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.

One Health as a potential platform to rescue the neglected fruit trees in Yucatan,Mexico

Neglected and underutilized species of plants(NUS)have been identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization as valuable resources for fighting poverty,hunger and malnutrition as they can help make agricultural production systems more sustainable and resilient.Adaptation of NUS to changing environments over several millennia has rendered most of these plants resistant to pests and climate change.In this paper,we explore the potential values of some of the Mayan fruit trees justifying conservation efforts in their native habitats.Our research was primarily based on a scoping review using Google Scholar.We considered articles published in English,Spanish and Portuguese.Our review rendered two sets of articles including those focusing on the nutritional and medicinal properties of NUS and their products,and those focusing on their uses in traditional medicine.Both sets of papers strongly support arguments for conservation of NUS.Additionally,our scoping review expands and includes a case study on the conservation of NUS,highlighting the critical role of civil society on how it can spearhead rescue efforts of botanical resources through the creation of what is possibly the first arboretum of its kind in the Americas.Among the project's key selling points was not only the rescue of an important component of Yucatan's cultural heritage but its nutritional value as well as its potential medicinal properties.Our paper is not prescriptive on how to preserve or even commercially exploit NUS.It is intended as a thought-provoking piece on the potential of a One Health approach as a multi-sectoral platform to support conservation efforts,while stimulating greater interest in the subject and encouraging more action from the academic and pharmaceutical sectors as well as civil society.

Any alternatives to rice? Ethnobotanical insights into the dietary use of edible plants by the Higaonon tribe in Bukidnon Province, the Philippines

Though considered an agricultural country,the Philippines is the world’s largest importer of rice.The persistent problem of insufficient rice supply,however,has been exacerbated by economic crises and natural calamities.Yet,for the Higaonon tribe in Bukidnon Province,the Philippines,the rich agrobiodiversity and wild edible plants are vital for food security and resilience since the mountainous terrain in this province presents a challenge for rice cultivation.To gain insight from the indigenous edible plant knowledge of the Higaonon tribe,we conducted an ethnobotanical research to document the diversity,utilization,and biocultural refugia of both cultivated and wild edible plants.A total of 76 edible plant species belonging to 62 genera and 36 botanical families were documented.The most represented botanical families included the Fabaceae,Solanaceae,and Zingiberaceae.In terms of dietary usage,3 species were categorized as cereals;8 species were white roots,tubers,and plantains;3 species were vitamin A-rich vegetables and tubers;16 species were green leafy vegetables;12 species were categorized as other vegetables;2 species were vitamin A-rich fruits;27 species were classified as other fruits;7 species were legumes,nuts,and seeds;and 8 species were used as spices,condiments,and beverages.Using the statistical software R with ethnobotanyR package,we further calculated the ethnobotanical indices(use-report(UR),use-value(UV),number of use(NU),and fidelity level(FL))from 1254 URs in all 9 food use-categories.The species with the highest UV and UR were from a variety of nutrient-rich edible plants such as Ipomoea batatas(L.)Lam.,Musa species,Colocasia esculenta(L.)Schott,Zea mays L.,and Manihot esculenta Crantz.The extensive utilization of root and tuber crops along with corn and plantain that contain a higher amount of energy and protein,carbohydrates,minerals,and vitamins were shown to be an important nutrient-rich alternatives to rice.Whilst males appeared to be more knowledgeable of edible plant species collected from the forests and communal areas,there were no significant differences between males and females in terms of knowledge of edible plants collected from homegardens,riverbanks,and farms.The various food collection sites of the Higaonon tribe may be considered as food biocultural refugia given their socio-ecological function in food security,biodiversity conservation,and preservation of indigenous knowledge.