Ethnobotanical and Dietary Survey on Six Edible Forest Species in Senegal: Annona senegalensis, Lepisanthes senegalensis, Borassus aethiopum, Diospyros mespiliformis, Vitex doniana and Syncepalum dulcificum

Edible species from spontaneous vegetation have, in recent years, attracted renewed interest, particularly in Africa where these forest resources offer significant nutritional and medicinal potential. In this context, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in three administrative regions of Senegal: Ziguinchor, Kaolack, and Dakar. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, identify vernacular names, and document both dietary and traditional medicinal uses of six selected forest species. Findings revealed substantial variability in local knowledge: Borassus aethiopum (89.1%) was the most frequently recognized species, followed by Vitex doniana (72.2%), Annona senegalensis (66.5%), and Diospyros mespiliformis (66.1%), whereas Lepisanthes senegalensis (27.4%) and especially Syncepalum dulcificum (2.2%) were less known. These levels of knowledge were consistent with reported dietary uses, in which fruits were identified as the most consumed plant part (52%). Furthermore, the survey confirmed the traditional importance of these species in the treatment of various ailments.