Using Malabar Spinach for Food and Medicine.

Malabar spinach is called Basella alba botanically. It is also called amunututu or toromoganna in Yoruba. It is a perennial vine that is used as a vegetable for food and aa a herb for medicine in Africa and Asia.

Malabar spinach is a highly nutritious vegetable that has the following nutritional profile;

• Low in calories.
• Low in fats.
• High in proteins.
• High in vitamins A, C, some B complex vitamins like folate, pyridoxine and riboflavin.
• Contains antioxidants like beta-carotenes, lutein, zea-xanthin.
• It is a good source of chlorophyll.
• It has antiviral, diuretic, astringent, mucilaginous and laxative properties.

Because of its nutrients profile and properties above, it has been used medicinally for the following;

1. The leaves are used to treat constipation because it is mucilaginous.
2. The astringent roots are used to treat diarrhea.
3. The root paste is used on boils, burns, scalds and ulcers.
4. The root paste is also used to inflammation, rheumatic pain and swellings.
5. The flowers are used as an antidote to poison, snake bites and insect bites.
6. The fruit juice is used to treat conjunctivitis and some eye infections.
7. A decoction of the leaves is used to reduce labour pains.
8. Leaves decoction is used to treat catarrh because of its demulcent properties.
9. The leaves are used to promote fertility in South-West Nigeria.

Malabar spinach is cooked as a vegetable soup in Nigeria especially for relieving constipation and

digestive issues. That is why it is called amunututu (something that calms the digestive tract) in Yoruba. It can soothe and protect inflamed tissues.

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