Identifying food-based medicinal indigenous leafy vegetables and evaluating their bioactive compounds in the Ga-Molepo community of Limpopo Province

Introduction Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) remain central to South African rural diets and ethnomedicine, yet their bioactive composition is insufficiently documented. This study identified ILVs used for nutritional and medicinal purposes in Ga-Molepo and assessed their phytochemical and antioxidant profiles. Methods A systematic ethnobotanical survey (n = 216) identified commonly used ILVs. Five species— Bidens pilosa, Cleome gynandra, Crotalaria juncea, Tribulus terrestris, Amaranthus cruentus —were analyzed for total carotenoids, phenolics, antinutritional factors, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), and metabolite profiles using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Results ILVs exhibited significantly higher carotenoid and phenolic contents than spinach. B. pilosa had the highest antioxidant capacity, while C. juncea contained the most carotenoids. Over 200 metabolites were detected, mainly flavonoids, with distinct species-specific clustering in PCA and OPLS-DA. Discussion Biochemical and metabolomic evidence strongly supports the traditional medicinal uses of ILVs. Species differ substantially in metabolite composition, suggesting varied therapeutic potential. Conclusion ILVs are nutritious, rich in bioactive compounds, and relevant for non-communicable disease prevention. Further studies should include quantitative metabolomics, micronutrient profiling, and clinical validation.