Potential of some autochthonous wild plants of Burundi for vegetable oil and valuable compounds production

Abstract Twelve species of indigenous plants have been studied in order to valorize some natural resources of Burundi (Eastern Africa) to investigate possibilities of vegetable oil production. Physicochemical properties and oil contents were determined from seeds harvested through five ecogeographic zones. From oilcake extracts, total sugars contents, proteins (TPrC), polyphenolic (TPhC), and flavonoids were quantified using spectrophotometry. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of oilcake extracts was assessed by 2, 2-diphenyl-b-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. All oil contents obtained were found to be quite similar to those of common oleaginous seeds. The two highest were found in Parinari curatellifolia (61.44 ± 4.81% Dry Matter) and Myrianthus arboreus (48.26 ± 5.96% DM). More than half of the species have shown TPrC ranging from 10 to 24% dry matter of oilcake (DM). Brachystegia longifolia was revealed exceptionally stronger antioxidant potential: effectiveness antiradical of 163.06 ± 26.29 mL/μg.min (DPPH assay) and reducing power of 2618.21 ± 161.22 GAE/100 g DM (FRAP assay). TPhC were positively correlated (p < 0.05) to the antioxidant activity. This pioneering work on these wild species highlight the potential for producing vegetable oil and valuable biomolecule sources likely for food, cosmetics, pharmacy and industry.