The present study was undertaken to know the uses and some nutritional potentials of Sclerocarya birrea. The African plum tree called Sclerocarya birrea is a fruit tree of the Anacardiaceae family, which provides populations some consumable fruits during the lean season. Although it is present in Sudano-Sahelian regions of Senegal, its favorite repartition zone is the Ferlo. Sclerocarya birrea is being rehabilitated in the framework of the implementation of the African Union program called the "Green Wall". Unfortunately, no scientific studies have mentioned the nutritional content of fruits coming from this area. In the context of the reconstitution of the vegetation cover, knowledge of the relations between man and his environment is important. Thus, the present study is undertaken with the aim of knowing the uses of Sclerocarya birrea and its fruits attibutes. According to that, ethnobotanical surveys have gathered knowledge on the species' uses in the Ferlo area (Senegal). Samples of ripe fruits harvested were analyzed using standard and conventional assay techniques. The results revealed that the populations of the Ferlo are well acquainted with Sclerocarya birrea and that its medicinal use is by far the most important (79%). In medicinal use, the most commonly used plant organs are barks and leaves. The results obtained on the pulp of the fruit showed that it is a good source of vitamin C, sugars, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium and total polyphenols. The almond oil has characteristics that remain within the accepted food standards. These results are marked by a high variability in the physicochemical composition, which appears to be linked to variations in edaphic and climatic conditions. The analysis shows that the fruit of Sclerocarya birrea is an excellent source of nutrients and can validly fill certain nutritional deficiencies of indigenous peoples. The fruit also has potential for transformation that needs to be explored.
In Chad, despite the multiple culinary uses of cassava leaves and tubers, their nutritional values are untapped. In this study, the physicochemical compositions and structure of nine cultivars were assessed. The proteins were obtained by Kjeldahl's method. Total sugars were determined according to the Luff-Schoorl method. For starch content, the polarimetric method of Earle and Milner was used. Mineral elements were carried out using an atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The cyanide was evaluated by the method of Williams and Edwards. Significant variability has been demonstrated in the leaves and dry tubers except for water content and dry matter. Analysis of the variances of the components of the tubers reveals that the water contents of the cultivars vary from 5.01% to 5.86%. The ash contents vary from 4.23% (cultivar DVA2) to 8.32% (cultivar DVL2). For total sugars, the values are between 53.63% (cultivar DVL2) and 57.99% (cultivars DVL12 and KA0303). The fiber contents are lower and vary from 1.74% (cultivar DVL12) to 1.92% (cultivars SB1366, DVA2, TL0101 and PG1314). The starch content varies from 28.93% (cultivar DVL12) to 31.05% (cultivar SB1366). The variations in mineral constituents of the tubers in mg/100g are Ca (145.21-250.08), Mg (83.89-165.22), P (147.34-360.78), K (1534.50-3064.09), Zn (0.75-0.82) and Mn (0.78-0.89). Iron concentrations are from 7.72 mg/100g (cultivar BA0909) to 60.62 mg/100g (cultivar DVA2). Analysis of the variances of the leaf constituents reveals high contents of Calcium for SB1366 (2108.41 mg/100g), of iron (Fe 54.26 mg/100g) and potassium (K 1866.86 mg/100g) for DVL12, of phosphorus for TL0101 (471.87 mg/100g), of phosphorus (470.36 mg/100g
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