Intra-specific genetic diversity, phylogenetic analysis and ecological preferences of Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth., across Nigeria based on rbcL dataset

Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth., commonly referred to as "African oil bean"; is a leguminous tree species that belongs to the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae and it is native to the dry tropical rainforest forest of West to Central Africa. It is widely used as a resource for food, medicine, firewood, construction, arts, and craft and particularly of socio-economic and cultural value to indigenous people of southern, Nigeria. Despite its significant potential, it is considered underutilized in the aspect of research attention and global trade. The dataset highlights the distribution pattern, genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationship, and ecological preferences of P. macrophylla accessions collected across the various agro-ecological zones in Nigeria where it is distributed, using the Ribulose 1,5 Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase (rbcL) gene.

Intra-specific genetic variability dataset on rbcL gene in Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) in Nigeria

Moringa oleifera is an underutilized perennial tree and is widely cultivated and studied due to its multi-purpose uses. Currently, not much information exists about the rbcL (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit) gene sequence in M. oleifera. The rbcL gene is a conserved chloroplast gene and hence can be used for phylogenetic studies of plants at higher and lower taxonomic levels. The data consists of twenty-two rbcL gene sequences, nucleotide, and amino acid compositions of M. oleifera collected from sixteen states across Nigeria. The data offers an understanding of the genetic diversity and evolution of the species, which are crucial for both scientists and breeders working on the crop as well as for attempts to conserve the species.

rbcL gene dataset on intra-specific genetic variability and phylogenetic relationship of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth) S. Moore. (Asteraceae) in Nigeria

Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth) S. Moore (Asteraceae) commonly called "thickhead" is underutilised, indigenous to the rainforest of West and Central Africa but has also been introduced and naturalised throughout tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Australia, Tonga and Samoa. The species is an important medicinal and leafy vegetable endemic to the South-western region of Nigeria. Its cultivation, utilisation and local knowledge base could be stronger than the mainstream vegetables. Genetic diversity is uninvestigated for breeding and conservation purposes. The dataset consists of partial rbcL gene sequences, amino acid profiles and nucleotide compositions for 22 accessions of C. crepidioides. The dataset provides information on the species distribution (Nigeria), genetic diversity and evolution. The sequence information is integral for developing specific DNA markers for breeding and conservation purposes.

rbcL-based dataset on intra-specific diversity and conservation of Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) in the savannah belt of Nigeria

The African baobab species belong to the family Malvaceae and the genus Adansonia. The disjointed tree thrives in arid or semi-arid regions, is native to the thorn woodlands of Africa, along tracks, and is associated with human-populated forest areas. It is considered indigenous to Central and West Africa and has been introduced to the Arabian Peninsula, South-East Asia, the Indian sub-continent, and the Caribbeans. Adansonia digitata is a multifunctional tree with a long lifespan of over 1000 years old. The leaves, roots, flowers, fruit pulp, seeds and barks are used for food, medicine, or other ethnic-practices. The utilisation level and distribution are significantly undermined by climate change and poor use practices. The data set offers insight into the distribution pattern and genetic diversity of Adansonia digitata across the savannah belt of Nigeria using the rbcL gene.

Dataset on rbcL-based intra-specific diversity of Gongronema latifolium Benth: (Apocynaceae) in South-East Nigeria

Gongronema latifolium (Apocynaceae) is a versatile plant of nutritional and medicinal value and is widely distributed and endemic to the South-Eastern region of Nigeria. The plant is relatively wild and its natural habitat is threatened by deforestation, excessive exploitation and constant expansion of the urban areas into its endemic space. Hence, there is a need to understand its genetic diversity for breeding and conservation. The data consist of fourteen partial rbcL gene sequences, nucleotide compositions and amino acid profiles of G. latifolium. The data set provides insight on the species genetic diversity and evolution that is important for scientist and breeders alike as well as for conservation efforts of the species.

Significance of African Diets in Biotherapeutic Modulation of the Gut Microbiome

Diet plays an essential role in human development and growth, contributing to health and well-being. The socio-economic values, cultural perspectives, and dietary formulation in sub-Saharan Africa can influence gut health and disease prevention. The vast microbial ecosystems in the human gut frequently interrelate to maintain a healthy, well-coordinated cellular and humoral immune signalling to prevent metabolic dysfunction, pathogen dominance, and induction of systemic diseases. The diverse indigenous diets could differentially act as biotherapeutics to modulate microbial abundance and population characteristics. Such modulation could prevent stunted growth, malnutrition, induction of bowel diseases, attenuated immune responses, and mortality, particularly among infants. Understanding the associations between specific indigenous African diets and the predictability of the dynamics of gut bacteria genera promises potential biotherapeutics towards improving the prevention, control, and treatment of microbiome-associated diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The dietary influence of many African diets (especially grain-base such as millet, maize, brown rice, sorghum, soya, and tapioca) promotes gut lining integrity, immune tolerance towards the microbiota, and its associated immune and inflammatory responses. A fibre-rich diet is a promising biotherapeutic candidate that could effectively modulate inflammatory mediators' expression associated with immune cell migration, lymphoid tissue maturation, and signalling pathways. It could also modulate the stimulation of cytokines and chemokines involved in ensuring balance for long-term microbiome programming. The interplay between host and gut microbial digestion is complex; microbes using and competing for dietary and endogenous proteins are often attributable to variances in the comparative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae taxa. Many auto-inducers could initiate the process of quorum sensing and mammalian epinephrine host cell signalling system. It could also downregulate inflammatory signals with microbiota tumour taxa that could trigger colorectal cancer initiation, metabolic type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The exploitation of essential biotherapeutic molecules derived from fibre-rich indigenous diet promises food substances for the downregulation of inflammatory signalling that could be harmful to gut microbiota ecological balance and improved immune response modulation.