Contribution to the valorization of Myrianthus arboreus fruits pulp from Cameroon: Physico-chemical characterization and Nutritional value

• Published in: Measurement. Food Vol. 10; p. 100083
• Main Authors: Bemmo, Ulrich Landry Kamdem, Mvongo, Clémence, Bindzi, Jean Marcel, Ekwelle, Willy Nelson Matike, Zambou, François Ngoufack
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2023
• Subjects: East-Cameroon; Myrianthus arboreus; Nutritional value; Physicochemical characteristics; Pulp; Myrianthus arboreus; East-Cameroon; Physicochemical characteristics; Nutritional value; Pulp
• ISSN: 2772-2759; 2772-2759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meafoo.2023.100083

Due to important cases of malnutrition in Cameroon's Eastern région, it is necessary to develop food resources from the forests of this region to improve the nutritional status of populations. The fruits of Myrianthus arboreus are very abundant in Cameroon's eastern forest but there are not sufficiently consumed by populations. Thus, the study aimed at evaluating the physico-chemical and nutritional properties of Myrianthus arboreus pulp fruit from Cameroon's eastern forests. First, a survey on the knowledge of the fruit was carried out. We observed that fifty people from Belabo and Doume knew the fruit out of sixty-four surveyed. After that, physico-chemical analysis of Myrianthus arboreus pulp from Belabo and Doume forests revealed that: the mass of the fruits was 1091 ± 6 and 826 ± 3.5 g respectively; the mass of the seed was 0.41 ± 0.04 and 0.52 ± 0.05 g respectively; the moisture was 91.1% and 89.23% respectively, the ash was 3.25% and 2.55% respectively, the pH was 3 and 3.15 respectively and the total titrable activity was 88.54 and 82.3 meq/100 g respectively. The evaluation of the nutritional value of Myrianthus arboreus from Belabo and Doume forests revealed that the macronutrient composition was respectively 45.28 and 43.84% for carbohydrates; 19.74 and 30.67% for proteins; 15.8 and 10.8% for lipids and 7.03 and 11.58% for fibers respectively. It is important to note that mineral compounds such as K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn and Cu were found in both Myrianthus arboreus fruit samples. The results obtained allow to consider that Myrianthus arboreus fruit could contribute to the improvement of the nutritional status of the populations from East Cameroon. Acceptable amounts of anti-nutritients were observed in Myrianthus arboreus pulp from Belabo and Doume.