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

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

Retained sponge after abdominal surgery: experience from a third world country

Background: Retained abdominal sponge after surgery is a quite rare condition which can have heavy medico-legal consequences; its frequency is generally underestimated. Few reports of these conditions are available in African environment with specific technical and medico-legal background. We present our local experience of retained sponges after abdominal surgery and review current literature. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical files of 14 consecutive patients with a retained surgical sponge after abdominal and urological surgery. Results: The incidence was 1every 677 abdominal operations; no metallic foreign body described, only sponges; the female sex predominated with 10/14 patients. 85.71% of retained sponge occurred after an emergency procedure and 64.28% were gynecological or obstetrical procedures. Most cases presented as intestinal obstruction, localized persistent pain or abdominal mass and pre-operative diagnosis could be done only in 28.57% of cases. A falsely correct sponge count was reported in 71.42% of cases. 92.85% of patients were re-operated and the morbidity was low; no death was reported. None of our cases ended in a medico-legal claim despite proper counseling. Conclusion: The incidence of retained sponge might be significantly higher in an environment with reduced medico-legal threat; most cases of retained sponges are still related to human errors; the incidence will probably be reduced by a greater awareness about the condition

Determinants of intention to consume dibiterie meat towards the risks of non-communicable diseases in the Dakar region, Senegal

The general opinion and current scientific evidence highlight the link between red meat consumption and the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We explored the determinants of the intention to consume red meat in relation to the risks of developing NCDs in Senegal with a special focus on popular "dibiterie" meat (braised meat) consumed in Dakar, Senegal. Building on the theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical framework, we used a structured questionnaire to collect data on the knowledge of consumers regarding the risk of NCDs from consuming meat. The survey involved 478 people randomly selected from households in the Dakar region. Data collected was analysed by performing the calculation of the dibiterie meat quantities consumed and frequencies of consumption, analyses of the principal components, binary logistic regression, and multiple hierarchical regression. Results show that dibiterie meat is mainly a dietary supplement for the population. The convenience, the social pressure, and quality indicators such as producer expertise and health perceived a link between meat consumption and NCDs; gender and age predicted the intention to consume dibiterie meat in the households of the Dakar region. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of incentive-based interventions aiming to promote a balanced diet and healthy eating habits. Nutrition education and the use of social media have been raised as important in risky meat consumption behaviour change

Valeur ajoutée de la participation à l'analyse des risques des produits d'origine animale vendus dans le secteur informel

La sécurité sanitaire des aliments est devenue, durant les deux dernières décennies, une préoccupation majeure des consommateurs, des autres acteurs des filières agro-alimentaires et des décideurs. Cela est le résultat d’un regard plus attentionné sur la qualité des aliments à la suite des différentes crises et intoxications alimentaires ayant engendré en plus des souffrances, des pertes en vies humaines. Les mesures de contrôle des risques sanitaires sont encore insuffisantes du fait de la non maîtrise des facteurs de risques et de la complexité dans l’application de la méthode classique d’épidémiologie quantitative d’analyse de risques dans la chaîne de valeur alimentaire. Par ailleurs, ces analyses des risques se limitent au stade initial d’identification du danger. En s’appuyant sur des études de cas réalisées en Afrique subsaharienne au niveau du secteur informel du lait et de la viande et fruits de mer (Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopie, Mali et Nigeria), nous démontrons que la participation des acteurs et la prise en compte de leurs connaissances peuvent contribuer à une analyse mieux élaborée des risques alimentaires. Les approches participative et transdisciplinaire se révèlent être d’une grande efficacité dans la collecte d’importantes données qualitatives complexes pour expliquer les données biologiques quantitatives (exposition, dose-effet). Elle pourrait permettre par une association de plusieurs techniques de collecte des données (enquête par questionnaire, Méthode Accélérée de Recherche Participative (MARP) et Focus Group Discussion), de réduire les coûts de l’analyse du risque et de mieux préciser le risque pour les prises de décisions pertinentes dans le secteur informel des denrées alimentaires d’origine animale Food safety has become over the last two decades a major concern for consumers and other stakeholders in food value-chain, as well as decision makers. This has resulted in more attention on quality, augmented by various recent food poisoning crises and resultant suffering and human life losses. The control measures of health risks remain inadequate due to the complexity of applying classical quantitative epidemiology on risk analysis in the food value-chain. Furthermore, risk analysis is still limited to the initial stages of hazard identification. Based on case studies in Sub-Saharan Africa in the informal sector of milk, meat and see food (Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria), we demonstrate that stakeholder participation and incorporation of their knowledge are likely to contribute to a more sophisticated risk analysis. We position participation and transdisciplinarity as effective approaches for collecting important and complex qualitative data to explain quantitative biological data (exposure, dose-response). They could contribute in bringing together different data collection techniques (e.g. questionnaire survey, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and focus group discussion) to reduce the cost of risk analysis and also to provide broader evidence for decision making in the animal source food informal sector

Melatonin in Medicinal and Food Plants : Occurrence, Bioavailability, and Health Potential for Humans

Melatonin is a widespread molecule among living organisms involved in multiple biological, hormonal, and physiological processes at cellular, tissue, and organic levels. It is well-known for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and renowned antioxidant effects, acting as a free radical scavenger, up-regulating antioxidant enzymes, reducing mitochondrial electron leakage, and interfering with proinflammatory signaling pathways. Detected in various medicinal and food plants, its concentration is widely variable. Plant generative organs (e.g., flowers, fruits), and especially seeds, have been proposed as having the highest melatonin concentrations, markedly higher than those found in vertebrate tissues. In addition, seeds are also rich in other substances (lipids, sugars, and proteins), constituting the energetic reserve for a potentially growing seedling and beneficial for the human diet. Thus, given that dietary melatonin is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and transported into the bloodstream, the ingestion of medicinal and plant foods by mammals as a source of melatonin may be conceived as a key step in serum melatonin modulation and, consequently, health promotion

Phytochemicals in prostate cancer: From bioactive molecules to upcoming therapeutic agents

Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease, the second deadliest malignancy in men and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men. Traditional plants have been applied to handle various diseases and to develop new drugs. Medicinal plants are potential sources of natural bioactive compounds that include alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenes, and steroids. Many of these naturally-occurring bioactive constituents possess promising chemopreventive properties. In this sense, the aim of the present review is to provide a detailed overview of the role of plant-derived phytochemicals in prostate cancers, including the contribution of plant extracts and its corresponding isolated compounds.This work was supported by CONICYT PIA/APOYO CCTE AFB170007. N. Martins would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT–Portugal) for the Strategic project ref. UID/BIM/04293/2013 and “NORTE2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012) and C. F. Rodrigues for the UID/EQU/00511/2019 Project—Laboratory of Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy—LEPABE financed by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC)

Kaempferol: a key emphasis to its anticancer potential

A marked decrease in human cancers, including breast cancer, bone cancer, and cervical cancer, has been linked to the consumption of vegetable and fruit, and the corresponding chemoprotective e ect has been associated with the presence of several active molecules, such as kaempferol. Kaempferol is a major flavonoid aglycone found in many natural products, such as beans, bee pollen, broccoli, cabbage, capers, cauliflower, chia seeds, chives, cumin, moringa leaves, endive, fennel, and garlic. Kaempferol displays several pharmacological properties, among them antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic activities, and is being applied in cancer chemotherapy. Specifically, kaempferol-rich food has been linked to a decrease in the risk of developing some types of cancers, including skin, liver, and colon. The mechanisms of action include apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways. In this sense, this article reviews data from experimental studies that investigated the links between kaempferol and kaempferol-rich food intake and cancer prevention. Even though growing evidence supports the use of kaempferol for cancer prevention, further preclinical and clinical investigations using kaempferol or kaempferol-rich foods are of pivotal importance before any public health recommendation or formulation using kaempferol.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Apium plants: Beyond simple food and phytopharmacological applications

Apium plants belong to the Apiaceae family and are included among plants that have been in use in traditional medicine for thousands of years worldwide, including in the Mediterranean, as well as the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. Some highlighted medical benefits include prevention of coronary and vascular diseases. Their phytochemical constituents consist of bergapten, flavonoids, glycosides, furanocoumarins, furocoumarin, limonene, psoralen, xanthotoxin, and selinene. Some of their pharmacological properties include anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, nematocidal, anti-rheumatism, antiasthma, anti-bronchitis, hepatoprotective, appetizer, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, breast milk inducer, anti-jaundice, antihypertensive, anti-dysmenorrhea, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and spermatogenesis induction. The present review summarizes data on ecology, botany, cultivation, habitat, medicinal use, phytochemical composition, preclinical and clinical pharmacological efficacy of Apium plants and provides future direction on how to take full advantage of Apium plants for the optimal benefit to mankind.N. Martins would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-Portugal) for the strategic project ref. UID/BIM/04293/2013 and “NORTE2020-Northern Regional Operational Program” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012)