A Vegetable to Feed the World?

A Vegetable to Feed the World?

Tree  Spinach (aka. Chaya; Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) is a leafy fast-growing  perennial native of Mexico and Central America. It can grow up to 20  feet tall but is usually kept smaller with harvesting.

As it’s  common name implies, Tree Spinach is a popular perennial crop that is  consumed like Spinach (the leaves and tender stems)—however, caution is  noted, as it takes at least 10 min of cooking time for levels of cyanide  (hydrocyanic acid) be reduced to allow for consumption.

Tree  Spinach is a plant that shows great promise as an easy to grow and  abundant vegetable that can be grown in a mixed garden, such as an  agroforestry system, which can harvested continually without disturbance  to the soil.

It can thrive in arid or moist environments, poor  soils, tolerates pests and doesn’t require fertilizers, however it is  tender to a hard frost. In one study by the USDA, it was found to be the  most productive vegetable they have ever studied, and some consider it  the most important leaf crop of the tropics. It can also be used fresh  or dried as an animal fodder.

Tree Spinach is also considered  nutritious—with good levels of protein, calcium, vitamins and  iron—despite its need for cooking. Various varieties exist and some have  irritating hairs on the leaves that require the use of gloves for  harvest.

Tree Spinach also has a history of local use as a  medicine where it is prepared as cooked leaves or as medicinal teas. The  sap of the plant is also used topically for skin conditions.

The  most common uses of Tree Spinach are for diabetes and kidney conditions  but also for blood pressure, insect bites, ulcers, diabetes, darkening  greying hair and other uses.

A drink made with Tree Spinach, sugar and other fruits is used for virility.
Through  scientific investigation, it has been found to exhibit  anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antitumor, antiproliferative,  nephroprotective, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

In an  exciting recent study, Tree Spinach leaf showed potential in  development of treatments for hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, which  is a condition that is at the root of metabolic disease, through  increasing mitochondrial function and fatty acid oxidation.

#ethnobotany #medicinalplants #biodiversity #vegetable #agroforestry #feedtheworld #soilhealth
*This  content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not  intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice  or treatment from a personal physician.

Scroll to Top