Determination of the dietary fiber and mineral content of native plants in Burundi: case of Dioscorea alata (ibire), Dioscorea bulbifera (amatugu), seshium edule (chayote), coleus dysencericus (inumpu) and Basera Alba (inderama)
Loading...
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UB, EANSI
Abstract
Dietary fibers are carbohydrate molecules that are not degradable by the enzymes of the digestive tract. In addition, these molecules do not provide energy to the body. We could misunderstand or judge this term of non-degradable by digestive enzymes as bad, assuming that these molecules have no benefit on the body. On the contrary, several studies have shown the importance of dietary fiber in the body. The major role of dietary fiber is to protect the body against diseases of the digestive tract, such as colon cancer, etc. as well as to fight against certain diseases linked to poor dietary discipline. This is the case for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In Burundi, no research has been done on measuring the fiber content of indigenous plants which are now endangered. The objective of this research was then to find out if these native plants contain dietary fibers that could thus protect the body against said diseases. It proved necessary to determine certain minerals which play an important role in the body and whose absorption is facilitated by the presence of dietary fiber. Five plants were thus studied, namely Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea bulbifera, seshium edule, Coleus dysencericus and Basera alba. The results showed that the fiber content of Dioscorea alata is 3.045% and the mineral content is 299.075mg/kg for calcium; 251.6875mg/kg for magnesium; sodium; 6639.8mg/kg for potassium; 35.525mg/kg for iron. The fiber content of Dioscorea bulbifera is 5.9575% and the mineral content is 1241.2mg/kg for calcium; 3336.475mg/kg for magnesium; 58.4mg/kg for sodium; mg/kg for potassium; 511.8 mg/kg for iron; The fiber content of Seshium edule is 9.4125% and the mineral content is 1076.4 mg/kg for calcium; kg for magnesium; 71.925mg/kg for sodium; 21842.37mg/kg for potassium; The fiber content of Coleus dysencericus is 1.53% and the mineral content is 437.2mg/kg for calcium, 2048.7mg/kg for magnesium, 109.45mg/kg for sodium; /kg for potassium; 137.3mg/kg for iron. The fiber content of Basera alba is 12.7% and the mineral content is 10490mg/kg for calcium; 7730.55mg/kg for magnesium; 181.4mg/kg for sodium; for potassium; 3783.05 mg/kg for iron. These values allowed us to show that native plants have a considerable value of fiber and mineral salts which could fill the deficiencies in these elements while knowing that the fruits and vegetables which would be good sources are very expensive.
Description
Dissertation presented and defended publicly for obtaining a Master's degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences
Keywords
Dietary fiber, native plants, mineral elements, nutrional quality