Assessment of Some Secondary Metabolites, Minerals and Alcohol Content of Noni Juice Obtained by Fermentation of Morinda citrifolia L. Fruit from Senegal

The fruit of Morinda citrifolia L., commonly known as noni, has an extensive history of use as a food and traditional medicine around the world. Adding value to Morinda citrifolia L. products, particularly the fruit, could be one way of building resilience in vulnerable farming households. The aim of this study was to determine the secondary metabolite and mineral composition of noni juice obtained by fermenting the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L. Fruits were collected in August 2022 from the local field in Thiès region, West of Senegal. Extraction yields were determined and the secondary metabolites were determined using conventional analytical methods. Calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and potassium were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with a CCD detector. The results show that an average fruit mass (503.2 ± 110.96 g) consists of 171.44 ± 50.01 g pulp and 34.06 ± 10.35 g seeds. The traditional extraction yield of noni juice is 16.46% after three weeks of fermentation. The contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins obtained in noni are 608.97 ± 4.53 mg EAG/100mL, 7.78 ± 0.01 mg EQ/100mL and 0.191 ± 0.01 mg EC/100mL respectively. The ethanol content of noni varies from 3.57 to 5.23 mL/100mL during extraction. Noni has a high calcium content with a concentration of 383.79 ± 33.23 mg/L. This is followed by a good concentration of magnesium, potassium and sodium, at 278.47 ± 26.30, 187.43 ± 10.7 and 155.95 ± 28.66 mg/L respectively. Noni also has an iron content of 202.15 ± 0.05 mg/L.

Physicochemical and Biochemical Characterization, Total Phenolic and Energy Value from Bulbs of Different Onion (Allium cepa L.) Varieties in Senegal

The purpose of this study is to investigate the physicochemical properties of some local varieties of onion (Allium cepa L.) and compare them with an imported variety, all collected in May 2021. Proteins, reducing sugars, lipids, and polyphenol content were estimated according to the AFNOR standardized methods. The determination of calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium and phosphorus was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with a CCD detector. The results highlighted an average acidity of 0.377% ± 0.002% lower than the value of the imported variety which is 0.520% ± 0.001%. Local varieties have a pH ranging from 6.35 ± 0.003 to 6.42 ± 0.004, while the variety has a pH of 6.36 ± 0.003. The ash and dry matter contents vary respectively from 4.788% ± 0.004% to 8.253% ± 0.003% and 7.945% ± 0.021% to 11.945% ± 0.007% for the local varieties. Moreover, the imported one has ash and dry matter contents of 5.175% ± 0.007% and 10.035% ± 0.021% respectively. The results show that the protein, reducing sugar and lipid contents in the local onion varieties vary respectively from 2.815 ± 0.000 to 15.634 ± 0.001 g·100 g-1;4.691 ± 0.001 to 12.596 ± 0.002 g·100 g-1 and 0.006 ± 0.001 to 0.050 ± 0.057 g·100 g-1. Furthermore, the imported variety has a protein, reducing sugar and lipid content of 5.649 ± 0.002;8.565 ± 0.002 g·100 g-1 and 0.011 ± 0.010 g·100 g-1 respectively. The maximum levels of total polyphenols are obtained in the imported variety, Bellani and Gandiol, respectively 9.973 ± 0.001, 4.535 ± 0.002, and 3.425 ± 0.006 mg EAG/g of dry matter. The local varieties have a significant calorific intake of between 35.451 ± 0.001 and 112.980 ± 0.003 kcal·100 g-1 compared to the imported one with an energy value of 56.953 ± 0.001 kcal·100 g-1 of dry matter. The bulbs of different onion varieties studied have a fairly high content of mineral elements. The potassium content of local varieties is between 502.16 ± 0.06 mg·100 g-1 and 582.77 ± 0.04 mg·100 g-1 while the imported variety has a content of 536.62 ± 1.30 mg·100 g-1. They note that the local varieties have a better calcium content (249.75 ± 0.07 to 434.20 ± 0.57 mg·100 g-1) and magnesium (142.15 ± 0.07 to 162.60 ± 0.42 mg·100 g-1) than the imported variety (229.58 ± 0.04 mg·100 g-1) except for the varieties White Grano (228.29 ± 0.01 mg·100 g-1) and Rouge Amposta (117.00 ± 0.42 mg·100 g-1) respectively. These results reveal that Gandiol, Dayo and Orient F1 are nutritionally found better due to their higher antioxidant property, proteins, carbohydrates, and reducing sugar and should be included in diets to supplement our daily allowance needed by the body.

Phytochemical Screening and Assays of Phenolic Compounds in Senna occidentalis L. Leaf and Seed Extracts

Phytochemical screening and assay of secondary metabolites, crude extracts with distilled water, aqueous methanol, aqueous acetone and aqueous ethanol of leaves and seeds of Senna occidentalis L. were studied in this work. The aim was to verify the distribution of secondary metabolites according to S. occidentalis organs. Four leaf samples from four different localities (South, East, West and Central Senegal) and a mixed sample of seeds were used. Functional molecules such as polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins were then assessed in the leaves and seeds using various standard methods. The results show that Senna occidentalis L. leaf and seed samples display an identical and homogeneous profile, regardless of locality. They contain secondary metabolites and the polyphenol content of extracts from southern, eastern, western and central leaves is: 0.620 - 0.539 - 0.811 - 0.573 g GAE/100 g DM;flavonoids: 0.064 - 0.074 - 0.130 - 0.101 g CE/100 g DM and tannins: 0.326 - 0.264 - 0.269 - 0.494 g TAE/100 g DM. The efficacy of S. occidentalis L. infusions in therapy is thus justified by the presence of these metabolites, whose biological properties are well known. It is then possible to explore isolation of active principles of Senna occidentalis L. leaves and even seeds for producing medicines.

Antioxidant Activity of Hydro-Acetonic, Hydro-Methanolic and Aqueous Leaf and Bark Extracts of <i>Sclerocaria birrea</i>(A. Rich.) Hochst

Bioactive compounds in plants are associated with the reduction of chronic diseases. The free radical scavenging activity of different extracts of a medicinal plant, Sclerocarya birrea, has been investigated using the DPPH test, ABTS test and FRAP. Three extracts were prepared from the leaves and bark: hydro-methanolic, hydro-acetonic and aqueous. Phytochemical screening was carried out the standard methods followed by the determination of the polyphenol by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the STATISTICA 7.1 and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Evolution of percent inhibition (PI) as well as the IC50 of the extracts was obtained using the Origin Pro 8.5 software and Microsoft Excel. The results show that the bark extracts are about twice as rich in polyphenols as the leaves. With DPPH at 1.25 mg/mL, the bark has a PI of 91.04% ± 0.001% while leaves, reach 99.80% ± 0.021%. As for the ABTS test, the bark extract reached its maximum activity at 1.25 mg/mL with a PI of 99.80% ± 0.003% while leaves extract greater value of PI is 99.75 ± 0.003 at 2.5 mg/mL. With FRAP test at 1.25 mg/mL, the bark has a PI of 79.29% ± 0.005% while leaves, reach 80.33% ± 0.001%. The IC50 of the bark and leaf extracts on the smallest DPPH are 0.156 ± 0.001 mg/mL in hydro-methanol, 0.301 ± 0.00 mg/mL in hydro-acetone and 0.407 ± 0.00 mg/mL in aqueous extract. With ABTS test, the best IC50 are obtained with hydro-acetone extracts with value of 0.247 ± 0.001 mg/mL for bark and 0.248 ± 0.0005 mg/mL for leaves while in hydro-methanolic and aqueous extracts the best IC50 are respectively 0.255 ± 0.00 mg/mL and 0.463 ± 0.00 mg/mL. Using ascorbic acid as our standard, the PI was 94.86% ± 0.008% with an IC50 of 0.213 ± 0.00 mg/mL. According to these results, the reducing power of the bark is slightly higher than that of the leaves. We can say that the bark has better activity than the leaves and the alcoholic extracts have given better results than the aqueous extract.

Effect of Sodium Carbonate on Extraction by Aqueous Decoction of Total Polyphenols from Crushed and Whole Leaves of Combretum micranthum

Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used to aid in the extraction of total polyphenols. Its main effect is to increase the pH of the extraction solution. Raising the pH can cause changes in the chemical structure of polyphenols. This can lead to variations in their biological properties, solubility and stability. This work studied the effect of sodium carbonate on the extraction by aqueous decoction of total polyphenols from the leaves of Combretum micranthum. The content of total phenolic compounds in the extracts was estimated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The color of the samples was measured using a colorimeter (type: KONICA MINOLTA. Japan) based on the CIELAB color system. The results obtained were subjected to a one-way ANOVA analysis of variance with R software version 3.2.4 Revised (2018) and Minitab-18 software. The results reveal a drop in the concentration of extracted polyphenols proportional to the addition of sodium carbonate, i.e. a drop from 3.30 to 1.04 mg·AG·100 g-1 of extract on whole leaves and 3.921 to 2.551 mg·AG·100 g-1 extract on crushed leaves. On the other hand, the intensity of the coloring of the extracts increases significantly with the addition of sodium carbonate from 0.0 g·L -1 to 0.666 g·L-1.

Physicochemical, Biochemical and Antioxidant Potential Characterisation of Cashew Apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) from the Agro-Ecological Zone of Casamance (Senegal)

In Africa, the number of undernourished people is increasing at an alarming rate. However, fruits play an important role in humans, especially as a source of vitamins and minerals. In Senegal, there is research on the nut, but no attention given to the cashew apple. The present study contributes to the evaluation of the physicochemical and biochemical properties of cashew apple juice from the eco-geographical area of Casamance, in southern Senegal. The plant material consists of cashew apples collected in June 2021 from 120 cashew trees. Three batches were constituted for this purpose, taking into account the colour of the apples (red, yellow, and orange). AFNOR standardised methods were used for the physicochemical and biochemical characterisation of cashew apple juice. The dry extract, dry matter, and ash content of the red, yellow, and orange varieties ranged from 14 to 14.70 &deg;Brix;12.96% to 14.17%, and 0.24 to 0.35 g/100g respectively. The multivariate analysis of variance by permutation allowed us to identify two groups of cashew apples. The first group, consisting of orange cashew apples, had the best nutritional quality and was very rich in total minerals (0.35 g/100g) and reducing sugars (18.69 mg/100g). The second group, made up of red and yellow apples, is particularly rich in protein (0.52 g/100ml) and antioxidants (43.28% in IP). Antioxidant power is positively correlated with total phenolic content (r = 0.99). Cashew co-products have a high nutritional value and a considerable economic issue.

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activities of Water Lilies Seeds, Neglected and Underused Species in the Delta and Lower Valley of the Senegal River

Studies carried out in the delta and the lower valley have demonstrated, through ethnobotanical surveys, the importance of the species Nymphaea lotus L. and Nymphaea micrantha Guill. et Perr in the diet. The seeds are used in food and pharmacopoeia with a good appreciation by the indigenous population, especially in the diet of diabetics. However, studies on their biochemical aspects are still very rare in the literature. It is for this reason that this study was conducted to gather useful scientific information to allow a better appreciation of the pharmacological potentialities of these seeds. To do so, seeds were collected in ponds, tributaries of the Senegal River, dried in the shade, and divided into three different batches: a batch of red seeds of N. lotus, a batch of black seeds of N. lotus, and a batch of seeds of N. micrantha. Chemical screening, tannin, flavonoid, and polyphenol assays as well as antioxidant power of the seeds were carried out according to official standard methods. The results obtained in the qualitative analysis showed the presence of a high quantity of tannins, total phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, as well as a lower quantity of cardiac glycosides and the absence of anthracene compounds and saponosides in the seeds. The assay showed that Tannins are the highest (38.118 ± 0.021 to 118.132 ± 0.034 mg EAT/g DM) followed by flavonoids (24.057 ± 0.113 to 31.970 ± 0.087 mg EC/g DM) and polyphenols which are the lowest (0.544 ± 0.054 to 1.955 ± 0.120 mg EAG/g DM). In addition, these seeds have a high antioxidant power with high inhibition percentages, ranging from 83.92% ± 1.40% to 87.67% ± 0.16%. The promotion of their consumption could thus have a positive impact on the health of the populations of the Senegal River valley.