The present study was undertaken to know the uses and some nutritional potentials of
Sclerocarya birrea
. The African plum tree called
Sclerocarya birrea is a fruit tree of the
Anacardiaceae family, which provides populations some consumable fruits during the
lean season. Although it is present in Sudano-Sahelian regions of Senegal, its favorite
repartition zone is the Ferlo.
Sclerocarya birrea is being rehabilitated in the framework
of the implementation of the African Union program called the “Green Wall”.
Unfortunately, no scientific studies have mentioned the nutritional content of fruits
coming from this area. In the context of the reconstitution of the vegetation cover,
knowledge of the relations between man and his environment is important. Thus, the
present study is undertaken with the aim of knowing the uses of
Sclerocarya birrea and
its fruits attibutes. According to that, ethnobotanical surveys have gathered knowledge
on the species' uses in the Ferlo area (Senegal). Samples of ripe fruits harvested were
analyzed using standard and conventional assay techniques. The results revealed that the
populations of the Ferlo are well acquainted with
Sclerocarya birrea and that its
medicinal use is by far the most important (79%). In medicinal use, the most commonly
used plant organs are barks and leaves. The results obtained on the pulp of the fruit
showed that it is a good source of vitamin C, sugars, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium,
Sodium and total polyphenols. The almond oil has characteristics that remain within the
accepted food standards. These results are marked by a high variability in the
physicochemical composition, which appears to be linked to variations in edaphic and
climatic conditions. The analysis shows that the fruit of
Sclerocarya birrea is an excellent
source of nutrients and can validly fill certain nutritional deficiencies of indigenous
peoples. The fruit also has potential for transformation that needs to be explored.