The present study reports effect of various drying and storage conditions on physical, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant properties of doum ( H. thebaica ) fruit for the first time. Three types of fruit are used such as fresh, dried from tree, and dried fruits purchased from local market. Pulp of fresh fruit was dried using sun, shade and oven at different temperatures and stored under different conditions for three months. Samples were analysed before and after drying and storage. The results showed significantly (p < 0.01) higher dry matter (98.73 g/100g), pH (7.09), tannins (27.64 mg/g), flavonoids (19.90 mg/g) and total polyphenols (7.13 mg/g) contents in pericarp than other parts of fruit. The pulp without pericarp exhibited higher ash, amino acids, proteins and vitamin C contents, however pulp of whole fresh fruit had higher Ca (1.67 mg/g), Na (640.26 mg/g) and Zn (11.63 μg/g). Pulp of fruit purchased from local market showed significantly stronger antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS). All parameters evaluated were significantly (p < 0.01) affected in comparison with pulp of fresh fruit but varied with respect to drying methods and storage conditions. The shade-dried samples showed higher proteins, amino acids, vitamin C, ash, fibres and acidity contents than other drying methods. Polyphenols and antioxidant activities are higher in oven-dried samples at low temperature (40 °C) as compared to others. The highest DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities are observed after drying and storage conditions for three months. Significant and positive (p < 0.01) correlations are found between antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities. Thus, drying methods and storage conditions can preserve pulp of doum fruit with high physicochemical, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities for human well-being up to three months, however shade-drying followed by oven-drying are highly promising process that must be considered as suitable drying methods for doum fruits.

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The present study is aimed at investigating the variation of phenolics (bound and free), minerals, and antioxidant potentials of the wild edible fruits (fresh and dry) native from Far North Region of Cameroon. The results showed significant ( p < 0.01 ) differences among fruits and species for all parameters. Bound phenolic content (mgGAE/100 g) of dry fruits (DF) ranged from 95.58 to 407.72; however, the contents were varied from 28.97 to 306.04 in fresh fruits (FF). Free phenolic content varied from 46.43 to 344.73 in DF and fold from 119.54 to 315.79 for those FF. Flavonoids (4.27-256.87 mg QE/100 g), tannins (3.24-63.42 mg CE/100 g), and anthocyanin content (8.65-168.10 mg C3GE/100 g) in fruits varied also significantly in respect with DF and FF. The mineral content analysis indicates that the wild fruits are rich in valuable macro- and trace elements. For antioxidant activities, except high 2.2-diphenyl-1-picyhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity obtained with free phenolics, the bound phenolics of FF and DF had significantly high ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzylthiozoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity. Furthermore, free and bound phenolic content was highly and positively correlated with ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP activities confirmed by the principal component analysis (F1×F2: 60.17%). The present study revealed that the wild edible fruits of twenty-three species investigated are important sources of bioactive compounds, natural antioxidants, and nutraceutical potential to prevent/to treat chronic diseases which could be benefits for the consumers.

Abstract. Diguir M, Laya A, Wangso H, Bayang JP, Koubala BB. 2021. Physicochemical composition of some new craft beers consumed in Maroua town from Far North region of Cameroon. Biofarmasi J Nat Prod Biochem 19: 70-80. The work aimed to investigate the physicochemical composition of various craft beers (CB) and their distillates produced in Maroua town. The beers named “Bil-Bil”,“Cochette” and “Furdu" were collected both morning and evening time. Dry matter, pH, titratable acid, total dissolved solids, proteins, sugars, carbohydrates, amino acids and alcohol content were evaluated. The results showed that local beers had a pH ranged from 4.06 to 4.22, 4.15 to 3.84 and 3.53 to 3.37 for "Furdu", "Cochette" and “Bil-bil”, respectively. The alcohol varied between 5.40 and 6.92%, 1.08 and 5.10%, 1.73 and 2.88 for “Furdu”, “Cochette" and "Bil-bil", respectively. The sugars ranged from 11.85 to 19.05 mg/mL for “Furdu”, from 2.20 to 9.46 mg/mL for “Cochette” and from 9.92 to 19.78 mg/mL for "Bil-bil". For amino acids, the values varied from 3.40 to 7.37 mg /mL for “Furdu”, 3.98 to 6.01 mg / mL for “Cochette” and 2.95 to 3.24 mg/mL for “Bil-Bil”. Regarding protein, the values ranged from 0.80 to 0.85 mg/mL for these three CB. The distillates of CB collected evening showed high alcohol in fraction 1. Thus, these CB analysed can be promoted for alternative beer in Maroua town. Furthermore, the unsold CB can be distilled into ethanol.