<i>Saba senegalensis</i>: Key Features and Uses

Abstract

Native of West Africa, Saba senegalensis belongs to the family of Apocynaceae, and is a wild plant that is mainly exploited in the diet. It grows mainly along riverbanks, in wooded savannah areas in humid areas, in gallery forests and in rocky ravines and hills. Saba senegalensis is a large woody liana with white latex, dark gray bark, can reach more than 40 m high and a trunk that can measure up to 47 cm in diameter. The fruit is a globose shell, 7 to 10 cm long, 6 to 8 cm wide. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, dark green in color, about 8 to 15 cm long and 4 to 6 cm wide. This fruit is characterized by its richness in antioxidant molecules especially vitamin C (480 mg/100 g) and total polyphenols (945.83 mg/100 g). The fruit contents 41.43 until 80% water with a low pH (2.24). In Senegal, the fruit is eaten as it or transformed into puree, nectar, syrup, canned etc. It is a plant that has enormous therapeutic virtues, from the fruit to the roots through the leaves, bark, and latex. Despite its high nutritional potential, its many therapeutic virtues and its economic potential, Saba senegalensis remains under-exploited. Further researches on the nutritional and therapeutic properties deserve to be conducted.

Intake Nutritional Variabilities of <i>Saba senegalensis</i> Fruits

“…Despite its high economic potential, the fruit of Saba senegalensis remains under-exploited and its nutritional potential, according to secondary metabolite is unknown [11]. Therefore, the evaluation of the nutritional potential is needed to increase the value of this fruit by local populations.…”

Comparative study of the nutritional potential of a wild fruit (Saba senegalensis) from Côte d'Ivoire with pineapple, papaya and banana

“…The high concentration of these compounds has been highlighted by several authors (Kini et al, 2012;Sarr et al, 2018;Diabagaté et al, 2019). According to the studies by Diabagaté et al (2019) and Sarr et al (2018), the polyphenol concentration of Saba senegalensis pulp varied between 264.76 and 945.83 mg EqA.G/100 g. Flavonoids and β-carotene were in the range of 53.44 and 1.55 mg EqA.G/100 g (Kini et al, 2012;Diabagaté et al, 2019). The variation in flavonoid concentration observed in the study could be explained by the variety and maturity status of the fruit.…”

“…This fruit alone contained 48, 57 and 63% β-carotene, polyphenols and flavonoids respectively compared to the other 3 fruits studied. The high concentration of these compounds has been highlighted by several authors (Kini et al, 2012;Sarr et al, 2018;Diabagaté et al, 2019). According to the studies by Diabagaté et al (2019) and Sarr et al (2018), the polyphenol concentration of Saba senegalensis pulp varied between 264.76 and 945.83 mg EqA.G/100 g. Flavonoids and β-carotene were in the range of 53.44 and 1.55 mg EqA.G/100 g (Kini et al, 2012;Diabagaté et al, 2019).…”

“…The low fibre concentration obtained in the study could be justified by the pulp extraction method. In the literature, this concentration varied between 1.3 and 13.52 mg/ 100 g (Sarr et al, 2018). Saba senegalensis pulp would also differ from banana in its concentration of sugars, protein and K. Saba senegalensis pulp is half as rich in sugars as banana.…”

Biochemical composition of Saba senegalensis fruits from Burkina Faso

“…In previous studies, higher carbohydrates content (185 g/kg DM) of S. senegalensis pulp from Burkina Faso was reported by Zerbo et al (2007) and PADEC (2018). The content of total carbohydrates in S. senegalensis pulp reported by other authors also varied (Kini et al, 2008;Nafan et al, 2013;Sarr et al, 2018a;Diabagaté et al, 2019). This variation could be explained by various conditions such as geographical localization, genetic constitution, pedological and climatic conditions, etc.…”