Plants of Chad: Diversity, Nutritional and Medicinal Values

Nov 24, 2025 0

Chad is a medium-size, land-locked African country, with low population (1,284,000 km2, more then 7 millions of habitants, density 4.9 habitants/km2, with more than 1 million people living in the capital). Chad territory is greatly extended in latitude. Chad is one of the African countries whose flora and vegetation are less studied and known.

Plant diversity provides numerous essential services to society. These include material goods (for example, food, timber, medicines, and fiber), ecosystem functions (flood control, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling), and nonmaterial benefits such as recreation. Plant diversity contributes to agriculture (wild crops relatives) and forestry, provides carbon storage and sequestration.

During the years 1998-2011 the Department of Botany of the University of Sassari, in collaboration with the University of N’Djamena have investigated the flora and vegetation of Chad, with land surveys and literature and herbaria research and analysis.

This paper is not a pure taxonomic work. The present checklist of the Flora of Chad has been compiled as a first step to making more accessible the data collected and still unpublished, or already published but little known, in order to facilitate subsequent taxonomic work and further botanical research and biodiversity conservation planning.

In Chad 83% of the working population is engaged in the production of crops and livestock, primarily for domestic consumption. Only 2% of the land is cultivated, but about 50% is grazed. Cereal grains are the main food crops, while beans, corn, rice, vegetables, dates are important in local areas.

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As in most of Africa, the tree resource base is deteriorating. Population growth is putting heavy pressure not only for fuelwood but also for livestock grazing and crops, and these affects are synergetic with climatic stocasticity.

Ten main botanical field surveys and additional short visits and excursions, including boat surveys, have been done by the Authors in Chad in period 1998-2011.

All the available literature sources documenting presence and distribution of plant species in Chad have been analyzed and data extracted for the compilation of the present check-list.

As remarked in the introduction section, this paper is not a pure taxonomic work. Not all type materials have been studied and the authors of this paper can not give their opinion about the taxonomic correctness of all the recorded taxa.

Most of the specimens collected and studied by the botanists that performed botanical surveys in the past are actually not in Chad but spread elsewhere, e.g. in Algeria, and have not always been preserved, e.g. in Berlin-Dahlem the collection by Gustav Nachtigal, the first botanist that collected specimens in Chad, was destroyed during the 1943 war, as reported by Lebrun et al. 1972.

Three vegetation zones, correlated with the rainfall, may be distinguished. The tall grasses and the extensive marshes of the savanna zone have an abundant wildlife.

Flora Checklist of Chad

A checklist of the flora of Chad has been compiled by the authors, based on literature, on-line data-bases, herbarium collections and land surveys (1998-2011). It counts 2,460 records, i.e. 2,288 species (including 128 autonyms), 83 subspecies, 81 varieties, 8 forms, while all the previous available information reported 1,600 species. They belong to 151 Families, with 48.7% of the taxa belonging to the 6 largest families.

The largest families include:

Poaceae (14.6%)
Fabaceae (13.6%)
Cyperaceae (7.0%)
Asteraceae (6.2 %)
Malvaceae (3.9%)
Rubiaceae (3.4%)

A total number or 2,173 species (88.3%) are native to Chad, including 55 (2.2%) endemic species, while 274 (11.0%) are alien to Chad, and 13 (0.5%) are considered cryptogenic, i.e. of uncertain status. It represents a considerable update on previous knowledge on the alien flora of Chad that counted for 131 taxa (5.3%).

Life Forms:

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657 therophytes (26.7%)
546 phanerophytes (22.2%)
378 hemicryptophytes (15.4%)
256 chamaephytes (10.4%)
160 geophytes (6.5%)
107 helophytes (4.3%)
104 hydrophytes (4.2%)
A total of 252 taxa (10.2) may have different life forms (e.g. terophytes or chamaephytes).

Vegetation Map of Chad

Nutritional and Medicinal Values of Three Most Used Plants in Chad

In Chad, three plants are among the 80,000 to 400,000 species of vegetable plants in the world and are the most consumed and widespread among the Nigerian ladies living in the Mayo-Boneye district: Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Corchorus olitorius L.

Although these plants are of considerable value and usage, only a few research works have focused on their nutritional and health benefits in Chad, which have mainly focused on the preparation and uses of food. It is in this context that this review proposes to provide the reader with a comprehensive update of the composition in minerals, vitamins, pro-vitamins, antioxidant activity, fiber, bioactive compounds, phytochemicals, and medicinal properties of Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Corchorus olitorius L. with the objective of stimulating research, investment, in-depth studies, and encouraging the use and/or the transformation of these interest food plants in Chad.

In the Republic of Chad, vegetables are the most important sources of vitamins and minerals that need to be added to the diet to make it complete and in line with the health and nutrition recommendations. Despite this essential role, the majority of the population does not have access to these vegetables, and their consumption remains low, mainly because they are not produced in sufficient quantity and not in readily available places. Chad’s food gap is one of the highest, overriding the African average.

Moreover, bioclimatic constraints are responsible for the low diversity, the fragility, and vulnerability of agriculture, and the main food insecurity in Chad. Vegetable production is characterized by a high dependence on rainfall, shallow ploughing and land preparation techniques, and organic fertilizers are scarce.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The natural flora of the country has always been a source of nutrients and therapeutic treatment ensconced in the lifestyle of the indigenous Chadians. One of the tangible expressions of this wisdom in the fight against malnutrition is reflected in the choice of food plants used in Chad: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, Hibiscus sabdariffa L., and Corchorus olitorius L.

When the data was compiled, it was found that these plants were used in the students’ families during their childhood. The data for this study comes from the introduction of these foodstuffs to students in Chad. A questionnaire was offered to our first- and second-year students.

Botanical Descriptions

These three species are part of the Malvaceae family.

Hibiscus sabdariffa is an annual plant that grows to about eight feet in height. It produces large fleshy leaves with deeply lobed lobes. The calyx is tangy, the fruit is fleshy and contains multiple seeds. The calyx is used fresh or dried for the preparation of “Bissap”.
Abelmoschus esculentus, or Okra, is an annual or perennial plant. It reaches about 1 - 2 meters high. It produces large, lush leaves with fine margins. The fruit is a longitudinally ribbed capsule, and it is the immature pod that is consumed.
Corchorus olitorius is a plant that grows to 2 - 6 feet in height. It produces a dry leaf that is supported on a long petiole. The fruit is a smooth capsule that contains many seeds.

Okra and jute are distinguishable through the leaf, the petiole that bears it, and the seed, while the “Bissap”, which is also used as food, is obtained from the calyx.

Anyone in Chad knows the importance of Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Corchorus olitorius, which are very popular in family gardens. Traditionally, these plants are widely consumed as food and are also known for their medicinal properties.

The objective of this study is to bring together information on the use of Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Corchorus olitorius in terms of their nutritional and medicinal qualities. Indeed, per the interviews, approximately 98.88% of the respondents use them to treat and/or prevent certain diseases.

Nutritional Composition of Abelmoschus esculentus

Okra

The nutritional composition of A. esculentus leaves showed that the proximate composition determined on a dry weight basis were moisture, 23.4%; crude protein, 30.4%; lipids, 7.04%; ash, 31.51%; carbohydrate, 8.08%; and caloric content 146 kJ/100g. The leaf contained 18.9 mg of ascorbic acid/gm, 6.6 mg of beta-carotene, 13.5 mg of total phenolic, and 4.3 mg of alpha-tocopherol. The amount of pectin was about 9.2% - 9.6%.

The most representative fraction of the fatty acids of Abelmoschus esculentus indicated that A. esculentus contained unsaturated fatty acids, particularly muclaic acid. Nuts (dry weight) contained 31.2% crude lipids, 21.1% proteins, 9.6% cellulose, 4.4% pectin, 3.6% ash, and 25.1% carbohydrates (ethanol 76.9%, and the remaining carbohydrates, glucides).

The research results present the general nutritional composition of A. esculentus according to dry weight, and the content of individual amino acids, fatty acids, and the mineral composition of A. esculentus in Chad. The proximate composition indicated that A. esculentus contained about 20.3% nutritional calories. The essential amino acids were relatively high compared to normally consumed vegetables in Chad.

The relatively abundant amino acids were leucine, valine, lysine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine, as well as methionine. The protein contained about 26% of the amino acid composition of A. esculentus. This indicated that this plant contained a significant amount of protein.

Medicinal Properties of Abelmoschus esculentus

The antinociceptive, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic activities of the extract of the Abelmoschus esculentus plant were reported. Moreover, the safety of plant fruits was confirmed by the fact that they have been an important part of the diet in Chad as well as around the world, and it is consumed regularly without the risk of adverse effects.

A few clinical trials support the traditional use of Abelmoschus esculentus by demonstrating the hypoglycemic potential of the plant as preventive or adjunct therapy for pre-diabetes or diabetes. These studies demonstrated the hypoglycemic potential of Abelmoschus esculentus as preventive or adjunct therapy for pre-diabetes or diabetes. However, the detailed mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

The traditional and medicinal use of Abelmoschus esculentus as a therapeutic natural substance is quite recognized. Abelmoschus esculentus, known also as okra, is used in the traditional medical setups around the world. Different parts of the okra plant, such as the seeds, fruits or young pods, roots, and leaves, are used to cure sickness. It is used in the management of constipation, obesity, diabetes, cholesterolemia, skin pigments, infertility in women, infertility in men, alcoholism, dysentery, and others.

Nutritional Composition of Hibiscus sabdariffa

Hibiscus sabdariffa

Different analytical methods are used, namely iodometry for the moisture content, the Kjeldahl method for the proteins, the Van Soest method for the fibers, the Bligh and Dyer method for the lipids, but also the atomic absorption method of Shimadzu for the minerals. The results of the samples showed that the HS calyces contained a lot of nutrients, such as 10.03% of proteins, 2.70% of lipids, and 36.58 mg of iron per 100 g of dry matter, which makes it a good alternative food for the local population.

There were also a lot of therapeutic compounds such as vitamins A, C, magnesium, zinc, phenols, and flavonoids. This natural food could help Chad achieve food and nutrition security.

The hibiscus flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is one of the three essential plants in Chad. This plant is rich in essential vitamins for the passage of nutrients, etc. It is rich in vitamin A, which is good for the eyes, anti-aging, and good for sight. Its concentration of vitamin C helps to fight against free radicals and ensures good resistance to infections in the epithelial cells.

Ingested without moderation, H. sabdariffa helps to improve the denial of bowel problems. Applying it to the epidermis after hibiscus infusion also helps to remedy wounds, erythema, and hair anomalies.

Medicinal Properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa

Hibiscus is a plant of great medicinal interest and its consumption has tended to increase in recent years; its infusions and powders made from the dried flower can have very interesting medicinal applications. The most marketed part of the roselle is the calyx, which has been described to have a strong antihypertensive effect either by its diuretic activity or by its ability to act as spasmolytic or vasodilating, mainly due to the anthocyanins, vitamin C, and citric and punic acid.

Its pharmacological properties are attributed to numerous compounds such as organic acids (citric, L-malic, and L-tartaric), anthocyanins (cyanidin and delphinidin based), flavonoid glycosides (quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol), sugars (galactose and glucose), ascorbic acid (40% - 45%), fatty acids, and mucilaginous substances, among others. It also protects the kidneys because of its malic and citric acids, which prevent their hardening and uncleanness.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a species belonging to the Malvaceae family. The plant is also present in Senegal, Mauritania, Sudan, and Chad. Known by the Chadians as “Tougouli”, Hibiscus sabdariffa is an annual herb used for food, medicinal, and coloring purposes. Plants are used to treat scurvy and liver disease. Hibiscus calices have been known for a long time for their diuretic, hypotensive, choleretic, laxative, and depurative effects.

Infusion of the sepals is also used to treat abdominal pain. The effects of these bioactive compounds have been evolved in several systems, and the knowledge of the potential beneficial effects of Hibiscus has also been studied and received a lot of attention and acceptance.

Nutritional Composition of Corchorus olitorius L.

Corchorus olitorius

The β-carotene values of Corchorus olitorius ranged from 1.2 to 34.4 mg/100g. β-cryptoxanthin in flakes of dried corchorus, 0.79 mg/100g, was higher than β-carotene. Corchorus microphyllus carried the highest α-carotene (7.43 mg per 100g) and β-carotene (25.03 mg/100g) contents.

The study suggested that Corchorus species could contribute considerably to the recommended intake of provitamin A carotenoids in diets of the xerophytic region. In addition to pro-vitamin A, jute leaves contain other carotenoids, and pigments, which limit oxidative stress, thereby increasing the shelf life of products.

Remarkably, volunteers taking a low dose of β-carotene showed a decrease in DNA damage by 18%. One-carotenoid intake reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. The most commonly reported effects reviewed include decreased leukocyte function and lymphocyte, decreased TNF-α and CRP production and decreased adhesion molecule expression.

Corchorus olitorius L. was the plant most used in Chad. Therefore, we present its nutritional and medicinal values to enhance its importance in the diet for nutritional and medicinal virtues.