Keywords
local foods
nutritional value
toxic substances
DRC
How to Cite
Abstract
Evaluation of the nutritional value and possible presence of toxic substances in four wild edible plants commonly consumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those plants were Portulaca quadrifida (luanda), Talinum triangulare (matako ma bibi), Piper umbellatum (dilombolombo), and Gnetum africanum (fumbwa). This study was focused on technological (moisture and dry matter) and chemical (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins) analyses were carried out. Furthermore, the presence of toxic substances, including citric acids, hydrocyanic acid, cyanides, oxalates, nitrates, and nitrites, were identified. The results indicate that G. africanum is characterized by a high moisture content (92.6%) and protein content (17.83%), while P. umbellatum is distinguished by a high concentration of lipids (10.2%) and phosphorus (0.1095 mg/100 g). In contrast, P. quadrifida is distinguished by significant concentrations of calcium (0.40 mg/100mg), magnesium (3.47mg/100mg), and iron (0.96mg/100mg). A vitamin analysis of G. africanum reveals a significant concentration of vitamin A, with a level of 448.4 mg/100 g.The results indicate that G. africanum has high moisture content (92.6%) and protein (17.83%), while P. umbellatum is richer in lipids (10.2%) and phosphorus (0.1095 mg/100g). In contrast, P. quadrifida shows higher concentrations of calcium (0.40%), magnesium (3.47%), and iron (0.96%). Regarding vitamins, G. africanum is particularly rich in vitamin A (448.4 mg/100g), whereas T. triangulare contains the highest level of vitamin C (44 mg/100g). No dietary plant tested does not content toxic substances (cyanures, axalates, nitrates, nitrites), however low non-letal concentrations of citric acids and HCN have been found in those plants. P.quadrifida showed relatively high concentration of HCN (1.16 mg/100g), followed by T. triangulare and P. umbellatum, while G. africanum has low (0.21 mg/100g). Overall, our findings highlight the considerable nutritional value of these plants, which in our context are often overlooked or disregarded by the local population.
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