PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF FOUR CONSUMED PICKING PRODUCTS IN SIKASSO, MALI

The aim of this work was to study the phytochemistry and to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of four fruits harvested consumed in Sikasso, Mali: Balanites aegyptiaca, Zizyphus mauritiana, Raphia sudanica and Saba senegalensis. A phytochemical screening has been performed using tube reactions. Total polyphenol and flavonoid were determined by the spectrophotometric method and in vitro antioxidant activities by DPPH test. The tests revealed in all the fruits the presence of many phytochemical groups. The mucilages have been found in the fruits of Raphia and Zizyphus. Fruits of Zizyphus had the highest polyphenolic content (1.72?0.07 mg GAE/100 mg) and Saba the lowest (0.99?0.07 mg GAE / 100 mg). The highest flavonoid content has been recorded with Raphia fruit (0.35?0.04 mg CE/100 mg) while Balanites fruit had the lowest content (0.16?0.034 mg CE/100 mg). As well the contents of polyphenols and flavonoids, the highest in vitro antioxidant activity has varied 30.66?2.16 % for Saba to 70.26?2.11 % for Raphia. These results have shown that these fruits are sources of many metabolites especially polyphenols and flavonoids and are endowed with antioxidant activities, therefore they could be used more in food to improve food ration and to fight against oxidative stress.