Antioxidant compounds of dietary plants have been widely studied because of their bioactive properties. The objective of this research study was to analyse the health enhancing attributes of 31 cowpeas varieties from Burkina Faso. Significant variations were observed in the phenolic content as well as the antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation activities amongst the cowpea varieties. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed that the ferric reducing ability (r = 0.954) and anti-lipid peroxidation (r = 0.616) were positively correlated with the total phenolic content. A significant relationship between cowpea ferric reducing ability and anti-lipid peroxidation (r = 0.64) was also revealed. However, nitric oxide scavenging potential was found not to be related to its total phenolic and total flavonoid content. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals scavenging potentials were not correlated with the total flavonoid content. The pigmented seeds of cowpea varieties possess higher total phenolic, total flavonoid content, ferric reduction ability, and anti-lipid peroxidation activities than the colourless ones. The results obtained from this study suggest that Burkina Faso cowpea cultivars are rich in phenolic compounds and have significant antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation activities. Consumption of the cowpea, particularly of coloured cowpea seed varieties, should be beneficial for chronic human diseases prevention.

Different extracts were obtained from Scoparia dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae) by successive extraction with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. These extracts exhibited significant antioxidant capacity in various antioxidant models mediated (xantine oxidase and lipoxygenase) or not mediated (2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, β-carotene bleaching, lipid peroxidation) by enzymes. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was related to their phytochemical composition in terms of polyphenol and carotenoid contents. The chloroform extract was richest in phytochemicals and had the highest antioxidant activity in the different antioxidant systems. All the extracts exhibited less than 50% inhibition on xanthine oxidase but more than 50% inhibition on lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase. The extracts strongly inhibited lipid peroxidation mediated by lipoxygenase.

Organic and inorganic fertilizers improve the nutritional quality of crop. An experiment in pots of four treatments was conducted in a randomized complete block design in order to evaluate the effect of the application of organic and NPK fertilizers on the biochemical components and antioxidant activities of five cowpea genotypes. Results showed that organic fertilizer and the mixture of organic and NPK fertilizer have significantly (p < 0.05) increased the growth parameters and leaves quality traits of cowpea. The response of cowpea under the different treatment is also function of genotype type. The PCA and the dendrogram performed basis on the different fertilizers effect on growth parameters and leaves quality trait divided the treatments into three main classes. Class I comprising NPK + Jatropha treatment strongly contributed to lycopene, β-carotene and total chlorophyll contents, height and number of branches. Class II comprising NPK treatment solely and Jatropha treatment solely are highly linked to the variables FRAP, DPPH and protein content. Class III comprising control treatment strongly contributed to salicylic, soluble sugar, phenolics and flavonoids contents, and trypsin inhibition activity. The Jatropha cake could be used solely or in mixture with NPK to improve growth and the quality traits of cowpea leaves.

Aims: Hydroethanolic extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca, Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis from Burkina Faso were investigated for their phytochemical composition and their antioxidant activities. Methods: Highperformance thinlayer chromatography (HPTLC) method was used for phytochemical screening. The total phenolic, total flavonoid and anthocyanin contents of extracts CJAST, 39(1): 79-87, 2020; Article no.CJAST.54710 80 were assessed. The antioxidant potentials of the extracts were also evaluated using 2,2diphenyl lpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Results: Phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins were present in all these plant extracts. Tannins were only found in Acacia gourmaensis extract. Acacia gourmaensis extract exhibited the highest total phenolics (807.58 ± 28.63 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (271.39 ± 58.46 mg QE/100 g), total anthocyanins (83.16 ± 0.14 µg/g) contents and had the highest antioxidant activity by DPPH ( 330.84 ± 16.23 µg AAE/g) and FRAP methods (3211.11 ± 52.24 µg AAE/g ). Balanites aegyptiaca and Securidaca longepedunculata showed the lowest phenolic compounds (80.72 ± 2.11 mg GAE/g and 76.69±1.84 mg GAE/g respectively); total flavonoids (88.7 ± 1.65 mg QE/100 g and 104.54 ± 9.65 mg QE/100 g respectively), anthocyanins (24.49±1.43 µg/g and 24.57±0.52 µg/g respectively) contents and had the lowest antioxidant activity for DPPH method ( 46.83 ± 3.01 and 56.20 ± 3.79 µg AAE/g respectively) and FRAP method ( 102.06 ± 5.09 and 57.78 ± 0.99 µg AAE/g respectively). Conclusion: Balanites aegyptiaca, Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis represent natural sources of phenolic antioxidant compounds that can be used as a biofungicide. Original Research Article