https://gcris.iyte.edu.tr/bitstream/11147/7654/1/1-s2.0-S0308814618310665-main.pdf

Health benefits and bioactive compounds of eggplant

The promotion and consumption of indigenous vegetables could help to mitigate food insecurity and alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. Nutrient and antinutrient compositions of eight accessions of Okra Pods were investigated. Molar ratios and mineral bioavailability of Okra pod accessions were also calculated and compared to the critical values to predict the implications for mineral bioavailability. Proximate and mineral composition of Okra pod accessions were determined using standard methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The result of the study revealed that the proximate composition (g/100 g) in dry weight basis was significantly (P < 0.05) varied and ranged: moisture/dry matter 9.69-13.33, crude protein 10.25-26.16, crude fat 0.56-2.49, crude fiber 11.97-29.93, crude ash 5.37-11.30, utilizable carbohydrate 36.66-50.97, and gross energy 197.26-245.55 kcal/100 g. The mineral concentrations (mg/100 g) were also significantly (P < 0.05) varied and ranged: calcium (111.11-311.95), Iron (18.30-36.68), potassium (122.59-318.20), zinc (3.83-6.31), phosphorus (25.62-59.72), and sodium (3.33-8.31) on dry weight bases. The Okra Pods of "OPA#6" accession contained significantly higher amounts of crude protein, total ash, crude fat, calcium, iron, and zinc than all other accessions evaluated in this study. The results of antinutrients analysis showed that, except phytate, tannin, and oxalate contents of all the accessions were significantly (P < 0.05) varied. The range of phytate, tannin, and oxalate contents (mg/100 g) for Okra pod accessions studied were as follows: 0.83-0.87, 4.93-9.90, and 0.04-0.53, respectively. The calculated molar ratios of phytate: calcium, phytate: iron, phytate: zinc, oxalate: calcium and [Phytate][Calcium]/[Zinc] were below the critical value and this indicate that the bioavailability of calcium, iron, and zinc in these accessions could be high. The results of the study revealed that Okra pod contain appreciable amount of vital nutrients like protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and zinc and low in antinutrient contents with high mineral bioavailability. Therefore, increase in the production and consumption of these nutrient-rich indigenous Okra pods will help to supplement/formulate the diets and alleviate the problems associated with malnutrition in the country.

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/fsn3.282

Proximate, mineral, and antinutrient compositions of indigenous Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) pod accessions: implications for mineral bioavailability.

Indigenous and traditional foods crops (ITFCs) have multiple uses within society, and most notably have an important role to play in the attempt to diversify the food in order to enhance food and nutrition security. However, research suggests that the benefits and value of indigenous foods within the South African and the African context have not been fully understood and synthesized. Their potential value to the African food system could be enhanced if their benefits were explored more comprehensively. This synthesis presents a literature review relating to underutilized indigenous crop species and foods in Africa. It organizes the findings into four main contributions, nutritional, environmental, economic, and social-cultural, in line with key themes of a sustainable food system framework. It also goes on to unpack the benefits and challenges associated with ITFCs under these themes. A major obstacle is that people are not valuing indigenous foods and the potential benefit that can be derived from using them is thus neglected. Furthermore, knowledge is being lost from one generation to the next, with potentially dire implications for long-term sustainable food security. The results show the need to recognize and enable indigenous foods as a key resource in ensuring healthy food systems in the African continent.

/pdf/a-review-of-indigenous-food-crops-in-africa-and-the-3ikujcskjg.pdf

A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems

Green manures and NPK fertilizer effects on soil properties, growth, yield, mineral and vitamin C composition of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/81/2/3/81_2_3.pdf

AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center’s women-oriented improvement and development strategy for traditional African vegetables in sub-Saharan Africa

The promotion and consumption of indigenous vegetables could help mitigate food insecurity and alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. In this respect, 17 accessions (candidate breeding lines that have not yet officially been released) of five African indigenous vegetables: amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus), nightshade (Solanum scabrum), African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum), jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) and okra (Abelmoschus callei), previously selected for their superior agronomic and horticultural traits, were evaluated in Cameroon for minerals (Ca, Mg, K, P, Zn and Fe), proteins, and carotenoids content. Nutrient content differed significantly (P<0.001) between cultivars. Amaranth (especially line AM-NKgn) had the highest Ca, Mg, and Zn content in comparison to other genera. Nightshade had the highest K and Fe content. The highest K and Fe levels were found in nightshades BG24 and SS52, respectively. Nightshade had the highest level of protein, especially line BFS1. The highest amount of carotenoids was identified in the eggplant variety Oforiwa. The study revealed that these vegetables are important sources of some vital nutrients. Increased production and consumption of these nutrient-rich vegetables will help reduce the nutrition-related disorders in Africa.

/pdf/nutritional-evaluation-of-five-african-indigenous-vegetables-35tnmz2xgn.pdf

Nutritional Evaluation of Five African Indigenous Vegetables

http://www.cell.com/article/S2405844022014153/pdf

Influence of sampling area and extraction method on the thermal, physical and mechanical properties of Cameroonian Ananas comosus leaf fibers

Characterization of the Neuropeltis Acuminatas Liana Fiber Treated as Composite Reinforcement

Identifying the potential of new bast fibres is a solution for diversifying biobased reinforcements and replacing environmentally harmful synthetic fibres. In this study, fibres were extracted from Megaphrynium macrostachyum stems by biological and chemical retting. The chemical fibres were bleached with a 2.5wt% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution. The biological, chemical and bleached fibres were analysed from a chemical, morphological, physical, mechanical and thermal point of view. The possibility of using these fibres as reinforcement in gypsum-based biocomposites for construction was analysed by three-point bending tests. Chemical analysis revealed a cellulose content of more than 56 wt% within the usual range (50-85 wt%) for reinforcing fibres. SEM images showed that bleaching cleans the surface of the fibres. Physical analysis by gravimetric analysis showed that the bleached fibre had the lowest density (1.01 g.cm−3), fineness (5.2tex) and water absorption (64wt%). In addition, the highest thermal stability (237°C) was obtained for the chemical fibre. Young’s modulus and tensile strength, evaluated according to ASTM D3822-07, were dispersed and depended on the fibre diameter, and the highest values were obtained for the chemical fibre (6.4 GPa and 251 MPa). In contrast, gypsum composites with a volume fraction of 1.5% bleached chemical fibre had the highest stiffness (258 MPa) and flexural strength (5 MPa). The results obtained for each fibre type are relatively close to those of other fibres in the literature, indicating that all three fibre types studied can be used as alternative raw materials for the manufacture of gypsum-based biocomposites. Graphical Abstract

A. R. Atangana

Papers

Nutritional Evaluation of Five African Indigenous Vegetables

Influence of sampling area and extraction method on the thermal, physical and mechanical properties of Cameroonian Ananas comosus leaf fibers

Characterization of the Neuropeltis Acuminatas Liana Fiber Treated as Composite Reinforcement

Extraction and characterization of a novel tropical fibre Megaphrynium macrostachyum as a biosourced reinforcement for gypsum-based biocomposites