Inventory of human-edible products from native Acacia sensu lato in Africa, America, and Asia: Spotlight on Senegalia seeds, overlooked wild legumes in the arid tropics. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Drabo, Moustapha Soungalo; Shumoy, Habtu; Savadogo, Aly; Raes, Katleen
• Is Part Of: Food research international. Volume 159(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Acacia -- Senegalia -- Edible non-conventional plants -- Nutritional values -- Food and medicine continuum -- Food security; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Canada -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; Food-Processing Industry -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Canada -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111596
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9969

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Acacia plants in Africa, America, and Asia have long been overlooked food sources. This review has comprehensively inventoried them and identified some delicacies. Their food uses are manifestly in the continuum of their medicinal applications. The newly refined segregate or genus Senegalia reveals promising edible seeds. Concerted research is needed to leverage the food potential of Acacia edible products. Abstract: Acacia s.l . is a newly revised genus whose plant species are quintessential in the pantropical, arid, and hunger-prone areas. They provide multiple ecosystem services and a range of edible products for humans. Their food uses are manifestly in the continuum of their medicinal applications, mirroring candidate materials to develop novel healthy food products. Yet, edible Acacia plant products have been overlooked, underresearched, and poorly disseminated for a very long time. This review inventories comprehensively edible products from native Acacia plants in Africa, America, and Asia, critically discusses their food potential for humans, identifies research gaps, and provides bases for further research. Interestingly, the seeds from Senegalia, the second-largest and refined Acacia segregate, appear to be the most promising food materials and are consequently highlighted.