Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is an important vegetable that has been indigenized in African countries where it is consumed as a relish. There is still, however, a lack of documented cultivation techniques for better yields. An organic medium-enclosed trough (OMET) system is a growing technique that has been developed to reduce water and nutrient seepage during plant production. The study objectives evaluated the effect of OMET on the growth, yield, and nutritional attributes of okra. A complete randomized block design was established to accommodate the two treatments: OMET and non-OMET, in a micro-plot under field conditions. The stem diameter and plant height were recorded weekly during plant growth, and a clear increasing trend in OMET over non-OMET was observed from week 4 of transplantation. The OMET growing technique significantly increased the stem diameter and plant height by 37 and 48%, respectively. When evaluating the yield attributes, a similar trend was observed, where the OMET system significantly increased the yield attributes of okra as follows: biomass by 50%, the number of branches by 50%, the number of pods per plant by 49%, fresh pod weight by 53%, and pod length by 51%, while there was no significant difference in pod diameter width. Non-essential amino acids compounds, including arginine, serine, glycine, aspartate acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and proline and essential amino acids, including histidine, threonine, methionine, lysine, tyrosine, leucine, phenylalanine, asparagine and glutamine, were highly maintained in OMET compared to non-OMET. OMET enhanced the upregulation of proteins, Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Na, P and Zn elemental nutrients in the disposal of less irrigation water than non-OMET. This growing technique could be recommended for small-scale and commercial farming to improve the okra production of nutrition.

The global prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, is rising. While pharmacological treatments for dyslipidemia and associated CVDs exist, not all individuals can afford them, and those who do often experience adverse side effects. Preclinical studies have indicated the potential benefits of Abelmoschus esculentus and its active phytochemicals in addressing dyslipidemia in rodent models of diabetes. However, there is limited clinical evidence on lipid parameters. Thus, this study aimed to assess the potential impact of Abelmoschus esculentus on dyslipidemia. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for relevant trials published from inception until 11 August 2024. Data analysis was performed using Jamovi software version 2.4.8 and Review Manager (version 5.4), with effect estimates reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The evidence from eight studies with nine treatment arms showed that Abelmoschus esculentus reduces total cholesterol (TC), SMD = −0.53 (95% CI: −1.00 to −0.07), p = 0.025), compared to placebo. Additionally, triglyceride (TG) was reduced in Abelmoschus esculentus compared to placebo, SMD = −0.24 (95% CI: −0.46 to −0.02), p = 0.035. Furthermore, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was also reduced, SMD = −0.35 (95% CI: −0.59 to −0.11), p = 0.004 in Abelmoschus esculentus versus placebo. This remedy substantially increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), SMD = 0.34 (95% CI: 0.07 to 0.61), p = 0.014). Abelmoschus esculentus substantially improved lipid profile in prediabetes, T2D, obesity, and diabetic nephropathy. While the evidence confirms the potential benefits of Abelmoschus esculentus in reducing dyslipidemia, it is important for future clinical studies to standardize the effective dosage for more reliable results. Therefore, future trials should focus on these markers in well-designed trials with sufficient sample sizes. Furthermore, Abelmoschus esculentus can be supplemented to the diet of the relevant populations to alleviate dyslipidemia.

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) has shown potential efficacy in animal models of metabolic disorders treatment; however, clinical evidence has been obtained from small sample sizes, and the findings remain contradictory. This study aims to evaluate the effects of M. oleifera on hypertension and hyperglycemia in individuals with metabolic disorders. This was a registered meta-analysis (CRD420251184037) that employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate. The umbrella terms moringa oleifera Lam, moringa oleifera, and metabolic diseases were used, along with Boolean operators (OR, AND), and each database was adjusted accordingly. A meta-analysis web tool and JAMOVI version 2.6.44.0 were used to analyze the data, with results reported as mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Twenty clinical studies, conducted in patients with metabolic diseases, were analyzed. The pooled estimates suggest a modest association between M. oleifera and fasting blood glucose, SMD = −0.70, 95% CI (−1.06, −0.34), p = 0.0002, and glycated hemoglobin, MD = −0.62%, 95% CI (−0.99, −0.25), p = 0.0009. Furthermore, M. oleifera was associated with reduced diastolic blood pressure, MD = −6.82 mmHg, 95% CI (−7.84, −5.80), p < 0.0001, and systolic blood pressure, MD = −7.50 mmHg, 95% CI (−10.96, −4.03), p < 0.0001. Meta-regression showed that patients' conditions and the continent where the study was conducted were significant moderators of the effect sizes, especially for FBG and SBP. The evidence gathered in this study suggests that M. oleifera may have potential in patients with metabolic disorders. However, due to heterogeneity and limitations in the study quality, these findings must be considered preliminary and hypothesis-generating and thus highlight the need for future powered condition-specific trials.

Introduction: Strychnos spinosa Lam. (monkey orange) is a drought-tolerant indigenous fruit tree distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, valued traditionally for nutrition and medicine but remaining underutilised in formal economies. This review synthesises literature on the fruit’s physicochemical properties, phytonutrient profile, value-added products, and bio-accessibility to evaluate its potential as a functional food. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across database using different keyword strings. Of 387 initial records identified, 75 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Results: The pulp is characterised by high acidity (pH 2.5–4.0), soluble solids (12–22 °Brix), and pulp yield (30–60%). Nutritionally, it is rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and minerals including potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc. Phytochemical profiling revealed bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, and carotenoids, underpinning antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Value-added products including juices, jams, fermented beverages, and dried rolls have demonstrated feasibility. However, a critical knowledge gap persists: while compositional analyses confirm high phytonutrient content, their bio-accessibility remains poorly characterised. Discussion: Factors including carotenoid lipophilicity, phenolic compound stability during digestion, and processing impacts on nutrient release have not been systematically quantified. Without integrating standardised bio-accessibility studies, the physiological relevance of S. spinosa’s phytonutrients cannot be validated, and commercialisation as a functional food remains speculative. Fermentation emerges as a promising traditional and scalable method to enhance nutrient bioavailability through phenolic modification, cell wall disruption, and reduction of anti-nutritional factors. Conclusion: This review recommends prioritising bio-accessibility investigations alongside fermentation optimisation to transform S. spinosa into a validated, climate-smart functional food for sub-Saharan Africa, supporting evidence-based product development, nutrition security, and rural economic opportunities.

Climate change and water scarcity pose threats to smallholder chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production, necessitating affordable and resource-efficient cultivation systems. This study assessed the effects of an Organic Medium-Enclosed Trough (OMET) system on the growth, yield, irrigation demand, nutritional, and UHPLC-QTOF-MS metabolite composition of chilli pepper under a randomised complete block design (n = 36) in a greenhouse. OMET significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased plant height by 224%, stem diameter by approximately 43.7%, root length (57%), branch number (120%), fruit number per plant (133%), fruit length (70%), fruit width (48%), and fruit weight (204%). Cumulative irrigation water use was 44% lower under OMET (2400 mL) than under non-OMET (5350 mL). OMET increased protein (to 33.8% in leaves) and carbohydrate (to 45.4% in pods). OMET enhanced macronutrients Ca, K, and S and several micronutrients in leaves and pods. Sixteen amino acids were quantified, most of which were upregulated under OMET, with aspartic acid (Asp) being the most abundant. UHPLC-QTOF-MS untargeted metabolomics detected 38 metabolites, predominantly flavonoids and diterpenoid glycosides. Collectively, OMET improved chilli pepper growth, yield, nutrient density, and water-use efficiency without additional chemical fertiliser application, while nutrient cycling was achieved through the return of plant residues, offering smallholder farmers a practical, climate-resilient production option.