Inventory and ethnobotanical study of edible fruit plants in Uíge city, Northern Angola

This study aimed to identify edible fruit plants in Uíge, Angola, highlighting their nutritional and therapeutic potential. Urban vegetation, particularly fruit plants, is crucial for human well-being, offering supplementary food and income opportunities. Conducted from November 2022 to October 2023, the botanical survey documented 51 fruit plant species from 37 genera and 25 families. Prominent families included Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, and Rutaceae, with 72.5% of species being exotic. Commonly found plants were Mangifera indica (13.08%), Persea americana (11.99%), Pachylobus edulis (9.50%), Carica papaya (8.41%), and Psidium guajava (7.63%). The majority of the flora comprised phanerophytes (90.20%). Most fruits (52.9%) are consumed directly, with decoction (51.2%) being the main preparation method and oral consumption (78.9%) the predominant administration route. The primary plant parts used in herbal medicine were leaves (29.9%) and fruits (22.9%), targeting ailments such as diarrhea (15.2%) and diabetes (13.1%). This study provides a valuable database for plants with nutritional and therapeutic benefits, emphasizing the need for further research into their fruiting seasonality, species richness, market value, and nutritional content. Domesticating these species could ensure a sustainable food supply and advance phytochemical and pharmacological research.