Amino acid profile of Saba senegalensis fruit Amino Acid Profile of Saba senegalensis Fruit Pulp and Its Nutritional Impact across Five Regions of Burkina Faso: Chromatographic and Statistical Analysispulp and its nutritional impact across five regions of Burkina Faso: chromatographic and statistical analysis
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Abstract
Saba senegalensis fruit grows wild across West Africa, and its tangy pulp is a valued part of local diets. Despite this, its nutritional profile, particularly its amino acid composition, remains poorly documented. Our research aimed to analyze and compare the amino acid composition of S. senegalensis fruit pulp collected from 20 villages across five regions of Burkina Faso (Cascades, Sud-Ouest, Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord, and Centre-Sud). After acid hydrolysis, amino acids were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) to identify regional differences. Lysine was the most prevalent amino acid across all samples (0.28-0.30 mg/100 g of fresh pulp), followed by glutamic acid, with variation depending on region. Amino acids like methionine and cysteine were present only in trace amounts. PCA revealed significant regional differences, especially for serine in the Sud-Ouest region. Overall, the pulp of S. senegalensis has a rich amino acid profile, notably high in lysine, making it a beneficial supplement for cereal-based diets that often lack this essential amino acid. This opens up possibilities for better utilization and selection of this food resource.
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