Nutritional, phytochemical and diverse health-promoting qualities of Cleome gynandra

Abstract

Cleome gynandra (Syn. Gynandropsis gynandra) is fast emerging as one of the most widely consumed leafy vegetables due to its nutrition and health-promoting properties. In addition to its high nutritional content, the plant has a rich pool of diverse antioxidant phytochemicals. The current review provides a critical appraisal on the increasing nutritional significance of Cleome gynandra due to its rich pool of natural bioactive compounds and beneficial health-promoting qualities. The rich nutritional content especially the high levels of macro- and micronutrients is an indication of its potential to mitigate malnutrition and the increasing incidence of diet-related obesity and non-communicable diseases. The presence of health-promoting natural compounds, notably polyphenols, glucosinates and terpernoids has been confirmed in Cleome gynandra using different analytical methods. Cleome gynandra possesses high levels of α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, α-carotene, β-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin. These nutritional compounds could be useful in food applications as supplements, colorants and extending shelf-life of food products. Cleome gynandra extracts have demonstrated promising effects in several biological assays using in vitro and in vivo systems. Clearly, diversified diets that include a regular intake of dark green leafy vegetables including Cleome gynandra, holds great promise in ensuring food and nutrition security.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Antioxidant
• ascorbic acid
• carotenoids
• mineral content
• phenolic acids
• tocopherols

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the input of Ms Boitumelo Selogatwe with the preparation of the map used in the manuscript. We are grateful for valuable comments from Dr Kannan RR Rengasamy.

Declaration of competing interest

There is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The National Research Foundation of South Africa supported this work under Grant UID: 129179, Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers (MM) and Grant UID: 109508, Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers (AOA).