Physicochemical Characterization of Detarium microcarpum Seeds from Northern Benin.

The objective of this work is to determine the physicochemical characteristics of the Detarium microcarpum seeds from North Benin, specially the proximate composition, colour, minerals, and antinutritional factors using standard analytical methods. The results show that the contents of moisture, protein, total sugars, lipid, crude fiber, and ash ranged, respectively, from 10.85 to 14.69%, from 13.54 to 17.82%, from 19.69 to 32.04%, from 8.68 to 11.90%, from 19.78 to 34.24%, and from 1.5 to 3.49%. The luminance (l∗), red saturation (a∗), and yellow saturation (b∗) have, respectively, ranged from 60.45 to 67.64, from 5.44 to 8.86, and from 8.24 to 9.28. Seeds contain interesting contents of potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, and iron; they have, respectively, varied from 6141.88 to 12305.16 mg/kg, from 1254.47 to 2168.62 mg/kg, from 1298.87 to 2533.06 mg/kg, from 75.18 to 307.23 mg/kg, from 53.52 to 136.19 mg/kg, and from 28.46 to 181.42 mg/kg. The investigation of antinutritional factors indicates the presence of oxalates, phytates, total phenolic compounds, and saponins with contents that have varied, respectively, from 1.01 to 2.36%, from 0.37 to 0.87%, from 3.13 to 7.61%, and from 1.35 to 4.59%. On average, the physicochemical characteristics of the Sudanian and Sudano-Guinean zones are similar, except for total sugar content.

Comparative chemical study and cytotoxic activity of Uvariodendron angustifolium essential oils from Benin.

This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of volatile extracts obtained by hydrodistillation of leaves, stems, bark and roots of Uvariodendron angustifolium (Engl. & Diels) R. E. Fries. The essential oils, obtained with yields between 0.12 and 0.66%, were analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. A great variability in the chemical composition was observed depending on the plant part treated. The essential oils obtained from leaves and stems contained mainly neral (29.7-30.5%) and geranial (42.9-47.3%), while methyl eugenol was the major component of the volatile extracts from bark (68.3%) and roots (85.3%). Interesting cytotoxic properties of these essential oils on human breast cancer cells MCF-7 were demonstrated.