Phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of four cultivars of Corchorus olitorius l: traditional African vegetables underused in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Corchorus olitorius L, a traditional leafy vegetable of the Malvaceae family, is well appreciated in the central region of Côte d'Ivoire, where there are 5 cultivars whose phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential remain poorly understood. To better characterise them, phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS were carried out. The analyses revealed that the leaves of these cultivars are good sources of nutrients, with high levels of protein (19 - 25%), ash (8 - 12%), fibre (3 - 9%), total carbohydrates (40 - 48%), energy (252 - 288 Kcal/100g), iron (29 - 192 mg/100g), calcium (2167 - 2574 mg/100g) and potassium (6799 - 10692 mg/100g). The leaves are also rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols (11 - 81 mg GA eq/g extract), flavonoids (268 - 474 mg Q eq/g extract) and condensed tannins (8 - 75 mg TA eq/g extract). High antioxidant activity was observed (IC50 DPPH = 61 - 173 µg/mL and IC50 ABTS = 12 - 29 µg/mL). The best phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential were obtained in the CONB cultivar, which is also the most widely consumed by the population.