Exploring the biochemical constituents, medicinal properties and potential commercialization of Ximenia caffra Sond. for enhancing human health: a comprehensive review

Abstract

In the realm of sustainable development, universal access to safe and nutritious food and medicine is paramount, particularly championed by the “Zero Hunger” initiative. This article comprehensively reviews the status of research on Ximenia caffra Sond, commonly known as Wild sour plum, an underutilized plant offering versatile applications in both food and medicine. The study delves into X. caffra’s phytochemistry, drawing from peer-reviewed articles sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The findings illuminate the plant’s richness in diverse bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, underpinning its multifaceted medicinal and nutritional properties. The nutritional and phytochemical abundance of X. caffra underscores a compelling case for advancing from sporadic tribal consumption to full-scale commercialization, necessitating further research to optimize cultivation techniques and extraction methods for commercial products.