Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Potential, and Antimicrobial Activity of Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae), a Food Plant from Burkina Faso.

The study aimed to evaluate phenolic content and antioxidant and antibacterial potentials of the fractions of the hydroethanolic extract of Uvaria chamae leaves, a food plant from Burkina Faso. Thus, the hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions of the hydroalcoholic extract after drying were used to determine phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential on strains of pathogenic bacteria responsible for food contamination. Phytochemical analyses were performed according to standardized methods, while antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods. The antibacterial activity of the fractions was determined by diffusion and microdilution methods on the agar medium with gentamicin as a reference antibiotic. All the six strains, namely, Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Bacillus cereus ATCC 13061, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, were sensitive to the fractions tested. Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 37 µg·mL-1 to 1.67 mg·mL-1, respectively, gentamicin and butanolic fractions, while minimum bactericidal concentrations of the fractions ranged from 0.037 to 2.500 mg·mL-1 depending on the bacterial strain. Antioxidant activity varied significantly between fractions. For DPPH free radical scavenging activity, the butanol fraction was the most active, with an IC50 of 280 µg/mL, while the lowest activity (705 µg/mL) was recorded by the hexane fraction. Those of trolox and ascorbic acid used as standards were 80 and 100 µg/mL, respectively. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) ranged from 0.34 to 0.40 mmol EAA/g extract for the hexanic and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively. Phenolic compound contents also varied significantly between fractions. Butanoic and ethyl acetate presented the best contents of total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. Significant and positive correlations were also recorded between phenolics and antioxidant activities. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the active fractions would be related to their richness in bioactive compounds, including phenolic, which are powerful natural antioxidants. U. chamae leaf extracts could therefore be used as dietary supplements to boost the immune system and prevent bacterial infections.

Reduction of Malnutrition Related to Unsafe Water Consumption in Developing Countries: Potabilization of Surface Water and Traditional Well Water, with Plant Extracts.

The consumption of unsafe water in rural areas is a real public health problem in developing countries. This situation mainly affects children under five years of age and causes several deaths and many cases of malnutrition every year. The objective of this study was to evaluate and optimize the capacity of four local plant extracts in the potabilization of unsafe water. Thus, Moringa oleifera and Boscia senegalensis seeds, or Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilages were prepared in a solution and applied during a jar test as biocoagulants and bioflocculants on three raw water samples of 82.3 NTU, 549.8 NTU and 796.9 NTU. After treatment results showed that 0.9 g/L of Moringa biocoagulant or 1 g/L of Boscia biocoagulant applied with 0.4 mL of Aloe vera bioflocculant or 0.6 mL of Opuntia ficus-indica bioflocculant reduced the turbidity of each water sample to values less than 5 NTU after only 15 min of decanting. Moreover, the sanitary quality of the water treated by these different extracts showed a perfect conformity of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters with the standards of acceptability in drinking water decreed by the World Health Organization. Thus, the application of these local plant extracts has made it possible to considerably improve the quality of unsafe water in record time. Their popularization could be an alternative in the fight against malnutrition related to the consumption of unsafe water, especially in rural areas.

Evaluation of the physicochemical parameters of edible oils sold in the three cities of Burkina Faso.

The edible oil needs of African countries are met by imported or locally produced ones. Therefore, consumers are generally confronted with a choice of edible oils of poorly controlled quality. However, quality control of edible oils for local consumption is of high necessity. This study aimed to assess the quality of edible oils sold and consumed in some cities in Burkina Faso. Oil samples collected in the cities of Dédougou, Koudougou, and Nouna were used for several analyses. Oil samples from palm, refined and unrefined cottonseed, and groundnut were collected. Standard methods were used to assess the physicochemical quality parameters of the oils, including the peroxide value, water and volatile matter content, acid value, traces of soap, and mineral oil contents. The parameters varied significantly depending on the oil type, but not by the locality of origin. The peroxide indices had varied from 3.24 to 39.99 mEq O2/kg oil. The acid indices varied from 0.22 mg KOH/g to 1.24 mg KOH/g. The water and volatile matter contents ranged from 0.04% to 0.88%. The test for traces of soap gave values ranging from 0 to 76 ppm. For the mineral oil test, four samples of cottonseed oil collected in Dedougou gave positive results. Compared to international reference standards, in particular the Codex Alimentarius standard, it may constitute a health risk for consumers. The poor storage, distribution, and marketing conditions of the oils could explain their poor quality. In order to provide consumers with quality oils, regular controls must be undertaken in the places where the oils are stored and/or marketed.

Comparison of Proximate and Phytonutrient Compositions of Cashew Nuts and Apples from Different Geographical Areas of Burkina Faso.

The cashew plant is an allogamous plant that produces two types of fruits: the nut and the cashew apple. The present study was conducted to perform a comparison of proximate and phytonutrient compositions of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nuts and apples from different geographical areas of Burkina Faso. For this purpose, 60 samples of apples and kernels were collected from the three main cashew cultivation areas. The nutritional potential of cashew nuts and apples produced was evaluated to enhance their food processing. Protein, carbohydrates, lipids, dietary fibers, ascorbic acid, tannins, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, lycopene, and ß-carotene contents were assessed. The results revealed high contents of lipids (50.42 ± 2.3 g/100 gDW), proteins (22.32 + -1.8 g/100 gDW), and starch (12.05 ± 1.27 g/100 g DW) in almonds. Apples, on the other hand, are rich in lipids, ascorbic acid (387.45 ± 17.4 mg/100 g), soluble sugars (387.45 ± 17.4 mg/100 g,), and pigments (lycopene, anthocyanin, ß-carotene, and chlorophyll). In summary, almonds may be suitable as a source of lipids and related products. Apples can be used as natural antioxidants and produce juices. All of these data are important clues for cashew by-product processing. These results obtained provide a scientific basis for their food and economical valorization of cashew fruits.

Biodepollution of wastewater containing phenolic compounds from leather industry by plant peroxidases.

This study deals with the use of peroxidases (POXs) from Allium sativum, Ipomoea batatas, Raphanus sativus and Sorghum bicolor to catalyze the degradation of free phenolic compounds as well as phenolic compounds contained in wastewater from leather industry. Secretory plant POXs were able to catalyze the oxidation of gallic acid, ferulic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, pyrogallol and 1,4-tyrosol prepared in ethanol 2% (v:v). Efficiency of peroxidase catalysis depends strongly on the chemical nature of phenolic substrates and on the botanical source of the enzymes. It appeared that POX from Raphanus sativus had the highest efficiency. Results show that POXs can also remove phenolic compounds present in industrial wastewater such as leather industry. Removal of phenolic compounds in wastewater from leather industry by POX was significantly enhanced by polyethylene glycol.