Mimusops zeyheri Sond. (Milkwood) is an indigenous fruit tree species with considerable ecological, cultural, and nutritional significance that remains underexploited. This review synthesizes current knowledge on its distribution, taxonomy, phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal applications, ecological functions, genetic diversity, and biotechnological potential. A systematic literature search, spanning 1949 to April 2024, yielded 87 relevant publications from an initial 155. Mimusops zeyheri plays a crucial role in supporting the cultural traditions and economic activities of Indigenous Southern African Communities. Its distribution encompasses South, East, and Southern Tropical Africa, with substantial populations across South African provinces. Ethnomedicinally, various plant parts treat conditions including wounds, gastrointestinal issues, and diabetes. The leaves (34%) and roots (32%) are used, with infusion (33%) and decoction (31%) as primary preparation methods. Oral administration (70%) is the most common, primarily addressing skin conditions (18%). Despite its nutritional richness, a standardized nutrient profile is lacking. Limited genetic diversity studies underscore the need for further research. This study highlights Mimusops zeyheri’s multifaceted importance and research gaps, particularly in other Southern African countries. Future investigations should focus on comprehensive phytochemical analysis, ethnomedicinal validation, ecological conservation, genetic diversity assessment, and biotechnological applications. Multidisciplinary collaborations are recommended to promote sustainable utilization while preserving traditional practices.

Local innovations regarding plant-derived spice and flavorant formulations and preparation techniques are mostly recorded nowhere and usually passed on generationally through word of mouth. This study aimed to inventory the utilization of plants and perceptions of novel indigenous food spicing and flavoring among the Vhavenḓa people in South Africa. This study adopted face-to-face interviews with 360 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. This study investigated a total of twenty-seven plant species used to spice-flavor novel indigenous Venḓa foods, including mukokoroshi meat stew, mopane worms, vegetables, homemade achar, eggs, samp meal, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Based on the perceptions by participants from different age groups, indigenous foods spicing and favoring significantly improved food taste and nutrition (43.1%), providing medicinal benefits (33.3%) and cultural identity (23.6%). No study had ever reported the uses of Lannea edulis (Sond.) Engl., Mangifera indica L., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov., Plectranthus fruticosus L′Hér., Hibiscus sabdariffa subsp. Cannabinus L., Oxalis semiloba subsp. semiloba, and Ziziphus mucronata subsp. mucronata and their preparational techniques for novel indigenous foods, spicing, and flavoring before, in South Africa, or elsewhere. The current study provided insights about spice and flavoring plants that could be used to develop alternative marketable commercial products. The findings of this study provide necessary baseline information for evaluating and profiling the nutritional content of spice-making and flavoring plants in the Vhembe Region.

Mimusops zeyheri Sond. is an underutilized indigenous fruit tree with significant nutritional, ecological, and socio-economic value in southern Africa. However, its domestication potential remains constrained by a limited understanding of intraspecific variation across geographically distinct populations. This study integrated morphological, sensory, and chloroplast genetic analyses to assess the diversity and population structuring of M. zeyheri in two regions of South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga). A total of 40 trees (20 per region) were evaluated for fruit, nut, and leaf traits, while sensory attributes were assessed by 100 participants using a 9-point hedonic scale. Genetic diversity was examined using the chloroplast markers matK and trnH–psbA. Significant regional differences were observed in reproductive morphology, with Mpumalanga populations producing larger fruits (29.41 ± 0.61 mm) and nuts (2.11 ± 0.36 cm) than those from Limpopo. In contrast, sensory evaluation revealed consistently higher preference scores for Limpopo fruits across all attributes, particularly taste, aroma, and overall acceptability (mean scores 7.7–8.0 vs. 5.0–5.4). Genetic analyses identified two major chloroplast lineages corresponding broadly to geographic origin, alongside rare haplotypes indicating localized divergence. Leaf morphology remained largely conserved across regions. The combined evidence demonstrates strong regional structuring driven by both environmental gradients and historical genetic divergence. Importantly, the decoupling of fruit size and sensory preference highlights the need to prioritize quality traits in domestication strategies. These findings point to a promising domestication direction, through crossbreeding superior-tasting Limpopo genotypes with larger-fruited Mpumalanga genotypes to combine consumer-preferred sensory quality with an improved fruit size. These findings provide a foundation for conservation planning and the selection of superior genotypes for the development of M. zeyheri as a high-value indigenous fruit crop.