Beyond nutrients: household practices, traditional uses, and cultural applications of Corchorus olitorius in east and west Africa

Résumé

Corchorus olitorius , recognized for its culinary and medicinal virtues, is widely integrated into diets across diverse regions of the world. While its nutritional composition is documented, less attention has been given to household practices, traditional uses, and cultural meanings in African contexts. Understanding these dimensions is essential for positioning this indigenous leafy vegetable within sustainable food systems. This scoping review with thematic synthesis was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search identified 482 records, from which 21 studies were retained for thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti 25. The synthesis identified four main themes: household preparation and preservation practices, medicinal uses, cultural and symbolic meanings, and barriers/enablers to consumption. Across regions, Corchorus olitorius was commonly prepared as mucilaginous staple-accompanying dishes, while regional differences were observed in processing methods. West African studies more frequently reported the use of potash, baking soda, drying, and powdering, whereas East African studies highlighted fermentation and mixed-vegetable recipes. Medicinal uses are mainly related to fever, digestive issues, anemia, maternal health, and chronic diseases, although these uses were generally reported as ethnobotanical knowledge rather than clinically validated effects. Acceptance was shaped by cultural meanings, including taboos, prescriptions, and ritual uses. Traditional knowledge related to C. olitorius encompasses food, medicine, and cultural practices but remains insufficiently documented in many contexts. Integrating household and cultural dimensions with laboratory-based research can support more culturally relevant strategies for promoting C. olitorius within resilient and sustainable food systems.

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