Composition en acides aminés et en acides gras d'un aliment de complément à base des ressources alimentaires locales : cas de la Vamine en RD Congo

L’objectif de cette étude est de déterminer les teneurs en acides aminés et acides gras d’un aliment decomplément, dénommé Vamine, fabriqué à base des produits locaux disponibles et accessibles suivants:voandzou et arachides comme source protéiques; maïs et manioc. La détermination des teneurs en acides aminés essentiels donne, des taux de 115 mg de thréonine; 163,5 mg de valine; 39,25 mg de méthionine; 109,5 g de isoleucine; 232,25 mg de leucine; 84,75 mg de Tyrosine; 171 mg de phénylalanine; 149,5 mg de Histidine; 235,25 mg de lysine. Les teneurs en acides gras essentiels sont de 265 mg pour l’acide alpha linolénique et absent pour l’acide linoléique. La comparaison des concentrations des acides aminés et acides gras trouvés avec les normes FAO/OMS montre que les teneurs trouvées sont satisfaisantes et même souvent supérieures aux normes. La Vamine peut devenir un aliment de complément approprié pour la croissance des enfants en République Démocratique du Cong

Subcellular Localization of Glutathione Peroxidase, Change in Glutathione System during Ageing and Effects on Cardiometabolic Risks and Associated Diseases

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a selenoprotein with biological properties that allow the detoxification of endogenous or exogenous reactive oxygen species as well as the elimination of xenobiotic compounds in the cells. Due to its isoform activities and pathophysiological functions, GPx holds the status of a redox system (GSH/GSSG) in the glutathione (GSH) system to prevent oxidative damage of cellular constituents. As such, the GPx is the first line of defense against free radicals. Its deficiency causes oxidative stress that not only promotes the oxidation of proteins and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) but also leads to insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and metabolic alterations, which expose to high risk for cardiometabolic disorders due to cardiovascular and degenerative diseases especially when associated with aging. This work presents a review of different studies done on the localization of GPx in subcellular organelles, activity changes during cellular aging, their effects on cardiometabolic risks, and associated diseases

Congolese Traditional Foods as Sources of Antioxidant Nutrients for Disease Prevention

Oxidative stress, characterized by excessive production of reactive species, is involved in several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, chronic obstructive pulmonary, sickle cell, chronic kidney, neurodegenerative, and cancer. The negative impact of ROS and RNS, produced by endogenous and exogenous processes, is neutralized by antioxidant defenses. Given the importance of oxidative stress to human health, the use of antioxidants as therapy directs medical research toward the specificity of antioxidants causing each disease. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and phytoceuticals, the consumption of which reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases. Flora of African countries is endowed with plant species that would make a putative source for new antioxidants. This article reports antioxidant activities of traditional foods from Democratic Republic of the Congo. Further studies are needed to ensure mechanisms of their functionality in the human body

Improvement of Secondary Metabolites from Phyllanthus odontadenius against Malaria by Mutagenesis

International audienceAims: Majority of deaths in children aged under 5 years are due to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Malaria deaths in children decreased but malaria remains a major killer of children, taking the life of a child every 2 minutes. This study aims to investigate the increasing of the in vitro antiplasmodial activities by mutagenesis techniques using gamma-rays (Cs-137) or sodium azide (NaN3) as utagens. It will allow the importance of mutagenesis use as tools for improvement of secondary metabolites against malaria parasites using chemical or physical mutagens.Study Design: Laboratory experiment tests : identification of plant material, immersion of seeds in SA (sodium azide) solutions or irradiation by Gamma-rays (Cs-137) of P. odontadenius seeds for improvement of secondary metabolites against malaria parasites, in vitro culture of seeds followed by the in situ culturing of plantlets for obtaining material of study, phytochemical screening of Phyllanthus odontadenius aerial parts to determine the change of compounds in comparison to controls, in vitro antiplasmodial tests for the determination of SA concentrations or those of gammarays doses which killing 50% of malaria parasite populations (IC50). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry: General Atomic Energy Commission, Regional Nuclear Studies Center of Kinshasa, P.O. Box. 868 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). National Institute of Biomedical Research (NIBR) at Kinshasa/Gombe (DRC). Laboratory of UMR-MD3, Aix-Marseille University, Faculty of Pharmacy/Marseille, France. The experiments were conducted from Junuary - December 2010; August and December 2011 and during May and September 2012 until July 2014.Methodology: Aerial parts of plants M1 and M2 from Gamma-rays irradiation of P. odontadenius seeds or from immersion of P. odontadenius seeds in sodium azide solutions used as biological material for the in vitro antiplasmodial analysis. The in vitro antiplasmodial activities assays on clinical isolates of P. falciparum and on chloroquine-resistante P. falciparum strain K1 was determined using microscopic method, the isotopic micro-test method and using HRP2-based ELISA assay.Results: Gamma-rays (Cs-137) increased (multiplied) the in vitro antiplasmodial activities from 2.48 up to 7.6 in comparison to control. Thus, the in vitro antiplasmodial activities were improved or exceeded from 147.57% up to 660% than those of control plant. SA had increased (multiplied) the in vitro antiplasmodial activities from 1.24 up to 10.15 comparing to the control plants. The antiplasmodial activities in vitro were exceeded compared to the control plants from 24.43% up to 915%. Conclusion: Treatment of P. odontadenius seeds by Gamma-rays or by SA give plants high in vitro antiplasmodial activities. Values of in vitro antiplasmodial activities varried from 1.24 (147.57%) to 10.15 (915%). 125, 150 and 225 Gy of Gamma-rays (Cs-137) for physical mutagenesis and 10.15 and 17.5 M of SA solutions for the chemical mutagenesis could be used for improving in vitro antiplasmodial activities against P. falciparum (clinical isolates of P. falciparum or chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain K1). Thus, plants extracts from treated seeds have justified the usefulness of mutagens in plant breeding particularly in the increasing production of secondary metabolite against malaria parasite

Microscopic Features , Chromatographic Fingerprints and Antioxidant Property of Some Unconventional Green Leafy Vegetables Consumed in Bandundu , DR Congo

peer reviewe

Utilization, Phytochemistry and Biological Activity of Hua gabonii Pierre ex De Wild.

Although few studies are reported, Hua gabonii remains scientifically unknown due to the lack of studies. However, this aromatic plant is used in developing countries as a condiment or in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The literature reported that this species is rich in proteins, essential amino acids, and vitamins C and E. Its fruits would present an appreciable antioxidant power. Therefore, given its numerous uses in tropical countries, H. gabonii is a good candidate for further studies