A survey was carried out to document the diversity and immune boosting
claims of African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) in Western Kenya.
Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used.
The results showed that there is diversity of AILVs in the study area
with nine popular and frequently consumed, but cassava leaves, stinging
nettle and russian comfry are not popular. Seven of these are
cultivated but two, stinging nettle ( Urtica massaica ) and vine
spinach ( Basella alba ) grow wildly. The AILVs are cultivated at
subsistence level on home gardens with minimal inputs and only excess
of this is sold. The religion one belonged to was significant
(p<0.05) in determining consumption or not of some of the
vegetables. The vegetables are rain fed and the process of harvesting
is by first uprooting during thinning followed by breaking the main
stem and finally plucking off the leaves with maturity. Vegetable
preparation in most households was mainly by women. The elderly women
were keen in this process and spent more time in preparing the
vegetables which were believed to be ‘nutritious’. There
was no processing and preservation of the AILVs for use during the dry
season. The communities rely on wild weeds during such seasons. The
AILVs though consumed for good nutrition are also associated with
various medicinal and immune boosting claims. Out of the nine, five are
known for various health benefits, African nightshade and spider plant
for good nutrition by 31.8% and 25.1% of the respondents, respectively,
slender leaf for healing power by 34%, cowpea leaves and slender leaf
for anti-aging by 50% and 43.8%, respectively, and cowpea leaves
(43.6%) and amaranthus (53%) for smooth skin and adding blood,
respectively. Chi square analysis indicated that African night shade,
spider plant and amaranthus are statistically significant (p<0.05)
in contributing to good nutrition, healthy functioning of the body and
immune boosting. Further analysis showed that spider plant and
amaranthus are significant (p<0.05) for immune boosting