Therapeutic and Prophylactic Potential of Morama (Tylosema esculentum): A Review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of plant phytochemical composition and traditional medicinal uses without systematic review or clinical trial data
PubMed 26206567 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5419
What was done
The authors reviewed literature on the nutritional and phytochemical composition, traditional indigenous uses (specifically among the San and other Southern African populations), and pharmacological potential of morama (*Tylosema esculentum*).
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative clinical outcome data. Morama beans contain phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, non-essential amino acids, phytosterols, tannins, and minerals, while the tubers contain griffonilide, behenic acid, and starch. Extracts from the bean testae and cotyledons demonstrate potential antimicrobial properties (against viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, including drug-resistant strains), gut health promotion, wound healing, and protection against non-communicable diseases, alongside noted antinutritional factors.
Why it matters
It synthesizes ethnobotanical and phytochemical evidence on a drought-tolerant indigenous African legume, framing its constituents for potential drug discovery and nutritional applications.
Limits
The abstract describes a broad narrative synthesis without systematic review methodology or meta-analytic pooling. All reported benefits reflect traditional use or preliminary in vitro/preclinical bioactivity, with no human clinical trial efficacy or safety data reported.
Cited by
- context The morama bean is the second most consumed food by hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari.