Abstract
The study was undertaken with the objective of contributing to the search for new sources of dietary antioxidants. It aimed to assess the dietary potential, bioactive compound levels and antioxidant activities of the leaves and fruits of Capparis corymbosa, a plant food from Burkina Faso. Standard methods were used to assess the nutritional potential of leaves and fruits as well as the levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of leaf and fruit fractions. Levels of total sugar were 765.40 ± 134.67 mg/100 g for leaves and 2208.65 ± 194.55 mg/100 g for fruits. Protein levels were 22.722 ± 0.95 mg/100 g for leaves and 13.442 ± 0.91 mg/100 g for fruits. Both organs also had interesting contents of minerals and essential amino acids. Total phenolic levels ranged from 18.36 ± 0.90 g GAE/100 g to 16.46 ± 1.15 g GAE/100 g for leaves and from 4.58 ± 0.15 g GAE/100 g to 1.03 ± 0.31 g GAE/100 g for fruits while those of flavonoids ranged from 2.83 ± 0.23 g EQ/100 g to 2.08 ± 0.25 g EQ/100 g and from 1.78 ± 0.25 g EQ/100 g to 0.93 ± 0.41 mg EQ/100 mg, respectively for leaves and fruits. The butanol extraction fractions had the highest levels of polyphenols of both organs. Monitoring antioxidant activities using DPPH, FRAP and ABTS models showed that leaves and fruits displayed high antioxidant activities but leaves had higher antioxidant activities than the fruits. Antioxidant activity was correlated with total phenolic levels. These results reveal that C. corymbosa is an important source of phytonutrients, bioactive compounds and has good antioxidant activity and is therefore an alternative for the fight against diseases linked to oxidative stress and as a food supplement. Key words: Capparis corymbosa, micronutrients, macronutrients, antioxidant activity, oxidative stress.
Highlights
In Burkina Faso, Capparis corymbosa (Capparidaceae) is a plant with great nutritional importance
The results showed that the levels of phenolic compounds are negatively correlated respectively to levels of flavonoids (r = -0.642) and positively to iron reducer Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (r = 0.643)
This study focused on the evaluation of the nutritional and antioxidant potential of the leaves and fruits of C. corymbosa, a food plant of Burkina Faso flora
Summary
In Burkina Faso, Capparis corymbosa (Capparidaceae) is a plant with great nutritional importance. The species is used as a dietary supplement, gathering or as a food supplement (Ayessou et al, 2018). Many health benefits such as child care (colic and general tiredness) related to the consumption of C. corymbosa leaves and fruits have been reported (Busson, 1965; Zerbo et al, 2007). This species is used as a dietary.
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