Valorisation of Pterocarpus santalinoides l'Hér. ex De. (Papilionoideae), a medicinal and food plant used in Benin (West Africa)

Abstract

Aim : The study is designed to assess the useof Pterocarpus santalinoides L’Hér. ex De. and determine some physical and chemical characteristics of seeds collected in South of Benin under small-fruit trees (morphotype 1) and large (morphotype 2). Methodology and results: the ethnobotanic seeds and its, physical and chemical characteristics were determined by conventional methods. The species is for nutritional and pharmacological use. Axial dimensions of the morphotypes mentioned above are respectively 2.12 to 4.27 cm (fruit) and 1.20 to 2.23 cm (seeds) (morphotype 1); 2.90 to 6.57 cm (fruit) and 1.55 at 5.15 cm (seeds). Indices of sphericity swing from 0.45 to 0.72 (morphotype 2) .The seeds chemical composition are ranged from 34.49 to 56.40% (dry material); 13.29 to 14.70% (total protein); 9.20 to 19% (total lipids); 3.53 to 9.80% (sugars). Conclusion and results implementation: From the study, we can retain that morphotype 2 seeds of P. santalinoides have axial dimensions and average lipid levels higher while its protein and sugar levels are lower than those measured in morphotype 1. This study appears to be the first discovery about seeds of P. santalinoides morphotypes in Science. The outcome of this study concerning the morphotypes seeds will be used for varietal and genetic studies. Besides genetic characterization, these results can also be exploited to upgrade the value of these seeds in biotechnology, nutrition and cosmetics.