Cashew tree has two parts of food industry and nutrition interest, i.e the nut and the juicy apple. This study aimed to carry out a phytochemical characterization, determine the antioxidant properties and evaluate the influence of temperature on the phytonutrient composition of cashew fruits. The contents of ascorbic acids, phytates, and tannins, of various pigments were determined. Antioxidant activities were determined by four methods using standard methods. The apples presented the best antioxidant activities for FRAP, SOD, and LPO 98.54 ± 5.48, 834.12 ± 13.47, and 84.9 ± 4.15, respectively; while walnuts showed the best antioxidant activities for free radical scavenging which was 26.14 ± 3.21. Tannin, phytate, and anthocyanin contents decreased by more than 50% when increasing temperatures between 50 and 100°C. Ascorbic acid tends to disappear completely in fruit at temperatures of 100°C. Extractable lycopene increased by about 25% with increasing temperature. β-carotene was found to be insensitive to temperature increase. These results provide valuable information that can help in the control of cashew fruit processing in the food industry. They also provide important information on the nutraceutical potential of cashew fruit.

This study highlights the possibility of using plant extracts as biocoagulants to replace aluminum sulfate in the process of raw water potabilization. For this purpose, nine plants were identified by an investigation and their effectiveness was evaluated in the laboratory by coagulation/flocculation on surface waters. Out of the nine plants identified, five extracts showed a very low coagulant activity in the reduction of water samples turbidity (maximum abatement of 1.03%): These were the seeds of Acacia nilotica, Adansonia digitata, Balanites aegyptiaca, Tamarindus indica and leaves of Capparis corymbosa. Two extracts showed an average activity, namely Aloe vera sap (20.7%) and Opuntia ficus indica sap (32.25%). Two other extracts which are Moringa oleifera seeds and Boscia senegelensis seeds, showed a very good activity (84.83% and 82.97%, respectively after 1 h of decantation). By fixing the optimal concentration of 1 g/L for the treatment with Moringa oleifera seeds, a water of 4.6 NTU was obtained after 2 h of decantation, which was about 98% of abatement. The treatment with Boscia senegelensis seeds also allowed us to obtain for 2.5 g/L a water of 4.9 NTU after 2 h of decantation. The combined action of Moringa and Boscia biocoagulants, and cactus and Aloe mucilages reduced the decanting time to 15 min. These two treatments induced a slight increase of the minerals initially present in the water and a reduction of almost 99% of the pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, Boscia senegelensis and Moringa oleifera seeds appear as very effective biocoagulants compared to aluminum sulfate, hence they constitute an alternative to the lack of access to drinking water especially for developing countries.

The use of local plant extracts in drinking water purification represents a sustainable alternative in the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water consumption in rural areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of four local plant extracts used in rural areas of Burkina Faso to purify drinking water: Moringa oleifera seeds, Boscia senegalensis seeds, Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes, and Aloe vera leaves. These four extracts were then subjected to biochemical screening to identify phytocompounds, followed by quantification and evaluation of their antibacterial properties on ten pathogenic bacterial strains. The screening results revealed the presence of a variety of molecules (phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponosides, etc.) in the different extracts studied. From a quantitative point of view, M. oleifera and B. senegalensis seeds showed a high total protein content (34.5 and 24.6 g/100 g DM). A. vera and O. ficus-indica extracts showed high levels of total carbohydrates (20.4 and 35.52 g/100 g DM) compared with total lipids and proteins. The same applies to phenolic compounds, which were also high in A. vera and O. ficus-indica extracts (17.42 and 26.5 mg GAE/100 mg DM) compared to M. oleifera and B. senegalensis seeds. In terms of antibacterial properties, the four extracts studied showed inhibition diameters ranging from 7.33 to 16.33 mm. These results reflect the ability of the different extracts to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms present in water. Overall, this study stands out for its innovative character, offering an in‐depth understanding of the biochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of four distinct extracts of local plants commonly used in traditional drinking water purification practices. It enriches existing knowledge by providing new data on the biochemical composition and bioactivity of these extracts. In particular, the study highlights the synergistic effects of the bioactive compounds present, underlining their essential role in improving the sanitary quality of water consumed in rural areas, where sustainable and accessible solutions are crucial.

The consumption of unsafe water in rural areas is a real public health problem in developing countries. This situation mainly affects children under five years of age and causes several deaths and many cases of malnutrition every year. The objective of this study was to evaluate and optimize the capacity of four local plant extracts in the potabilization of unsafe water. Thus, Moringa oleifera and Boscia senegalensis seeds, or Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilages were prepared in a solution and applied during a jar test as biocoagulants and bioflocculants on three raw water samples of 82.3 NTU, 549.8 NTU and 796.9 NTU. After treatment results showed that 0.9 g/L of Moringa biocoagulant or 1 g/L of Boscia biocoagulant applied with 0.4 mL of Aloe vera bioflocculant or 0.6 mL of Opuntia ficus-indica bioflocculant reduced the turbidity of each water sample to values less than 5 NTU after only 15 min of decanting. Moreover, the sanitary quality of the water treated by these different extracts showed a perfect conformity of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters with the standards of acceptability in drinking water decreed by the World Health Organization. Thus, the application of these local plant extracts has made it possible to considerably improve the quality of unsafe water in record time. Their popularization could be an alternative in the fight against malnutrition related to the consumption of unsafe water, especially in rural areas.

This study focused on the biochemical and nutritional characterization of two edible plant species in Burkina Faso: Capparis corymbosa and Crateva adansonii . The objective was to evaluate their proximate composition, their content of primary and secondary metabolites, minerals, and amino acids, as well as their antioxidant potential, with a view to enhancing their nutritional value. The leaves of Crateva adansonii were found to be rich in protein (26.09 g/100 g dry matter [DM]), lipids (7.09 g/100 g DM), minerals, and energy value (297.45 kcal/100 g). The fruits of Capparis corymbosa stood out for their high carbohydrate content (33.04 g/100 g DM) and vitamin A content (0.87 mg/100 g DM). The amino acid profile revealed the presence of 18 to 19 amino acids, including 8 to 9 essential amino acids, highlighting their protein value. For bioactive compounds, the butanolic fractions of the leaves of both species had the highest concentrations of total polyphenols and flavonoids. The evaluation of antioxidant activity using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods showed a high capacity for free radical scavenging, particularly for macerated extracts (DPPH: 20.58 ± 0.72 μg/mL). Crateva leaves also had the highest anthocyanin content (2.1 g/100 g DM). In conclusion, Crateva adansonii and Capparis corymbosa appear to be promising plant sources, combining nutritional richness and high antioxidant potential. Their integration into the diet could contribute to improving nutritional security and the health of populations.

Introduction: The research of natural and sustainable solutions to improve rural water quality in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa represents a major challenge. It is in this context that the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a biocoagulant/bioflocculant mixture based on Boscia senegalensis seeds powder and Aloe vera leaves extract for treating water intended for human consumption in rural areas.Methods: To do this, 100 g of Boscia senegalensis seeds powder and 50 g of Aloe vera leaves extract were prepared separately as aqueous solutions in 1 L of distilled water, then applied, respectively, as biocoagulant for Boscia and bioflocculant for Aloe to raw water samples in jar tests. The quality of the treated water was evaluated, and compared with WHO standards of acceptability.Results and discussion: Experimental results showed that the Boscia senegalensis biocoagulant (at 7 mL/L) initially reduced turbidity by 85% after 2 h of decantation. When combined with Aloe bioflocculant (at 0.4 mL/L), a 99% reduction was obtained after just 15 min of decantation. Quality control of the water treated with this biocoagulant/bioflocculant mixture showed perfect compliance of physicochemical parameters with WHO standards, and almost total elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this new Boscia/Aloe mixture in the rapid potabilization of raw water intended for human consumption. However, prolonged storage of water treated with the Boscia/Aloe mixture at room temperature may lead to further bacterial proliferation due to the remaining organic matter. To avoid this problem, additional disinfection methods such as boiling, SODIS (Solar Disinfection) method or sand filtration are recommended for prolonged storage of treated water. Ultimately, the adoption of this environmentally-friendly biotechnology could not only improve public health, but also empower local communities in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing them with a local and effective methodology for tackling the growing challenges associated with access to drinking water.