Abstract
Background: Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae), also known as baobab, is a tree attracting recent interest especially due to the high nutritional value of the fruit pulp. However, few studies are reported on the secondary metabolite content, showing high variability depending on the geographic region. Methods: In this study, the chemical profiles of Malian commercial baobab fruits and leaves, focused on phenolic content, were investigated by HPLC coupled with a photodiode array (PDA)/UV and an electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer (MS) and gas chromatography (GC)/MS. In addition, the extracts of fruit pulps obtained from three different markets (Fruits 1, 2, and 3) were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition. Results: Baobab fruit pulps were found to be rich in procyanidins and flavonol glycosides, with tiliroside as the major constituent. The baobab leaves showed a similar profile respect to the fruits, but with more detected phenolics. All fruit pulp extracts exerted antioxidant activity (highest for Fruit 3) and higher α-glucosidase inhibition than acarbose used as standard. Conclusions: This study confirmed the variability of baobab with different origins and indicated Malian species baobab as a promising source of health-promoting substances.
Highlights
Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae), commonly called baobab, monkey bread or pharmacist tree, is a deciduous tree with wide distribution in most of Sub-Sahara semi-arid and sub-humid regions.In Mali, the areas of baobab populations are present in Sahelian and Sudanese agro-ecological zones, in the regions of Ségou, Mopti, Sikasso, and Kayes
Taking into account the strong potential of baobab as functional food and the importance of this fruit in the African villages, as source of nutrients combating malnutrition and bioactive molecules, in this work we carried out qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses by HPLC coupled with a photodiode array (PDA)/UV detector and an electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer (MS), of fruit pulp originating from Mali, focusing the attention on the detection of secondary metabolites, in order to compare its chemical content with previous studies of fruits of different origin
Fruits are less investigated and in our study n-butanol extracts obtained from fruits of baobab purchased in three different local markets were tested to evaluate the content of polyphenols and in vitro antioxidant activity
Summary
Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae), commonly called baobab, monkey bread or pharmacist tree, is a deciduous tree with wide distribution in most of Sub-Sahara semi-arid and sub-humid regions.In Mali, the areas of baobab populations are present in Sahelian and Sudanese agro-ecological zones, in the regions of Ségou, Mopti, Sikasso, and Kayes. In regions where baobab grows spontaneously, the tree constitutes an essential component of the agricultural landscape. It is a very long-lived tree with multi-purpose uses, providing food, shelter, clothing, ropes, manure and, last but not least, medicines, and cosmetics, as well as material for hunting and fishing [1,2,3]. (Malvaceae), known as baobab, is a tree attracting recent interest especially due to the high nutritional value of the fruit pulp. Methods: In this study, the chemical profiles of Malian commercial baobab fruits and leaves, focused on phenolic content, were investigated by HPLC coupled with a photodiode array (PDA)/UV and an electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer (MS) and gas chromatography (GC)/MS.
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