Use and ethnobotanical knowledge of neglected food plants with nutritional potential in Brazil: a systematic review

Resumen

In a context of growing food crises and biodiversity loss, Unconventional Food Plants (UFPs) represent a strategic resource to provide food security and sovereignty by promoting food biodiversity and valuing ethnobotanical knowledge. This study aims to synthesize and analyze the scientific literature on the use and ethnobotanical knowledge of UFPs in Brazil. Through a systematic review protocol, we performed a qualitative content analysis focusing on key analytical categories — plant diversity, geographic distribution — as well as the sociocultural and applied dimensions of use. A total of 17 articles met the inclusion criteria, collectively documenting 408 species with nutritional potential. However, this review reveals that a minimal fraction of these species — estimated at less than 5% of the analyzed sample — is included within the scope of published agronomic studies, reinforcing the urgency for applied research. The results indicate a research concentration on plant species likely to occur in the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and Cerrado, revealing critical knowledge gaps with regard to other biomes. For the effective integration of UFPs into resilient food systems, future research must advance beyond descriptive inventories so as to address specific agronomic, toxicological, and socioeconomic challenges, thereby providing the evidence base needed to effectively integrate UFPs into food systems.