The study aimed to evaluate phenolic content and antioxidant and antibacterial potentials of the fractions of the hydroethanolic extract of Uvaria chamae leaves, a food plant from Burkina Faso. Thus, the hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions of the hydroalcoholic extract after drying were used to determine phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential on strains of pathogenic bacteria responsible for food contamination. Phytochemical analyses were performed according to standardized methods, while antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods. The antibacterial activity of the fractions was determined by diffusion and microdilution methods on the agar medium with gentamicin as a reference antibiotic. All the six strains, namely, Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Bacillus cereus ATCC 13061, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, were sensitive to the fractions tested. Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 37µg·mL⁻¹ to 1.67mg·mL⁻¹, respectively, gentamicin and butanolic fractions, while minimum bactericidal concentrations of the fractions ranged from 0.037 to 2.500mg·mL⁻¹ depending on the bacterial strain. Antioxidant activity varied significantly between fractions. For DPPH free radical scavenging activity, the butanol fraction was the most active, with an IC50 of 280μg/mL, while the lowest activity (705μg/mL) was recorded by the hexane fraction. Those of trolox and ascorbic acid used as standards were 80 and 100μg/mL, respectively. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) ranged from 0.34 to 0.40mmol EAA/g extract for the hexanic and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively. Phenolic compound contents also varied significantly between fractions. Butanoic and ethyl acetate presented the best contents of total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. Significant and positive correlations were also recorded between phenolics and antioxidant activities. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the active fractions would be related to their richness in bioactive compounds, including phenolic, which are powerful natural antioxidants. U. chamae leaf extracts could therefore be used as dietary supplements to boost the immune system and prevent bacterial infections.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate α-amylase inhibitory effects of hydroethanolic extracts of bark from Daniella oliveri, Sclerocarya birrea, Maranthes polyandra, and Pteleopsis suberosa to fight type-II diabetes. Methods: Compound extractions were performed by hydroethanol maceration followed by liquid-liquid fractionation with solvents. TLC profiling was carried out with different fractions. The inhibitory effects of plant extracts on α-amylase activity were determined using rice starch as a substrate. Results: TLC profiling of different fractions showed different phytochemical compounds. The hydroethanolic plant extracts exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of α-amylase. D. oliveri displayed competitive inhibition, M. polyandra and S. birrea showed uncompetitive inhibition and Pteleopsis suberosa exerted mixed-inhibition. M. polyandra extract exerted the highest inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.5 mg/mL). Conclusions: The barks of M. polyandra exhibit a remarkable α-amylase inhibitory effect which can be a novel source of antidiabetic molecules.

Oxidative stress is implicated in various age‐related pathologies, including cardiovascular, ocular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary intake of natural antioxidants can bolster the body's defenses against oxidative damage. This study investigated the nutritional and antioxidant potential of Leptadenia hastata leaves, a food and medicinal plant from Burkina Faso. Standard analytical methods were used to study the physicochemical, nutritional and, antioxidant potential of the leaves. Analysis revealed that L. hastata leaves are rich in nutrients. per 100 g, 71.18 ± 1.83 g of dry matter, 6.89 ± 0.065 g of total ash, 1.67 ± 0.02 g of protein, 11.85 ± 0.33 g of sugar and 1.90 ± 0.07 g of lipid, 60.81 ± 2.31 mg of vitamin C. The water content was 82.59 ± 0.45 g per 100 g of dry leaves. The leaves also showed interesting levels of essential amino acids, including lysine (9.17%), leucine (8.51%), valine (5.61%), phenylalanine (5.29%) and isoleucine (4.44%). In addition, L. hastata leaves showed interesting lycopene (2.70 ± 0.08 mg lycopene/100 mg DM) and β‐carotene (2.99 ± 0.09 mg β‐carotene/100 mg DM) contents. Total phenol content varied from 13.95 ± 0.61 to 36.21 ± 1.88 mg EAG/100 mg while total flavonoid content varied from 0.42 ± 0.11 to 1.95 ± 0.09 mg EQ/100 mg fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest concentration of these compounds. Furthermore, the leaves demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays, correlating with their phenolic content. These findings suggest that Leptadenia hastata is a valuable source of nutrients, bioactive compounds, and natural antioxidants. Its potential as a dietary supplement for combating oxidative stress‐related diseases warrants further exploration.

Bacterial cellulase production remains limited by suboptimal culture conditions, resulting in high production costs and restricting its industrial applications. This research aimed to determine γ-haemolytic degrading bacteria cellulose and to optimize cellulase production. Of 42 strains isolated on a reconstituted medium supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose used as the exclusive carbon source, only 19 showed significant cellulose hydrolysis capacity. Following morphological and metabolic characteristics analyses, together with haemolysis tests, 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified four promising strains belonging to three bacterial species: Paenibacillus dendritiformis (PQ845045) and Bacillus altitudinis (PQ845085 and PQ845089), all γ-haemolytic, as well as Mammaliicoccus lentus (PQ845126), a β-haemolytic strain. Cellulase production by Paenibacillus dendritiformis was optimized using a single-factor approach and a central composite experimental design. The results showed optimal activity at pH 7, with this activity increasing as the concentrations of the various carbon and nitrogen compounds increased. The statistical model, which was generally significant, allowed for a maximum activity of 3.32 IU/mL, representing an approximately 6-fold increase compared to the non-optimized medium. This activity was obtained in a medium containing 25 g/L of carboxymethylcellulose, 3 g/L of yeast extract, and 2.5 g/L of NaCl at 32.5 °C. Response surface analysis identified temperature as the main factor significantly influencing cellulase production. These results highlight the cellulolytic potential of P. dendritiformis B17C and position this strain as a promising candidate for the biotechnological production of cellulase.