**3.2 Origin and distribution**

*S. senegalensis* is native of Gambia, Ghana, Guinea and other African countries [67]. It can thrive in different ecological zones having rainfall from 100–1300 mm annually, but mainly distributed along the river banks, open woodland and in rocky hills [60, 62, 67]. It is found in the Sudan savannas as well as in the Guinean savannas of Africa. It is a twining plant that normally needs staking. These areas are characterized by maritime trade winds with an average annual temperature range of 26–31°C, a dry climate with considerable variations in humidity. Maximum of precipitation in

*Lesser Known African Indigenous Tree and Fruit Plants: Recent Evidence from Literatures… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104890*

these areas occurs in the month of August with rainfall lasting from 2 to 4 months. The average annual rainfall in these locations varied from 400 to 1200 mm [68].

#### **3.3 Food and economic importance**

*S. senegalensis* fruit can be eaten in various ways; fresh or seasoned with sugar, salt or chilled [65, 67]. Saba fruit pulp is tart and pleasant to consume. In local communities, saba can be used to improve the taste of porridge made from cereals [59, 69]. The fruit pulp can also be made into nectar, preserves, jams and jellies [70]. The inner part of the shell is enveloped with superficial skin that can be eaten as chewing gum. The leaves can be made into sauces and condiments [59]. The inner materials that envelop the fruit pulp are dried and used to substitute lemon and tamarind [71]. Mechanical extractor can be used to change the form, making it possible to produce a refined puree that can be converted into different finished products like nectars, concentrated bases, syrups and marmalades. Saba can be included in food products like yoghurt. Saba fruits are highly cherished and highly prized in Africa, are the fruits are openly hawked in cities which results to improvement in the economy of the rural farmers [72]. The plant has the potential to suppress weeds and contributes to soil and water conservation [73].

#### **3.4 Medicinal value**

Saba has been used in herbal medicine with pronounced native applications. Ethnobotany alludes that the leaves, roots and fruit have the potential of treating certain diseases [74]. The fruits contained active compounds that could play a vital role in preventing and treating metabolic diseases and certain vitamin deficiencies [75]. Green fruits have the ability to fight against galactagogic, sterility and colic [59]. Ripen fruits are antiscorbutic, anorexic, stimulating and tonic [76]. The green fruits are preferred by the Fulani, which are prepared with salt; it is active in diuretic drug [59]. In cases of food poisoning, the leaves can be used to reduce the effect, and mashed leaves can as well be used in treating injuries [60]. When boiled, the vapor released can be inhaled to reduce coughing and headaches [77]. It can also be used in treating tuberculosis and pulmonary diseases; the leaves can prevent chronic headache and vomiting [78]. The whit latex can be used to treat pulmonary diseases and helps in fighting tuberculosis [68]. The powder from the dry root bark is effective in wound healing [64]. The roots of saba are used in treating infertility in females and skin burns. Root maceration, as a drink, is considered to be anti-hemorrhagic [59]. The latex is used as an adhesive in preparing poison for arrows. Saba leaves are made into sauces and spices as an appetizer having salty taste.

#### **3.5 Nutritional qualities**

The nutritional contents of the pulp are subject to very large variations, which are obviously linked to the differences in climate, nature of the soil and various analytical methods employed [59]. *S. senegalensis* fruit have high nutritional composition such as proximate, mineral, phytochemical and vitamin contents as established by previous studies. It can improve nutrition and health of the household. Olajide [23] evaluated the impact of four accessions on proximate, mineral, vitamin and phytochemical contents of *S. senegalensis* fruit pulp from Kogi State, Nigeria. He reported that ash content varied from 1.0–1.4%, percent carbohydrate values ranged

from 11.60–34.90%, fat content ranged from 0.2–0.3%, fiber was in trace amount, moisture ranges from 63.6–86.5% and protein 0.09–0.18%. Oxalate value varied from 14.0–18.4 mg 100 ml−1, phenol ranged from 11.2–13.4 mg 100 ml−1, saponin varied from 0.4–2.5 mg 100 ml−1 and tannin ranges from 0.6–1.5 mg 100 ml−1. The results also indicated that calcium ranged from 12.7–19.2 mg 100 ml−1, iron varied from 0.02–0.08 mg 100 ml−1, potassium ranges from 0.1–0.3, phosphorus ranged from 10.1–15.9 mg 100 ml−1 and zinc varied from 1.90–2.1 mg 100 ml−1. He also found that vitamin B12 ranged from 0.05–0.07 mg 100 ml−1, vitamin B2 ranged from 0.7–4.8 mg 100 ml−1, vitamin B6 varied from 2.7–14.4 mg 100 ml−1, vitamin C ranged from 34.3–66.9 mg 100 ml−1, while β-Carotene and vitamin E contents were 0.5 and 0.01 mg 100 ml−1, respectively. Like other fruits, saba has high amount of carbohydrates but the values varied widely (11–74.23 g/100 g) [60, 63, 70–72, 79, 80]. The oil content is 0.2 g/100 g [81] and the crude protein values range from 0.8 to 0.3 g/100 g [70, 79]. Boamponsem *et al*. [72] reported that *S. senegalensis* contains 47.5 ppm of magnesium, 810 ppm of calcium and 357.5 ppm of phosphorus. It also possessed phenol (264.76 mg/100 g), phytate (31.18 mg/100 g), oxalic acid (381.33 mg/100 g) and tannin (198.94 mg/100 g) [67].

Minerals such as calcium (51 ppm), phosphorus (357.5 ppm), magnesium (47.5 ppm) and potassium (152 ppm) were present in saba fruit pulp [72] but very low sodium content of <5 ppm. Nafan *et al.* [62] documented that the fruit is a potential source of vitamin C ranging from 34.8 to 67.5 mg/100 g. With acidity varying from 30 to 78.5 meq/100 ml; the acid taste of the fruit is high, hence the malic acid of 47.2 mg/100 g [72]. According to Kini *et al.* [77] the fruit contains β-carotene (1.559 mg 100 mg/100 g). Saba fruit has high water content of 80% [79]. All these components suggested that the fruits could supply the required nutrients and improve the health of consumers.

#### **3.6 Climatic requirement**

*S. senegalensis* can be found in West African countries and South Sudan [65, 72]. It can be seen growing along riverbanks [65], in woody savanna region and rocky areas [61, 77]. These locations have maritime trade winds, annual temperature of about 25–30°C and a dry climatic condition which varies in relative humidity. Maximum rainfall occurs in August and lasts for 2 to 4 months [70]. The species survives in different ecological conditions having rainfall between 100 mm to 1300 mm per annum with an altitude of 0–800 m [64, 65]. The plant is hardy and it resists bush fire.

#### **3.7 Cultivation**

Sales revenue for *S. senegalensis* fruits in Senegal are significant, accounting for 1/3 to 2/3 of farmers' income [80]. Programs meant at increasing *S. senegalensis* production and domestication are in place. Grafting of saba vine to encourage the domestication and reduce the time of fruiting has been carried out [82]. There is limited information or research work on fertilizer requirement for favorable growth of the seedlings in the nursery and field for its domestication [83]. *S. senegalensis* is predominant in regions that have sandy-loam to sandy-clay-loam soils [84]. It is not known whether physical and chemical properties of the soils are linked to the geographical distribution of Saba*.*

*Lesser Known African Indigenous Tree and Fruit Plants: Recent Evidence from Literatures… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104890*

#### **3.8 Fertilizer requirement of** *S. senegalensis*

Food security, malnutrition and environmental degradation are being influenced by low soil fertility, inappropriate use and poor nutrient management strategies. Currently, there is dearth of information on the nutritional requirement and domestication of Saba in Nigeria. In maintaining the yield and quality of new crops, soil fertility management is of paramount importance [12]. The low fertility status of most tropical soils results in low crop production as most crops are nutrient demanding. Inorganic fertilizer such as NPK has strong effect on plant growth, development and yield [85]. Excessive use of NPK will result to loss of soil fertility, which has adverse effect on agricultural productivity, soil degradation and even cause water pollution. Conversely, regular use of organic fertilizers can improve organic matter content, water-holding capacity, enhance structure, nutrient cycling, helps in soil conservation, increase cation exchange capacity and encourage the activities of soil living organisms. Olajide *et al.* [86] evaluated early growth pattern of four accessions of Saba (*S. senegalensis*) in response to seven fertilizer rates (0 t ha−1, 20 t ha−1 of PM + 200 kg ha−1 of NPK (20:10:10), 30 t ha−1 of PM, 30 t ha−1 of PM + 100 kg ha−1 of NPK, 30 t ha−1 of PM + 150 kg ha−1 of NPK, 40 t ha−1 of PM and 50 t ha−1 of PM) in the nursery and found that fertilizer application increased the growth traits measured compared to the control with no fertilizer application. This could be linked to sufficient nutrient released by the fertilizer that enhanced Saba growth. He further stressed that soil amendment with 50 t ha−1 of PM enhanced better growth of Saba seedling which indicates that this amount is sufficient for plant growth and development. Olajide [23] examined the effect of four PM rates (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha−1) on early growth of Saba in the field. He reported that soil amendment with PM at 20 t ha−1 positively influenced all the growth attributes measured. When nutrients are supplied optimally, high quality and better nutritious plants are produced [57]. Ndukwe and Baiyeri [13] found that application of PM at 20 t ha−1 was optimum for the production of yellow passion fruit in either the nursery or field.
