Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (<i>Adansonia Digitata </i>L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon

Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom; Michelle Carole Djouhou; Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu; Borelle Mafogang; Gabriel Medoua; Pierre Onomo Effa; Helene Carole Edima; Dieudonné Njamen; Elie Fokou

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

Research Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon

Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom^*

, Michelle Carole Djouhou

, Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu

, Borelle Mafogang

, Gabriel Medoua

, Pierre Onomo Effa

, Helene Carole Edima

, Dieudonné Njamen

, Elie Fokou

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 3)

Received: 21 April 2025 Accepted: 6 May 2025 Published: 16 June 2025

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Abstract

The baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) is one of the tropical fruits found in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon. Studies of its pulp in other countries have shown that it is rich in nutrients, bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. It is an auspicious tropical fruit although it has been little investigated and exploited in Cameroon. This work aimed to determine the nutritional, antioxidant and physicochemical characteristics of baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon. To achieve this objective, baobab fruits were harvested in the North Region of Cameroon and immediately transported to the laboratory. The nutritional (proximate composition, vitamin C, minerals), antioxidant (Total Phenolic Content, Radical Scavenging Activity of DPPH, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) using different extracted solvents) and physicochemical (pH, total soluble solids and colour) properties of the pulp were determined using standard reference methods. The characterisation of baobab fruit pulp showed the presence of all macronutrients: protein (3.95 ± 0.00 g/100 g), lipid (12.11 ± 1.02 g/100g), carbohydrate (57.62 ± 0.65 g/100 g), its richness in vitamin C (494.94 ± 69.99 mg/100 g DM), fibre (8.17 ± 1.03 g/100 g), minerals (calcium (333.75 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), magnesium (167.45 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), phosphorus (61.20 ±0.04 mg/100 g), Potassium (2670.05 ± 0.012 mg/100 g)) and phenolic compound (566.46 - 2529.25 mg GAE/100 g). It also exhibited high antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1996.27 - 5861.33 mg FeSO₄/100 g, DPPH: 49.19 - 98.33% inhibition /100 g and TAC: 8.17 ± 0.18 g AAE/100 g), an acidic pH (3.37 ± 0.00) and total soluble solids of 5.00 ± 0.00 °Brix. The present study shows that baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon has good nutritional and antioxidant properties. The consumption of this pulp would contribute to covering the Recommended Nutrient Intake of several nutrients and to the prevention and management of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress.

Published in	Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
Page(s)	139-149
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adansonia digitata L, Antioxidant Activity, Baobab Fruit Pulp, Cameroonian Baobab, Nutritional Properties, Phenolic Compounds

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Maptouom, C. L. F., Djouhou, M. C., Tchuenchieu, A. D., Mafogang, B., Medoua, G., et al. (2025). Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 13(3), 139-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

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Maptouom, C. L. F.; Djouhou, M. C.; Tchuenchieu, A. D.; Mafogang, B.; Medoua, G., et al. Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2025, 13(3), 139-149. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

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Maptouom CLF, Djouhou MC, Tchuenchieu AD, Mafogang B, Medoua G, et al. Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon. J Food Nutr Sci. 2025;13(3):139-149. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14,
  author = {Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom and Michelle Carole Djouhou and Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu and Borelle Mafogang and Gabriel Medoua and Pierre Onomo Effa and Helene Carole Edima and Dieudonné Njamen and Elie Fokou},
  title = {Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon
},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {3},
  pages = {139-149},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20251303.14},
  abstract = {The baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) is one of the tropical fruits found in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon. Studies of its pulp in other countries have shown that it is rich in nutrients, bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. It is an auspicious tropical fruit although it has been little investigated and exploited in Cameroon. This work aimed to determine the nutritional, antioxidant and physicochemical characteristics of baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon. To achieve this objective, baobab fruits were harvested in the North Region of Cameroon and immediately transported to the laboratory. The nutritional (proximate composition, vitamin C, minerals), antioxidant (Total Phenolic Content, Radical Scavenging Activity of DPPH, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) using different extracted solvents) and physicochemical (pH, total soluble solids and colour) properties of the pulp were determined using standard reference methods. The characterisation of baobab fruit pulp showed the presence of all macronutrients: protein (3.95 ± 0.00 g/100 g), lipid (12.11 ± 1.02 g/100g), carbohydrate (57.62 ± 0.65 g/100 g), its richness in vitamin C (494.94 ± 69.99 mg/100 g DM), fibre (8.17 ± 1.03 g/100 g), minerals (calcium (333.75 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), magnesium (167.45 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), phosphorus (61.20 ±0.04 mg/100 g), Potassium (2670.05 ± 0.012 mg/100 g)) and phenolic compound (566.46 - 2529.25 mg GAE/100 g). It also exhibited high antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1996.27 - 5861.33 mg FeSO4/100 g, DPPH: 49.19 - 98.33% inhibition /100 g and TAC: 8.17 ± 0.18 g AAE/100 g), an acidic pH (3.37 ± 0.00) and total soluble solids of 5.00 ± 0.00 °Brix. The present study shows that baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon has good nutritional and antioxidant properties. The consumption of this pulp would contribute to covering the Recommended Nutrient Intake of several nutrients and to the prevention and management of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon

AU  - Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom
AU  - Michelle Carole Djouhou
AU  - Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu
AU  - Borelle Mafogang
AU  - Gabriel Medoua
AU  - Pierre Onomo Effa
AU  - Helene Carole Edima
AU  - Dieudonné Njamen
AU  - Elie Fokou
Y1  - 2025/06/16
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 139
EP  - 149
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
AB  - The baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) is one of the tropical fruits found in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon. Studies of its pulp in other countries have shown that it is rich in nutrients, bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. It is an auspicious tropical fruit although it has been little investigated and exploited in Cameroon. This work aimed to determine the nutritional, antioxidant and physicochemical characteristics of baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon. To achieve this objective, baobab fruits were harvested in the North Region of Cameroon and immediately transported to the laboratory. The nutritional (proximate composition, vitamin C, minerals), antioxidant (Total Phenolic Content, Radical Scavenging Activity of DPPH, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) using different extracted solvents) and physicochemical (pH, total soluble solids and colour) properties of the pulp were determined using standard reference methods. The characterisation of baobab fruit pulp showed the presence of all macronutrients: protein (3.95 ± 0.00 g/100 g), lipid (12.11 ± 1.02 g/100g), carbohydrate (57.62 ± 0.65 g/100 g), its richness in vitamin C (494.94 ± 69.99 mg/100 g DM), fibre (8.17 ± 1.03 g/100 g), minerals (calcium (333.75 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), magnesium (167.45 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), phosphorus (61.20 ±0.04 mg/100 g), Potassium (2670.05 ± 0.012 mg/100 g)) and phenolic compound (566.46 - 2529.25 mg GAE/100 g). It also exhibited high antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1996.27 - 5861.33 mg FeSO4/100 g, DPPH: 49.19 - 98.33% inhibition /100 g and TAC: 8.17 ± 0.18 g AAE/100 g), an acidic pH (3.37 ± 0.00) and total soluble solids of 5.00 ± 0.00 °Brix. The present study shows that baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon has good nutritional and antioxidant properties. The consumption of this pulp would contribute to covering the Recommended Nutrient Intake of several nutrients and to the prevention and management of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress.

VL  - 13
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom

Department of Biotechnology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Science, University of Ebolowa, Ebolowa, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7929-179X
Michelle Carole Djouhou

Laboratory for Food Sciences and Metabolism, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5890-741X
Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu

The Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research Center, IMPM, Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2105-5030
Borelle Mafogang

Laboratory for Food Sciences and Metabolism, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9351-5502
Gabriel Medoua

The Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research Center, IMPM, Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8189-432X
Pierre Onomo Effa

Department of Biotechnology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Science, University of Ebolowa, Ebolowa, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5076-1882
Helene Carole Edima

Department of Biotechnology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Science, University of Ebolowa, Ebolowa, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0009-2716-0868
Dieudonné Njamen

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1358-8221
Elie Fokou

Laboratory for Food Sciences and Metabolism, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0003-8815-349X

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APA Style

Maptouom, C. L. F., Djouhou, M. C., Tchuenchieu, A. D., Mafogang, B., Medoua, G., et al. (2025). Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 13(3), 139-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

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ACS Style

Maptouom, C. L. F.; Djouhou, M. C.; Tchuenchieu, A. D.; Mafogang, B.; Medoua, G., et al. Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2025, 13(3), 139-149. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

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AMA Style

Maptouom CLF, Djouhou MC, Tchuenchieu AD, Mafogang B, Medoua G, et al. Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon. J Food Nutr Sci. 2025;13(3):139-149. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14,
  author = {Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom and Michelle Carole Djouhou and Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu and Borelle Mafogang and Gabriel Medoua and Pierre Onomo Effa and Helene Carole Edima and Dieudonné Njamen and Elie Fokou},
  title = {Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon
},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {3},
  pages = {139-149},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20251303.14},
  abstract = {The baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) is one of the tropical fruits found in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon. Studies of its pulp in other countries have shown that it is rich in nutrients, bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. It is an auspicious tropical fruit although it has been little investigated and exploited in Cameroon. This work aimed to determine the nutritional, antioxidant and physicochemical characteristics of baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon. To achieve this objective, baobab fruits were harvested in the North Region of Cameroon and immediately transported to the laboratory. The nutritional (proximate composition, vitamin C, minerals), antioxidant (Total Phenolic Content, Radical Scavenging Activity of DPPH, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) using different extracted solvents) and physicochemical (pH, total soluble solids and colour) properties of the pulp were determined using standard reference methods. The characterisation of baobab fruit pulp showed the presence of all macronutrients: protein (3.95 ± 0.00 g/100 g), lipid (12.11 ± 1.02 g/100g), carbohydrate (57.62 ± 0.65 g/100 g), its richness in vitamin C (494.94 ± 69.99 mg/100 g DM), fibre (8.17 ± 1.03 g/100 g), minerals (calcium (333.75 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), magnesium (167.45 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), phosphorus (61.20 ±0.04 mg/100 g), Potassium (2670.05 ± 0.012 mg/100 g)) and phenolic compound (566.46 - 2529.25 mg GAE/100 g). It also exhibited high antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1996.27 - 5861.33 mg FeSO4/100 g, DPPH: 49.19 - 98.33% inhibition /100 g and TAC: 8.17 ± 0.18 g AAE/100 g), an acidic pH (3.37 ± 0.00) and total soluble solids of 5.00 ± 0.00 °Brix. The present study shows that baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon has good nutritional and antioxidant properties. The consumption of this pulp would contribute to covering the Recommended Nutrient Intake of several nutrients and to the prevention and management of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Nutritional, Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Fruit Pulp from Cameroon

AU  - Christiane Laure Fotso Maptouom
AU  - Michelle Carole Djouhou
AU  - Alex Dimitri Tchuenchieu
AU  - Borelle Mafogang
AU  - Gabriel Medoua
AU  - Pierre Onomo Effa
AU  - Helene Carole Edima
AU  - Dieudonné Njamen
AU  - Elie Fokou
Y1  - 2025/06/16
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 139
EP  - 149
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20251303.14
AB  - The baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) is one of the tropical fruits found in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon. Studies of its pulp in other countries have shown that it is rich in nutrients, bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. It is an auspicious tropical fruit although it has been little investigated and exploited in Cameroon. This work aimed to determine the nutritional, antioxidant and physicochemical characteristics of baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon. To achieve this objective, baobab fruits were harvested in the North Region of Cameroon and immediately transported to the laboratory. The nutritional (proximate composition, vitamin C, minerals), antioxidant (Total Phenolic Content, Radical Scavenging Activity of DPPH, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) using different extracted solvents) and physicochemical (pH, total soluble solids and colour) properties of the pulp were determined using standard reference methods. The characterisation of baobab fruit pulp showed the presence of all macronutrients: protein (3.95 ± 0.00 g/100 g), lipid (12.11 ± 1.02 g/100g), carbohydrate (57.62 ± 0.65 g/100 g), its richness in vitamin C (494.94 ± 69.99 mg/100 g DM), fibre (8.17 ± 1.03 g/100 g), minerals (calcium (333.75 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), magnesium (167.45 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), phosphorus (61.20 ±0.04 mg/100 g), Potassium (2670.05 ± 0.012 mg/100 g)) and phenolic compound (566.46 - 2529.25 mg GAE/100 g). It also exhibited high antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1996.27 - 5861.33 mg FeSO4/100 g, DPPH: 49.19 - 98.33% inhibition /100 g and TAC: 8.17 ± 0.18 g AAE/100 g), an acidic pH (3.37 ± 0.00) and total soluble solids of 5.00 ± 0.00 °Brix. The present study shows that baobab fruit pulp from Cameroon has good nutritional and antioxidant properties. The consumption of this pulp would contribute to covering the Recommended Nutrient Intake of several nutrients and to the prevention and management of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress.

VL  - 13
IS  - 3
ER  -

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