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Background/Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the health benefit effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa Lin (H. sabdariffa L.) dried calyces beverage on some clinical, biochemical and hematological parameters in humans. Methods: The dried calyces were harvested in the two regions (Adamaoua and West) of Cameroon. The proximate, mineral composition and phytochemical screening were evaluated. A standardized extraction procedure was set up and from the calyces; we prepared a drink for 32 male volunteers' subjects aged from 21 to 32 years, specially recruited for the experiment. Each participant consumed 500 mL twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) as supplement beverage during two weeks. The anthropometrics (age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI)), clinical (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), hematological (RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC, Lymphocytes, MID cells, Granulocytes, platelet and MPV) and biochemical (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, serum iron, blood glucose, creatinine, urea, ASAT and ALAT) parameters were determined in the blood on days 0 and at the end of each week. Results: Crude protein, lipid, fiber and ash content of calyx ranged respectively from 4.57-5.98, 10.10-11.33, 20.39-22.30 and 9.15%-10.38% while the levels of minerals were ranged from 512

The effects of various processing methods on the proximate composition and dieting of Amaranthus hybridus and Amaranthus cruentus from West Cameroon were investigated in this study. Both amaranths leaves were subjected to same treatments (sun-dried and unsliced, sliced and cooked), milled, and analysed for their mineral and proximate composition. Thirty-Six Wistar albino rats of 21 to 24 days old were distributed in six groups and fed for 14 days with 10% protein based diets named D0 (protein-free diet), DI (egg white as reference protein), DII (sun-dried and unsliced A. hybridus), DIII (cooked and sliced A. hybridus), DIV (sun-dried and unsliced A. cruentus), and DV (cooked and sliced A. cruentus). The protein bioavailability and haematological and biochemical parameters were assessed in rats. The results showed that K, P, Mg, Zn, and Fe had the higher content in both samples regardless of processing method. The sun-dried and unsliced A. cruentus contained the highest value of crude protein 32.22 g/100 g DM (dry matter) while the highest crude lipid, 3.80 and 2.58%, was observed, respectively, in sun-dried and unsliced A. hybridus and cooked and sliced A. cruentus. Cooked and sliced A. hybridus and A. cruentus contained high crude fiber of 14 and 12.18%, respectively. Rats fed with diet DIII revealed the best protein bioavailability and haematological parameters whereas 100% mortality rate was recorded with group fed with diet DIV. From this study, it is evident that cooked and sliced A. hybridus and A. cruentus could play a role in weight reduction regimes.

Background: Fighting against malnutrition and diseases such as oxidative stress diseases via a food-based approach could be achieved through identification, valorization, and promotion of local foods rich in macro- and micronutrients and phytochemical components. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of agro-ecological conditions on the antioxidant capacity of the Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous and methanol calyces extracts. Material and methods: The total phenolic content, the free radical DPPH• (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activities were evaluated in aqueous and methanol Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces extract samples from two localities (Dschang [western highland zone] and Ngaoundéré [high Guinean savanna zone]) in Cameroon. Results: The results obtained showed that these extracts contain an important amount of total phenolic compounds with no significant difference (P>0.05) between aqueous and methanol extracts and also between the origins of calyces. The extracts showed their ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ as well as their ability to reduce the free radical, DPPH•. Concerning the FRAP results, at the concentration of 12.5µg/mL, the absorbance of AEN (Aqueous Extract from Ngaoundéré locality) recorded the value (0.33±0.05) meanwhile at a far higher concentration of 200 µg/mL, the absorbance of MEN (Methanol Extract from Ngaoundéré locality) was the highest (1.39±0.06). The CI50 of methanol extracts was significantly low (P<0.05) compared to that of aqueous extracts. The value ranges were 11.31±0.15, 14.69±0.84, 18.07±0.63, 20.50±0.54, and 21.50±0.54 µg/mL for ascorbic acid, MEN (Methanol Extract from Ngaoundéré locality), MED (Methanol Extract from Dschang locality), AEN (Aqueous Extract from Ngaoundéré locality), and AED (Aqueous Extract from Dschang locality) respectively. Conclusion: These findings show that the antioxidant activity of methanol extract is higher than that of aqueous extract. Hibiscus calyces from the two localities could be used as a natural antioxidant in the treatment of oxidative stress diseases. Keywords: Roselle calyces, aqueous and methanol extracts, antioxidant capacity.

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