NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONAL ATTRIBUTES, AND BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL OF INDIGENOUS MORAMA BEAN (TYLOSEMA ESCULENTUM) FROM BOTSWANA: A REVIEW

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Setso K. K., İlbaş A. İ.

“4. INTERNATIONAL OHRID SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES AND INNOVATION CONGRESS” June 27–28, 2026, N. MACEDONIA, 27 - 28 Haziran 2026, ss.92-101, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.92-101
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Abstract 

Morama bean (Tylosema esculentum [Burch.] A. Schreib.) is a perennial wild legume indigenous to the 

Kalahari Desert that grows in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Although it is one of the most nutritionally 

valuable legumes available, seeds have 29–39% protein and 48–24% lipid on a dry weight basis, and are among 

the most underutilised legumes in sub-Saharan Africa. The fatty acid content is very similar to olive oil with 

oleic acid being the major acid (42–49%) and with linoleic acid as another major acid (19–26%), whereas the 

phytochemical content includes phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols and the unique compound 

benzofuranone called griffonilide. This bean is used and eaten by indigenous people in Botswana for centuries 

but it has been neglected from modern food system. The review provides a summary of the existing peerreviewed scientific literature related to Morama bean's nutritional and nutritional bioactive components, 

traditional food utilization, antinutritional factors, and commercial potential, targeting future research and 

policy needs to unlock its potential applications for food security and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 

(SDGs).

Keywords: Tylosema esculentum; Morama bean; legume; nutritional composition; phytochemicals; 

antioxidant; Botswana; food security; underutilised crops; bioactive compounds