Biochemical Study of Solanum aethiopicum Shum Berry, Ingredient of ‘Mendim Me Zon’ (Traditional Tea) | Chapter 1 | Solanum aethiopicum Shum, an Example of the Richness of the Food and Therapeutic Heritage of a Continent in a Country, Cameroon, Africa in Miniature, Edition 1

Solanum aethiopicum L. Shum (SAS) berries are consumed either raw or in the form of a tea, so-called “Mendim Me Zon”. Revitalizing and detoxifying properties are attributed to this beverage. This work was performed to study the chemical composition and microbial load of SAS berries harvested from five agroecological zones in Cameroon. The results showed that berries freshly harvested from all five agroecological zones were highly contaminated by microorganisms. Berries from the highlands and bimodal rainfall forest zones had a higher rate of contamination, while they were less contaminated in the Sudan-Sahelian zone. The berries were cleaned with sodium hypochlorite eliminating them from pathogenic microorganisms. The monosaccharide profile was established using gas chromatography. The agroecological zones influenced the chemical composition of the SAS berries (P < 0.05), with the exception of proteins and lipids (P > 0.05). These berries were more concentrated in the Sudano-Sahelian zone and more hydrated in the monomodal rainfall forest zone. However, carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrient irrespective of the place of production, bitter taste of berries is probably determined by their phytonutrients. Mineral salts such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium varied following the agroecological zones, as well as trace elements like zinc and manganese (P < 0.05), Compared to iron which remained unchanged irrespective of the place of production (P > 0.05). Gas chromatography analysis of the extract showed that extract was composed of pentose (fucose), hexoses (mannose, galactose and glucose), hexosamines (glucosamine and galactosamine), uronic acid (glucuronic acid) and sialic acid (N-acetyl-neuraminic acid). Fructose was absent from the extract, while the mannose was relatively more abundant. These results suggested that the chemical composition and microbial load of SAS depended on the agroecological zones while confirming their richness in important nutrients. The monosaccharide profile justifies the traditional use of these berries as a nutraceutical. However, further studies including toxicity and bioactivity are still needed to determine the safety and efficacy of “Mendim me Zon”.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Valentin Desire Guiama
Laboratory of Food Biochemistry and Technology, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon and Laboratory of Motricity and Health, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

 

Robert Germain Beka
Laboratory of Food Biochemistry and Technology, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

 

Juliette Koube
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Douala, Cameroon.

 

Esther Ngah
Laboratory of Food Biochemistry and Technology, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon and Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, National Advanced School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-48859-15-0/CH1

Uganda Citizens’ Land Tenure Type Preference and Underpinning Factors | Book Publisher International

 This publication presents in detail, existing land tenure systems, their levels of adoption, popularity and impacts on peoples’ livelihoods country wide in Uganda. A countrywide study was conducted to generate information on peoples’ perspectives of a range of land tenure system issues in Uganda, including their impacts on livelihoods, that was scanty and insufficient to guide land policy reforms. The study was aimed at elucidating the land tenure system most people would want adopted in Uganda and the reasons for their choice.

 

The study was guided by hypotheses that countrywide, (a) development demands and land use dynamics lead to homogenous distribution of land tenure systems (b) communities know about existing land tenure types(c)communities attribute livelihood limitations to specific land tenure types and (d)there exist one most preferred tenure type. Specific objectives were (1) to examine distribution of existing land tenure types (2) evaluate people’s knowledge of the tenure types (3) assess perceived impacts on livelihoods and (4) document the tenure type most preferred and (5) use generated knowledge to elicit support and influence Uganda’s policy on land use and ownership.

 

From each of Uganda’s four regions, random sample of five districts was selected and within each 40 households sampled at systematic intervals of 1km and adult member found in the house holds interviewed using a questionnaire. Overall 1224 respondents from 21 districts (11%) of Uganda’s current 111 were interviewed. The data were managed and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Statically Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Ver 16 Inc. (Bryman and Cramer, 2009).

 

The results show that existing land tenure types were not equally distributed in Uganda, customary tenure is the most common, followed by freehold. Leasehold tenure is distributed countrywide but among few households while, mailo tenure is found in some districts in central and western regions of Uganda. Communal tenure is in a few areas in western and northeastern regions. The four land tenure types were not homogenously known country wide, most households in Gulu, Bududa, Kanungu and Mbarara districts with the following profile were more knowledgeable about different land tenure types in Uganda: age group 40-51, family size 4-6, secondary school level educated, those who had stayed for 16-20 or more years in the present area they are in , those who originated from within Uganda, those who had land near water bodies, those who owned land, those who had landholding size of 4-7 hectares and among those who were unhappy with the type of land tenure they held.

 

Communal and leasehold land tenure types were responsible for the following limitations to achievement of improved livelihoods as reported by respondents: access to food, medicine, income, access to land for tree planting, homestead establishment, inheritance, burial and land for offer as collateral for securing loans. Customary land tenure type limited land owners’ access to medicine, income, tree planting and homestead establishment. The mailo land tenureship limited owners’ access to medicine, tree planting and burial of deceased relatives.

 

Morethan3/4 of the households involved in this study preferred freehold land tenure system while, communal and mailo land tenure systems were the least preferred (by more than 1/2 of the households. These results provide evidence of the need for the government of Uganda to promote freehold land tenure system countrywide in practice and in the nations land policies and laws. This will however also require the government to carry out further consultations with different stakeholders and with communities countrywide, for proper policy and legal developments.

Author(s) Details:

Nyadoi P.,
Uganda Wildlife Society, Plot 39 Babiiha Avenue, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda.

Namirimu T.,
Uganda Wildlife Society, Plot 39 Babiiha Avenue, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda.

Ogola L. S.,
Uganda Wildlife Society, Plot 39 Babiiha Avenue, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda.

Tugume D.,
Caritas Hoima Catholic Diocese Hoima Development Organisation, Uganda.

Kusiima C. B.,
Caritas Hoima Catholic Diocese Hoima Development Organisation, Uganda.

Emanzi C.,
Caritas Hoima Catholic Diocese Hoima Development Organisation, Uganda.

Kyalisiime K.,
Caritas Hoima Catholic Diocese Hoima Development Organisation, Uganda.

Tayebwa G.,
International Crane Foundation / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership, Uganda.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/UCLTTPUF/article/view/13274