Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze ten (10) species of edible vegetables and nine (9) fruit commonly found in Congo (Brazzaville) in order to determine their total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), and their antiradical activity by the method of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The results obtained showed that the highest TPC and TFC were found, on the one hand, in the extracts of four species of vegetables, i.e. Ipomoea batatas L. (536.02 ± 0.01 mg of GAE/100 g DW; 486.46 ± 0.10 mg of QtE/100 g DW), Cucurbita pepo (533.60 ± 0.05 mg of GAE/100 g DW; 303.72 ± 0 mg of QtE/100 g DW), Hibiscus sabdariffa (421.02 ± 0.015 mg of GAE/100 g DW; 243.49 ± 0.10 mg of QtE/100 g DW), Solanum negrum 1 (412.10 ± 0.05 mg of GAE/100 g DW; 292.10 ± 0.14 mg of QtE/100 g of DW) and, on the other hand, in the extracts of two species of fruit, i.e. Chrysophyllum lacourtianum (532.79 ± 0.19 mg of GAE/100 g of DW; 380.55 ± 0.10 mg of QtE/100 g of DW) and seeds of Aframomum alboviolaceum (469.38 ± 0.28 mg of GAE/100 g DW; 107.27 ± 0.10 mg of QtE/100 g DW). The lowest TPC and TFC were obtained with the extracts of Brassica campestris and of Spinacia oleracea, respectively 97.78 ± 0.17 GAE mg/100 g DW and 27.52 ± 0.10 QtE mg/100 g DW. The extract of the Saba senegalensis pulp had the lowest TPC and TFC. In addition, the highest antiradical activity was observed with extracts from vegetables and fruit with high TPC and TFC. The results indicate that these vegetables and fruit could be potential sources of the phenolic compounds and the biomolecules having several biological activities. Thus, their consumption might be an alternative in the prevention of chronic diseases.
Highlights
Food and dietary habits play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases
The consumption of a 400 - 600 g portion of fruit and vegetables per day is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Cancer Research Fund [3] [4] [5] [6], and it can reduce the global burden of disease [7]
Our study aimed at valorizing the African plants in general, and in particular some varieties of fruit and vegetables consumed in Congo Brazzaville
Summary
Food and dietary habits play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases. Epidemiological investigations of previous studies [8] [9] [10], have shown that diets rich in fruit and vegetables have beneficial effects against common chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress such as cancer, obesity, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Fruit and vegetables are a true important source bioactive substance including polyphenolics of polyphenolic compounds and provide desirable benefits for animal health beyond basic nutrition [13] [14] [15] [16]. Dietary polyphenol intakes from fruit and vegetables are well known to lower the risk of several oxidative stresses including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, stroke and coronary heart [17] [18]
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