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Abdelaziz SM, Lemine FMM, Tfeil HO, Filali-Maltouf A, Boukhary AOMS. Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Activity and Ethnobotanical Uses of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. Fruits from the Arid Zone of Mauritania, Northwest Africa. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9030401. [PMID: 32213817 PMCID: PMC7154911 DOI: 10.3390/plants9030401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of fruits of 30 B. aegyptiaca trees naturally growing in the hyper-arid and arid zones in Mauritania were evaluated by following standard procedures. Ethnobotanical uses of fruit pulps and kernel were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Balanites aegyptiaca fruit pulp is a good source of sugars (33 g/100 g dry matter (DM)), polyphenols (264 mg GAE/100 g DM) and flavonoids (34.2 mg/100 g DM) with an average antioxidant activity of 519 µmol TEAC/100 g DM. The fruit kernel is rich in lipids (46.2 g/100 g DM) and proteins (29.5 g/100 g DM). Fruits from the hyper-arid zone exhibited high level of polyphenols, antioxidant activity and soluble tannins. Almost all of the informants (97.14%) reported the use of fruit pulp in folk medicine to treat diabetes, while 72.86% reported using the fruit pulp to treat hypertension. Kernel oil is mainly employed as ointments in the treatment of paronychia (57.14%) and dermal infections (35.71%). The predominant methods for preparing/administering fruit pulp/Kernel were maceration (58.8%), sucking fruit pulp (25.7%) and decoction (24.2%). Balanites aegyptiaca fruit contain both nutritional and health-promoting phytochemicals that could be of interest in the development of strategies for sustainable use of this neglected indigenous fruit tree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selouka Mint Abdelaziz
- Université de Nouakchott Al Aasriya, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Unité de recherche génomes et milieux, nouveau campus universitaire, Nouakchott, P.O. Box 880, Mauritanie; (S.M.A.); (F.M.M.L.)
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed Vth University, Rabat 10100, Morocco;
| | - Fouteye Mint Mohamed Lemine
- Université de Nouakchott Al Aasriya, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Unité de recherche génomes et milieux, nouveau campus universitaire, Nouakchott, P.O. Box 880, Mauritanie; (S.M.A.); (F.M.M.L.)
| | - Hasni Ould Tfeil
- Laboratoire de chimie, Office national d’inspection sanitaire des produits alimentaires (ONISPA), Nouakchott P.O. Box 137, Mauritanie;
| | - Abdelkarim Filali-Maltouf
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed Vth University, Rabat 10100, Morocco;
| | - Ali Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary
- Université de Nouakchott Al Aasriya, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Unité de recherche génomes et milieux, nouveau campus universitaire, Nouakchott, P.O. Box 880, Mauritanie; (S.M.A.); (F.M.M.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +222-2677-9299
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Morphological Variations in Tamarindus indicaLINN. Fruits and Seed Traits in the Different Agroecological Zones of Uganda. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1155/2018/8469156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
An investigation was carried out on variations in the morphological traits ofTamarindus indicaLINN. fruits (length, breadth, mass, and pulp mass) and seeds (number and mass) from the different agroecological zones and land use types of Uganda. Fruits were collected from the two land use types in the three agroecological zones and measured for various morphological traits. The study sites were located between 593 and 1,096 meters above sea level. ANOVA was used to test the differences in morphological traits of fruits and seeds between agroecological zones and land use types. The morphological traits relationship was determined using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R). There were significant (P≤0.05) variations among theT. indicafruits and seed morphological traits within the agroecological zones and land use types. Lake Victoria Crescent agroecological zone recorded higher fruits morphological traits values. Wild and on-farm land use types were superior in fruits and seed traits, respectively. Many seeds per fruit (17) were recorded in Uganda (Eastern agroecological zone) than those recorded elsewhere. Significant uphill positive linear correlations between all morphological traits (P≤0.05) were observed, with the strongest relationships being between seed mass and seed number (R=0.79), fruit mass and fruit length (R=0.75), pulp mass and fruit mass (R=0.73), and seed mass and fruit mass (R=0.73). However, fruit breadth presented slightly weaker positive linear correlations with all other morphological traits. This is the first quantitative evaluation ofT. indicamorphological traits variation in Uganda. Dispersion/variation and correlation relationships suggest that all the studied morphological traits can be used for selection of plus trees for tree breeding improvement such as yield per tree. The observed variations are probably attributed to influence of agroecological zones’ factors, environmental factors, climate, land use types, and farming systems, a reflection ofT. indicaadaptation to different conditions showing high genetic and phenotypic differences to be exploited.
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Intra- and interindividual differences in the costs and benefits of intergroup aggression in female vervet monkeys. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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