title: Nutritional and pharmacological potential of the genus Ceratotheca--An underutilized leafy vegetable of Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ceratotheca (Pedaliaceae) is an endemic African genus comprising of five species. The genus is commonly used as a leafy vegetable with medicinal properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The review aims to highlight the unexplored nutritional and pharmacological potential of African indigenous leafy vegetables Ceratotheca sesamoides and triloba, in order to conserve and domesticate these species.
  
  
  METHODS
  The information was obtained from various search engines such as Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science as well as Ethnobotanical books.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ceratotheca sesamoides and triloba have good nutritional potential. The species are high in energy levels, fat content, proteins and carbohydrate values. The species have also been reported to have good antibacterial, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, antiplasmodial and antiviral properties. These species have slight toxicity and cytotoxic activity when extracted at high concentrations but no mutagenic activity was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, few studies have documented the usage (nutrition and pharmacology) of Ceratotheca sesamoides and triloba. More studies investigating the nutritional content as well as methods of its improvement are necessary if the plant is to be included as a domesticated vegetable crop. Safety and toxicity analysis of this leafy vegetable need to be extensively studied as the plants are consumed in high quantities.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nqobile A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Masondo
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jeffrey F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Finnie
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa. Electronic address: rcpgd@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D029601:Pedaliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidants; Nutrient analysis; Phytochemical content; Propagation strategies; Toxicology; Traditional leafy vegetables