Explore the evidence.
Understand the reach.

The study investigated the cultural and economic significance of the savha (Sansevieria Pearsonii) among the residents of the Pfumembe Village of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The main objective was to explore possibilities of domesticating and commercialising the plant by developing a farm. An interdisciplinary approach was used to design a mixed method study developed with data collected from purposively selected and interviewed primary participants (n=11), key informants (n=8). Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) and transect walk in the village. The plant had both cultural and economic significance. The results furthermore revealed that it was domesticable and that it could be commercialised. Developing a farm from this plant was achievable. 

Alien invasive plant species that invade natural habitats end up altering the ecosystem services and the socio-economic conditions. The current study, conducted in Zimbabwe, focused on assessing the food values of herbaceous invasive alien plant species. An extensive literature review resulted in identification of 21 herbaceous invasive alien plant species that are used as food plants in Zimbabwe. This comparative analysis of historical accounts of use from 1955 and subsequent publications revealed subtle changes in food, culinary and medicinal uses, as well as other socio-ecological aspects associated with the species. The most popular use category of edible, herbaceous invasive alien plant species in Zimbabwe are the leaves, followed by the fruits and underground storage organs. Documented species belong to 13 genera and 7 families, with more than three quarters of the species (18 species = 85.7%) being members of the Amaranthaceae family with six species, followed Brassicaceae (five species), Solanaceae (four species) and Asteraceae (three species). About half of the species (13 species = 61.9%) are native to the Americas with the Asian region contributing seven species (33.3%), Europe (five species = 23.8%) and Africa (four = 19.0%). The region with the highest number of edible herbaceous invasive alien species in Zimbabwe is Eastern (18 species = 85.7%), followed by Central (16 species = 76.2%), Western (13 species = 61.9%), Northern and Southern with 11 species each (52.4%). Therefore, this data on edible, herbaceous invasive alien plant species in Zimbabwe contribute to the global efforts of trying to understand plant invasions as their spread and socio-ecological impacts are exacerbated by the globalization of the world economies.

This study  explored the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of fibroids by Indigenous people of Vhavenda in Khubvi village in Limpopo. Through an explanatory case study approach, the study  documented and describe the various traditional knowledge, remedies and plants used, as well as cultural significance attached to these practices. by conducting interviews with local healers and community members, the research gathered valuable insights into the historical context, preparation method, and perceived effectiveness of traditional treatment. This exploratory study contributed to the preservation of Vhavenda traditional knowledge and served as basic for future research and potential integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare practices. The objective of the study was as follows, To explore the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of fibroids. The study anchored from the theoretical support of health belief model approach. This study used qualitative design. Data collection methods utilized was semi structured interview. The sampling methods include purposive sampling. The analysis indicated that most of people are not aware of the use of traditional medicine for fibroids treatment. This study recommended that the elderly people, the traditional healers as well as traditional birth attendant to educate our young generation on the use of traditional plants for medicinal purposes.

The struggle to fight food insecurities in rural communities across the globe is ongoing. At least a little progress has been made regarding developing knowledge and traditional practices for using traditional vegetables. This local knowledge development encompasses not only food provisioning to local communities but also caters to promoting quality health care. Enough evidence thus far attests that rural communities face food insecurity and are chronically malnourished.  Other research results concur that humans have long utilised plants to address food insecurity. The verbal and signed consent obtained from the participants before the survey began followed a thorough explanation of the study's purpose. The researcher accentuated the participants' voluntary participation and guaranteed the protection of their privacy. Surveys were conducted through face-to-face interviews and field trips to gather field notes. Plant samples were collected from the home gardens and the wild to prepare voucher specimens deposited in the Department of Botany herbarium. Twenty-four plant species of 20 genera belonging to 13 different botanical families were inventoried. An outstanding 100% of the documented traditional vegetables formed integral contributors to food preparations for combating food insecurity. Leaves of all the 24 inventoried vegetables are edible. They are blended or garnished with their own or of other species’ fruits and seeds for preparations of relish consumed with stiff maize-meal porridge. Generally, other uses of these plants include ornamental, craft, and healing properties for various ailments. It is concluded that the consumption of these plants valuably contributes toward no hunger and a healthier nation.

The study investigated the cultural and economic significance of the savha (Sansevieria Pearsonii) among the residents of the Pfumembe Village of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The main objective was to explore possibilities of domesticating and commercialising the plant by developing a farm. An interdisciplinary approach was used to design a mixed method study developed with data collected from purposively selected and interviewed primary participants (n=11), key informants (n=8). Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) and transect walk in the village. The plant had both cultural and economic significance. The results furthermore revealed that it was domesticable and that it could be commercialised. Developing a farm from this plant was achievable. 

Alien invasive plant species that invade natural habitats end up altering the ecosystem services and the socio-economic conditions. The current study, conducted in Zimbabwe, focused on assessing the food values of herbaceous invasive alien plant species. An extensive literature review resulted in identification of 21 herbaceous invasive alien plant species that are used as food plants in Zimbabwe. This comparative analysis of historical accounts of use from 1955 and subsequent publications revealed subtle changes in food, culinary and medicinal uses, as well as other socio-ecological aspects associated with the species. The most popular use category of edible, herbaceous invasive alien plant species in Zimbabwe are the leaves, followed by the fruits and underground storage organs. Documented species belong to 13 genera and 7 families, with more than three quarters of the species (18 species = 85.7%) being members of the Amaranthaceae family with six species, followed Brassicaceae (five species), Solanaceae (four species) and Asteraceae (three species). About half of the species (13 species = 61.9%) are native to the Americas with the Asian region contributing seven species (33.3%), Europe (five species = 23.8%) and Africa (four = 19.0%). The region with the highest number of edible herbaceous invasive alien species in Zimbabwe is Eastern (18 species = 85.7%), followed by Central (16 species = 76.2%), Western (13 species = 61.9%), Northern and Southern with 11 species each (52.4%). Therefore, this data on edible, herbaceous invasive alien plant species in Zimbabwe contribute to the global efforts of trying to understand plant invasions as their spread and socio-ecological impacts are exacerbated by the globalization of the world economies.

This study  explored the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of fibroids by Indigenous people of Vhavenda in Khubvi village in Limpopo. Through an explanatory case study approach, the study  documented and describe the various traditional knowledge, remedies and plants used, as well as cultural significance attached to these practices. by conducting interviews with local healers and community members, the research gathered valuable insights into the historical context, preparation method, and perceived effectiveness of traditional treatment. This exploratory study contributed to the preservation of Vhavenda traditional knowledge and served as basic for future research and potential integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare practices. The objective of the study was as follows, To explore the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of fibroids. The study anchored from the theoretical support of health belief model approach. This study used qualitative design. Data collection methods utilized was semi structured interview. The sampling methods include purposive sampling. The analysis indicated that most of people are not aware of the use of traditional medicine for fibroids treatment. This study recommended that the elderly people, the traditional healers as well as traditional birth attendant to educate our young generation on the use of traditional plants for medicinal purposes.

The struggle to fight food insecurities in rural communities across the globe is ongoing. At least a little progress has been made regarding developing knowledge and traditional practices for using traditional vegetables. This local knowledge development encompasses not only food provisioning to local communities but also caters to promoting quality health care. Enough evidence thus far attests that rural communities face food insecurity and are chronically malnourished.  Other research results concur that humans have long utilised plants to address food insecurity. The verbal and signed consent obtained from the participants before the survey began followed a thorough explanation of the study's purpose. The researcher accentuated the participants' voluntary participation and guaranteed the protection of their privacy. Surveys were conducted through face-to-face interviews and field trips to gather field notes. Plant samples were collected from the home gardens and the wild to prepare voucher specimens deposited in the Department of Botany herbarium. Twenty-four plant species of 20 genera belonging to 13 different botanical families were inventoried. An outstanding 100% of the documented traditional vegetables formed integral contributors to food preparations for combating food insecurity. Leaves of all the 24 inventoried vegetables are edible. They are blended or garnished with their own or of other species’ fruits and seeds for preparations of relish consumed with stiff maize-meal porridge. Generally, other uses of these plants include ornamental, craft, and healing properties for various ailments. It is concluded that the consumption of these plants valuably contributes toward no hunger and a healthier nation.