Effect of substrates on germination and seedling emergence of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) at the Yongka Western Highlands Research/Garden Park, Bamenda-Cameroon

A study was carried out at the Yongka Western Highlands Research Garden Park, Nkwen­Bamenda in Cameroon to evaluate the effect of substrates on the germination and seedling emergence of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Seeds of African Giant variety were used with six substrate media (sawdust, sand, soil, sawdust­sand, sawdust­soil and sand­soil). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design in three replications. Germinated seeds were counted daily for a 15 days period. To estimate seedling emergence from two Weeks After Sowing (WAS) up to four WAS, data on seedling height and number of leaves were recorded. The results showed that germination started 8 days after sowing for all substrates. Germination rate was significantly affected by the substrates but the rates were less than 80%. The highest germination rate was recorded on the soil substrate (75%) while the lowest rate (25%) was recorded on the sawdust substrate. Seedlings on the sawdust substrate were also less vigorous and had less leaves (12.67 cm height and 4.7 leaves) than those on other substrates at four WAS (50–63 cm and 12.6–15.3 leaves). Based on the results, it is recommendable to use the soil substrate to nurse African Giant seeds

Methods of preparation and the energy, protein and mineral values of three Cameroonian dishes: ″corn Chaff″, ″Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo″ and ″Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo″

This study analyses the different methods of preparation and the nutritional value of three Cameroonian dishes. These are: "Corn chaff", "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" and "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo". "Corn chaff" is a mixture of corn (Zea mays L.), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and palm oil (Elaeis guinensis). "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" is made up of groundnut paste (Arachis  hypogaea) and cassava paste (Manihot  utilisima). "Nnam  Ngon/Ebobolo" is made up of egusi paste (Cucumeropsis mannii)  and cassava paste (Manihot utilisima). The moisture, ash, protein, lipid, fibre and carbohydrate contents were determined using standard methods. The mineral contents (magnesium, copper, iron and zinc) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. A survey of these dishes in the market gave the quantity and the cost of each dish sold: A serving of "Corn chaff" which costs 200F CFA, weighs 641g; that of "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" which costs 150F CFA weighs 566g and that of "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo" which costs 150F CFA weighs 507g. The proximate analysis gave the following nutritive  content: moisture (67.9; 49.5 and 53.4 g/100g F.W), ash (4.30; 1.77 and 1.54 g/100g D.W), protein (11.7; 8.96 and 7.36 g/100g D.W), lipid (17.6; 13.5 and 7.79 g/100g D.W), fibre (3.18; 1.86 and 0.84 g/100g D.W), carbohydrate (63.3; 73.8 and 82.5 g/100g D.W), magnesium (95; 108.9 and 97.9 mg/100g D.W), copper (0.57; 0.27 and 0.23 mg/100g D.W), iron (6.08; 2.97 and 3,87 mg/100g D.W) and zinc (3.74; 3,29 and 3,14 mg/100g D.W) for "Corn chaff", "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" and "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo" respectively.  The content in nutrients shows that ″Corn chaff″ is balanced with respect to the  proportions of protein, lipid and carbohydrate energy. On the other hand, "Nnam  Owondo/Ebobolo" and "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo" have low proportions of protein and lipid energy. The contents in minerals (Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn) are low. The quantities actually ingested enable the coverage of 64; 69 and 45 % of the protein allowances and 31; 42 and 33% of the energy allowances for the tree dishes respectively, for an averagely active adult. For a good nutritional balance, it is recommended to consume a greater quantity of "Nnam Owondo " and "Nnam Ngon with smaller quantities of "Ebobolo".Key words: Cameroonian dishes, preparation, nutritional value. Dans le cadre général de la valorisation des aliments camerounais prêts à la consommation, trois plats alimentaires sont étudiés du point de vue de leurs protocoles de cuisson, de leurs valeurs nutritionnelles et des quantités de protéine, d'énergie et de minéraux qu'ils apportent aux consommateurs. Le "Corn chaff" est un mélange de maïs (Zea mays L.), de haricot  (Phaseolus vulgaris) et d’huile de palme (Elaeis guinensis). Le "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" est un plat composé à base de pâte  d'arachide (Arachis hypogaea) et de pâte de tubercule de manioc (Manihot utilisima). Le "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo" est un plat composé à base de pâte de graines de courge (Cucumeropsis mannii) et de pâte de tubercule de manioc (Manihot  utilissima). La teneur en eau, cendre, protéine, lipide, fibre et glucide est déterminée par les méthodes standards. Les minéraux  (magnésium, cuivre, fer et zinc) par spectrophotométrie d’absorption atomique. L’enquête auprès des vendeuses a   donné les quantités d’aliments vendues actuellement sur le marché pour chacun des plats : 641,7g (200F CFA); 566,7 g (150F CFA) et 507,8 g (150F CFA) respectivement pour le "Corn chaff", le "Nnam Owondo /Ebobolo" et le "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo". Les analyses ont donné les teneurs en principes nutritifs suivantes: eau (67,9; 49,5 et 53,4 g/100g M.F), cendre (4,30; 1,77 et 1,54 g/100g M.S), protide (11,7; 8,96 et 7,36 g/100g M.S), lipide (17,6; 13,5 et 7,79 g/100g M.S), fibre brute (3,18; 1,86 et 0,84 g/100g M.S), glucide (63,3; 73,9 et 82,5 g/100g M.S), magnésium (95,0; 108,1; 97,9 mg/100g M.S), cuivre (0,58; 0,27; 0,24 mg/100g M.S), fer (6,08; 2,99; 3,87 mg/100g M.S), zinc (3,74; 3,29; 3,14  mg/100g M.S) respectivement pour le "Corn chaff", le "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" et "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo". Les taux de couverture des apports journaliers pour les adultes modérément actifs sont les suivants: protides (64,8; 69,3 et 45,7 %), énergie (31,4; 42,9 et 33,8%), magnésium (16,3; 25,9; 19,3%), cuivre (11,8; 7,70; 5,50), fer (6,9; 4,7; 5,1), zinc (12,8; 15,7; 12,4) respectivement pour le "Corn chaff", le "Nnam Owondo/Ebobolo" et le "Nnam Ngon/Ebobolo".Mots clés : Plats camerounais, préparation, apports nutritionnels

Nutritive value of some Cucurbitaceae oilseeds from different regions in Cameroon

The nutritive value of five species of Cucurbitaceae (egusi) seeds from different bio-climatic regions in Cameroon was studied. These seeds are Cucumeropsis mannii, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria siceraria and Cucumis sativus. The results show that the nutritional value of these seeds does not depend on the climatic region but on the species. Theirmoisture, crude fibre and ash levels are similar to those of soybean, peanuts, sesame and sunflower seeds, but their carbohydrate levels are lower. The Cucurbitaceae seeds and their defatted cakes are rich in proteins (28 to 40.49 and 61 to 73.59% respectively). They also contain high lipid levels similar to those of the other oilseeds. These seeds can thus be considered as sources of proteins and oils

Plant-derived bioactives and oxidative stress-related disorders: A key trend towards healthy aging and longevity promotion

Plants and their corresponding botanical preparations have been used for centuries due to their remarkable potential in both the treatment and prevention of oxidative stress-related disorders. Aging and aging-related diseases, like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders, which have increased exponentially, are intrinsically related with redox imbalance and oxidative stress. Hundreds of biologically active constituents are present in each whole plant matrix, providing promissory bioactive effects for human beings. Indeed, the worldwide population has devoted increased attention and preference for the use of medicinal plants for healthy aging and longevity promotion. In fact, plant-derived bioactives present a broad spectrum of biological effects, and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and, more recently, anti-aging effects, are considered to be a hot topic among the medical and scientific communities. Nonetheless, despite the numerous biological effects, it should not be forgotten that some bioactive molecules are prone to oxidation and can even exert pro-oxidant effects. In this sense, the objective of the present review is to provide a detailed overview of plant-derived bioactives in age-related disorders. Specifically, the role of phytochemicals as antioxidants and pro-oxidant agents is carefully addressed, as is their therapeutic relevance in longevity, aging-related disorders, and healthy-aging promotion. Finally, an eye-opening look into the overall evidence of plant compounds related to longevity is present

Symphytum Species: A Comprehensive Review on Chemical Composition, Food Applications and Phytopharmacology

Symphytum species belongs to the Boraginaceae family and have been used for centuries for bone breakages, sprains and rheumatism, liver problems, gastritis, ulcers, skin problems, joint pain and contusions, wounds, gout, hematomas and thrombophlebitis. Considering the innumerable potentialities of the Symphytum species and their widespread use in the world, it is extremely important to provide data compiling the available literature to identify the areas of intense research and the main gaps in order to design future studies. The present review aims at summarizing the main data on the therapeutic indications of the Symphytum species based on the current evidence, also emphasizing data on both the e cacy and adverse e ects. The present review was carried out by consulting PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database, Science Direct and Google Scholar (as a search engine) databases to retrieve the most updated articles on this topic. All articles were carefully analyzed by the authors to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and to select the most useful ones for the purpose of review, prioritizing articles published from 1956 to 2018. The pharmacological e ects of the Symphytum species are attributed to several chemical compounds, among them allantoin, phenolic compounds, glycopeptides, polysaccharides and some toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Not less important to highlight are the risks associated with its use. In fact, there is increasing consumption of over-the-counter drugs, which when associated with conventional drugs can cause serious and even fatal adverse events. Although clinical trials sustain the folk topical application of Symphytum species in musculoskeletal and blunt injuries, with minor adverse e ects, its antimicrobial potency was still poorly investigated. Further studies are needed to assess the antimicrobial spectrum of Symphytum species and to characterize the active molecules both in vitro and in vivo

PRELIMINARY NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF FIVE SPECIES OF EGUSI SEEDS IN CAMEROON

This study deals with the analyses of the quantity of moisture, crude proteins, total lipids, carbohydrates, ash, crude fibre and calcium. These analyses were carried out in five different species of egusi seeds, which belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. These seeds are: Cucumeropsis mannii (egusi melon), Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin or squash gourd), Cucurbita moschata (musk melon), Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd or calabash) and Cucumis sativus (“Ibo” egusi). The moisture content was determined by drying in an oven to constant weight, crude protein content by Kjedahl method. Total lipids by Soxhlet, ash content by incinerating in a furnace and carbohydrates by the Bertrand's method. The crude fibre content was the residue obtained after sequential hot digestion of the defatted sample with dilute acid and alkaline solutions. The calcium content was determined by the complexiometric method. From this study, it was noticed that the moisture levels (4.33 - 7.25% f.w) were similar to those of other oilseeds such as soybean and the fluted pumpkin seed. These egusi samples contained good levels of crude proteins (24.3 - 41.6% d.w), total lipids (42.9 - 57.3% d.w) and calcium (129.7 - 269.7 mg/100 g d.w). Their levels of crude proteins were similar to those of soybean and the fluted pumpkin but higher than that of groundnut (23% d.w), while the total lipid contents were similar to those of groundnut and the fluted pumpkin seed but higher than that of soybean (19.1% d.w). The carbohydrate contents of these seeds (4.56 – 10.2% d.w) are lower than those of groundnut (18.6% d.w) and the fluted pumpkin seed (14.5% d.w). The crude fibre levels (0.9 – 1.63% d.w) were lower than those of soybean (5.71% d.w) and groundnuts (5.15% d.w). The ash contents of these seeds (2.82 - 5.0% d.w) were similar to those of groundnuts (2.79% d.w), soybean (5.06% d.w) and the fluted pumpkin seed (3.4% d.w). Calcium levels compared well with that of soybean, higher than that of groundnut (49 mg/100 g d.w) and even higher than that of the fluted pumpkin seed (1.1 mg/100 g d.w). These egusi seeds can therefore be considered as an important source of plant proteins, lipids and calcium, which could be used in the fight against malnutrition. Key Words: nutritional potential, Cucurbitaceae, egusi seeds. ETUDE NUTRITIONNELLE PRELIMINAIRE DE 5 ESPECES DE COURGES DE LA FAMILLE DE CUCURBITACEES DU CAMEROUN Resumé Cette étude analyse les potentiels nutritionnels de cinq espèces de courges de la famille de Cucurbitacées à savoir : Cucumeropsis mannii, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria siceraria et Cucumis sativus .Sept principes nutritifs ont été évalués : L'eau, les protides totaux, les lipides totaux, les glucides, les cendres, les fibres brutes et le calcium. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les teneurs en eau et en cendres sont généralement semblables à celles des autres graines oléagineux tandis que les teneurs en glucides et en fibres brutes sont plus faibles. Les courges contiennent essentiellement les protides totaux (24.3 - 41.6%), les lipides totaux (42.9 - 57.3% m.s.) et le calcium (129.7 - 269.7 mg/100 m.s). Leurs teneurs en protéines sont presque les mêmes que celles de Glycine max (soja) et de Telfaria occidentalis mais supérieure à celle d'Arachis hypogyaea (arachide) (23% m.s.) Les teneurs en lipides sont semblables à celle de Telfaria occidentalis mais plus élevées que celle de soja (19% m.s). Les teneurs en calcium sont presque les mêmes que celle de soja, mais supérieur à celle d'arachide (49 mg/100 gm.s) et plus élevées que celle de Telfaria occidentalis (1.1 mg/100 gm.s.). Au vu de tous ces résultats, nous sommes amenés à dire que ces espèces de courges constituent une source importante de protéines végétales, de lipides et de calcium qui sont indispensables pour la lutte contre la malnutrition. Mots clés : potentiel nutritionnel, Cucurbitacées, graines de courges AJFAND Vol.4(1) 200

Etude Nutritionnelle Preliminaire De 5 Especes De Courges De La Famille De Cucurbitacees Du Cameroun

This study deals with the analyses of the quantity of moisture, crude proteins, total lipids, carbohydrates, ash, crude fibre and calcium. These analyses were carried out in five different species of egusi seeds, which belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. These seeds are: Cucumeropsis mannii (egusi melon), Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin or squash gourd), Cucurbita moschata (musk melon), Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd or calabash) and Cucumis sativus ("Ibo" egusi). The moisture content was determined by drying in an oven to constant weight, crude protein content by Kjedahl method. Total lipids by Soxhlet, ash content by incinerating in a furnace and carbohydrates by the Bertrand's method. The crude fibre content was the residue obtained after sequential hot digestion of the defatted sample with dilute acid and alkaline solutions. The calcium content was determined by the complexiometric method. From this study, it was noticed that the moisture levels (4.33 - 7.25% f.w) were similar to those of other oilseeds such as soybean and the fluted pumpkin seed. These egusi samples contained good levels of crude proteins (24.3 - 41.6% d.w), total lipids (42.9 - 57.3% d.w) and calcium (129.7 - 269.7 mg/100 g d.w). Their levels of crude proteins were similar to those of soybean and the fluted pumpkin but higher than that of groundnut (23% d.w), while the total lipid contents were similar to those of groundnut and the fluted pumpkin seed but higher than that of soybean (19.1% d.w). The carbohydrate contents of these seeds (4.56 - 10.2% d.w) are lower than those of groundnut (18.6% d.w) and the fluted pumpkin seed (14.5% d.w). The crude fibre levels (0.9 - 1.63% d.w) were lower than those of soybean (5.71% d.w) and groundnuts (5.15% d.w). The ash contents of these seeds (2.82 - 5.0% d.w) were similar to those of groundnuts (2.79% d.w), soybean (5.06% d.w) and the fluted pumpkin seed (3.4% d.w). Calcium levels compared well with that of soybean, higher than that of groundnut (49 mg/100 g d.w) and even higher than that of the fluted pumpkin seed (1.1 mg/100 g d.w). These egusi seeds can therefore be considered as an important source of plant proteins, lipids and calcium, which could be used in the fight against malnutrition.Cette étude analyse les potentiels nutritionnels de cinq espèces de courges de la famille de Cucurbitacées à savoir : Cucumeropsis mannii, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria siceraria et Cucumis sativus .Sept principes nutritifs ont été évalués : L'eau, les protides totaux, les lipides totaux, les glucides, les cendres, les fibres brutes et le calcium. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les teneurs en eau et en cendres sont généralement semblables à celles des autres graines oléagineux tandis que les teneurs en glucides et en fibres brutes sont plus faibles. Les courges contiennent essentiellement les protides totaux (24.3 - 41.6%), les lipides totaux (42.9 - 57.3% m.s.) et le calcium (129.7 - 269.7 mg/100 m.s). Leurs teneurs en protéines sont presque les mêmes que celles de Glycine max (soja) et de Telfaria occidentalis mais supérieure à celle d'Arachis hypogyaea (arachide) (23% m.s.) Les teneurs en lipides sont semblables à celle de Telfaria occidentalis mais plus élevées que celle de soja (19% m.s). Les teneurs en calcium sont presque les mêmes que celle de soja, mais supérieur à celle d'arachide (49 mg/100 gm.s) et plus élevées que celle de Telfaria occidentalis (1.1 mg/100 gm.s.). Au vu de tous ces résultats, nous sommes amenés à dire que ces espèces de courges constituent une source importante de protéines végétales, de lipides et de calcium qui sont indispensables pour la lutte contre la malnutrition