Analysis of the Maasai Traditional Food System and Ethnomedicine For Health Benefits and Bioactive Potential Against Gout and Metabolic Disorders
| dc.contributor.author | Clement, Richard | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-16T07:45:30Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-07 | |
| dc.description | SDG- 2: Zero Hunger SDG-3: Good Health and Well-being SDG- 15: Life on Land | |
| dc.description.abstract | Maasai’s traditional food system (TFS) and Traditional Medicine (TM) are claimed to keep a low prevalence of diseases, including gout (hyperuricemia with uric-acid crystals in tissues)and predisposed/predisposing conditions thereof (GACs); however, anti-oxidants and anti-hyperuricemics (AHAs) are not well-established in the TFS and TM. This calls to establish the link between TFS qualities and health benefits; floral species against diseases: Gout, GACs, and risk factors thereof; and floral anti-oxidants and AHAs contents. Ethnobiological and ethnobotanical surveys with 21 Maasai TFS and TM practitioners (MTPs) in Monduli, Arusha, Tanzania revealed that TFS and TM had a diversity of 101 flora species distributed in 84 genera and 42 families. The TFS had 19 dishes and a diversity of 78 flora species with potential nutrition, therapeutic and protective roles against gout and GACs. Food processing technologies (FPT), nixtamalization, and meat roasting have potential protection against GACs. Cultural preferences and restrictions (CPR) ensure individual nutritional and health needs are met, and reinforce Maasai socio-structure and cohesion. About 79% of the flora species were used as medicine; some as food, and for food processing. The medicinal plants (MPs) managed 69 health conditions, including gout, “Olgila,” and GACs. The root parts (54% species) were exploited the most; most flora (94%), sourced from the wild. Spectrophotometric analyses of 43 flora parts from 35 species commonly used in the TFS and TM showed total phenolic content (TPC) in mg GAE/g ranged between 0.02 ± 0.01 (Zathoxylum chalybeum fruit) and 231.39 ± 10.40 (Rhus vulgaris root). Total flavonoid content (TFC) in mg QE/granged between 1.24 ± 0.00 (Lepidotrichilia volkensii root) and 66.94 ± 0.03 (Dalbergia melanoxylon root-heartwood). Potassium content in mg K 100g-1 ranged between 97.68 (Rhamnus prinoides root) and 1392.01 (Piper capense root). Croton megalocarpus, Piper capense, Tetradenia riparia, and Vachellia nilotica had the highest content of calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc, varying between 263.85 and 9117 μg/g dry weight (DW). The FPT and flora species with high TPC, TFC, and minerals content are potential antioxidants and AHAs against “Olgila” and GACs. Integrated conservation and promotion measures are needed to prevent the loss of TFS and TM. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/123456789/3615 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | NM-AIST | |
| dc.title | Analysis of the Maasai Traditional Food System and Ethnomedicine For Health Benefits and Bioactive Potential Against Gout and Metabolic Disorders | |
| dc.type | Thesis |