The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge and consumption of Justicia galeopsis, a wild food plant, in Abengourou (Côte d’Ivoire). A survey of food consumption has been conducted among the populations and 100 persons have been interviewed. The data revealed that they all have already consumed J. galeopsis leaves. The main reasons of J. galeopsisleaves consumption refer to nutritional value and flavor. There were always cooking before eating and associated mainly with groundnuts (95%) or gumbo (5%). Twenty-seven percent of consumers every day eat J. galeopsis leaves against 64% who consume once or twice a week, 6% twice a month, 3% occasionally. 6% the populations collected these leaves in the market against 94% who obtained them from their field which is far from the village. Although the fields were far from the village, 74% of population prepares J. galeopsis just after the collect without conservation. The cooking time of leaves associated with peanuts or okra is estimated by 41% of the households at 30 minutes. Five percent prepared them during 45 minutes and 22% during one (1) hour. This study reveals that J. galeopsis is a famous plant in Abengourou. Its leaves are greatly appreciated by all populations studied.
Solanum torvum (Solanaceae) is a food plant commonly used in some regions of Côte d’Ivoire to treat anaemia. This study was therefore conducted to highlight some biochemical constituents and the anti-anaemic potential of cooked berries of this plant in Wistar rats. To this end, the berries were cooked for 30 minutes and then the constituents were evaluated using standard biochemical methods. For the study of the anti-anaemic potential, four (4) groups of eight (8) rats, aged 12 weeks and weighing on average 105 g were used. The rats were made anaemic by phenylhydrazine and then received 1ml/100g/d of distilled water (negative control), the aqueous extract of the berries at concentrations of 3.2 and 6.4 mg/ml. The positive control batch of rats received Vitafer (reference drug for the treatment of anaemia). The anaemia was assessed by means of a haemogram performed on blood samples taken on days 0, 3, 7 and 15. The analysis showed that the berries had a moisture content of 12.085%. The dry matter content was 87.915% with an ash content of 16.310%. Vitamin C was estimated at 14.810 mg/100g. The mineral values were 4.175 mg/100g for iron, 1.915 mg/100g for zinc, 1.245 mg/100g for magnesium and 134.780 mg/100g for potassium. For the evaluation of the anti-anemic properties, the results showed that the administration of the aqueous extract of S. torvum berries at the concentrations of 3.2 and 6.4 mg/ml would promote recovery rates of red blood cell count, haemoglobin and haematocrit similar to those of the reference anti-anaemic product "Vitafer".
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