus L., family Iridaceae) is used traditionally for medicinal purpose in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Persian and Unani medicines. The bioactive constituents such as apocarotenoids, monoterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and phytosterols are widely investigated in experimental and clinical studies for a wide range of therapeutic effe...

The current study compared the synthesis, characterization and properties of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO) based on green and traditional chemical methods. The synthesized CuO were confirmed by spectroscopic and morphological characterization such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zeta...

In Africa, indigenous methods of contraception continue to play a significant role in preventing unwanted pregnancies despite the introduction and popularity of modern contraceptives. The current review identified the common techniques and practices of African indigenous contraception, and examined their mechanisms and reasons for use. We searched...

In South Africa, modern contraceptives are promoted more than indigenous contraceptives. Despite free access to modern contraceptives, teenage pregnancy remains a serious challenge in South Africa. Indigenous contraception could providewomenand girls a way to avoid unwanted pregnancies.The purpose of this study was to document practices, taboos and...

In Africa and Asia, members of the genus Brachystelma are well-known for their diverse uses, especially their medicinal and nutritional values. However, the use of many Brachystelma species as a valuable resource is generally accompanied by the concern of over-exploitation attributed to their slow growth and general small size. The aim of the curre...

Underutilised indigenous plants can support and strengthen the existing food system, as they are considered as socioeconomically and environmentally appropriate. These plants generally adapt to marginal conditions, which is essential for a resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems. The current study relied on food security and indigenous p...

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 s...

Childhood diseases represent a sizeable proportion of mortality burden that could potentially be alleviated when effectively managed. In South Africa, the use of medicinal plants against different diseases and for the general well-being in children is enriched in the culture of different ethnic groups. However, the potential associated with this as...

Globally, the potential of indigenous and neglected fruit species is continuously being recognized. In the current study, we explored the uses and benefits of locally available fruit species among the Mapulana people in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. An ethno-botanical survey was conducted using in-depth interviews to record the names of the fru...

Small ruminants significantly contribute towards livelihood, food and nutrition security for people living in semiarid low-to-middle-income countries. However, their productivity is largely constrained by feed shortages, prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and postharvest meat losses. The current review explores the possibility of using...

Protea caffra is used as a diarrhoeal remedy in South African herbal medicine, however, its pharmacological properties remain largely unknown. In the present study, extracts from different Protea caffra organs were screened against drug-sensitive and -resistant diarrhoeagenic pathogens using the microdilution assay (minimum inhibitory concentration...