From genome to plate and pharmacy: Unlocking the multifaceted potential of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is a vegetable crop of significant economic and nutritional importance, commonly grown in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate areas. Despite its global significance, comprehensive syntheses integrating botanical, phytochemical, medicinal, genetic, breeding, and agronomic perspectives remain limited. This review provides a multi-dimensional overview of okra, beginning with its taxonomic classification, cytogenetic diversity, and morphological traits. The nutritional profile is comprehensively examined, highlighting okra as a rich source of dietary fiber, essential minerals, vitamins, and bioactive phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, and mucilage. The pharmacological potential is critically evaluated, covering antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, wound-healing, anticancer, and antibacterial activities, as well as new uses in food technology and regenerative medicine. We synthesize current knowledge on breeding objectives, including yield improvement, fruit quality, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance, alongside classical genetics, conventional breeding approaches, and molecular tools such as marker-assisted selection, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Special emphasis is placed on physiological, genomic, and breeding strategies for mitigating biotic constraints and abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and heat stress, as well as their combined interactions under climate change scenarios. Finally, we propose future research directions, including genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), genomic selection, climate-smart breeding, and the exploitation of wild relatives' genetic resources, to unlock the full potential of okra for sustainable production, enhanced nutritional quality, and pharmaceutical applications under changing environmental conditions. This review serves as a comprehensive reference for researchers, breeders, and policymakers aiming to enhance okra productivity, nutritional value, and stress resilience.