14 Indigenous Southern African Fruits Pack a Nutritional Punch, Study Reveals
A new study from the University of Johannesburg has uncovered the nutritional power of 14 indigenous Southern African fruits. Researchers found that all of them contain lysine, an essential amino acid vital for immune health—and in amounts surpassing the World Health Organization’s daily recommendations. The findings, published in the journal Plants, highlight the potential of these wild fruits as valuable food sources. The research analysed fruits like the jacket plum (Pappea capensis), which stood out for its exceptionally high lysine content. A single serving provides far more than the WHO’s recommended daily intake for adults. Another fruit, the white olive (Halleria lucida), proved rich in multiple amino acids, including histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, and valine—all exceeding daily requirements.
The Lowveld milkberry (*Manilkara mochisia*) emerged as the best carbohydrate source among the studied species. Meanwhile, the marula—a well-known wild fruit—was noted for its versatility, used in food, traditional medicines, and even exported for cream liqueur production. The study received support from the University of Johannesburg, while fruit samples were supplied by the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops in Nelspruit. The full results are available under DOI 10.3390/plants10040721.
These 14 fruits offer a natural source of essential amino acids, playing a key role in growth and immune function for both children and adults. With their nutritional value now documented, they could become more widely recognised as important dietary components in Southern Africa and beyond.
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