Composition, nutritional value and uses of Ricinodendron heudelotii, Vitex doniana and Cleome gynandra seed oil, three indigenous oil species sources of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids: a review

Ricinodendron heudelotii, Vitex doniana and Cleome gynandra are three indigenous species of Benin/West Africa. This review focuses on the physicochemical characteristics of their seeds and the nutritional and functional properties of their oils. In this systematic review, scientific articles and reports were used to collect information. The minima, maxima and mean values were considered and converted into a dry basis and/or the same units by using the international system of units when needed to allow comparison. Seeds of Ricinodendron,Vitex and Cleome fat contents were 51.83 g/100 g dw, 28.55 g/100 g dw and 27.35 g/100 g dw, respectively. The three seed oils contained 58.54 to 87% mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ricinodendron seed oil contained a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid α-eleostearic acid (49.3–51.1%). Data varied from one author to another due to the methods used. R. heudelotii seeds oil is traditionally used for the treatment of several diseases. Its oil showed phytochemical and antimicrobial properties suggesting its possible use in pharmaceutical industries. Ricinodendron and Vitex seed oil should not be used for cooking at high temperatures or frying because of their high and medium levels of unsaturation.

Assessment of Timber Resource Exploitation in Shasha Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Forestry

Records on rate of timber exploitation are very essential for sustainable forestry. They help in managing the forest sustainably. Therefore, the study collected and analysed data on rate of timber exploitation in Shasha forest reserve in Osun state. Logs arranged and set to be taken out of the forest were identified and measured every Monday between December, 2017 and June, 2018 for twenty-eight (28) weeks. The species and families of logs encountered were identified. A total of 13,944 logs were assessed. Fifteen (15) families belonging to twenty-one (21) species of logs were identified. Result revealed that Sterculiaceae family with five species was the most exploited. Ricinodendron heudelotti has the highest number of exploited logs with overall frequency of 27.71%. Ricinodendron heudelotti had the highest basal area and volume with values of 18018776.71cm² and 113289.36cm³ respectively. The study concludes that the population of Ricinodendron heudelotii tree was high in Shasha forest which made it available for extraction at high rate. The study recommends strict monitoring and enforcement of sustainable forestry laws with regular inventory and up-to-date inventory of timber exploitation rate from the reserve.

Floristic diversity and conservation value of the biodiversity refuge area of the Soubré hydroelectric dam (South-West of Côte d'Ivoire)

After the establishment of the biodiversity conservation area of the Soubré hydroelectric dam, scientific studies showing its value as a biodiversity reserve and its importance for the population were not implemented. As a result, no sustainable management strategy has been initiated. this study was conducted to make up for this shortcoming. It aims to assess its conservation value. The data collection methodology combined botanical inventories and an ethnobotanical survey. The analyse of data was based on the plant diversity and the importance of the area for local populations. Investigations show a rich flora of 346 species. There are 38 endemic species, 10 vulnerable and 8 locally threatened with extinction. This flora richness allows to attribute to the conservation area the High Conservation Value of category 1 (HCV 1). Among the species list, 84 are cited by the populations as useful plants. The use categories are, in order of importance, medicinal use, food use, Handicrafted use, timber. The organs sought are mainly the leaves in the practice of traditional medicine, the fruits in food and the stem in crafts, timber and firewood. Among useful species, 13 are very important for local population. Of these, 6 are less abundant in the area such as Ricinodendron heudelotii, Carpolobia lutea G. Don. The capacity for the area to serve as a refuge for useful species gives it the HCV 5. These results will allow the implementation of appropriate management.

Composition, nutritional value and uses of Ricinodendron heudelotii, Vitex doniana and Cleome gynandra seeds oil, three indigenous oil species: a review

Ricinodendron heudelotii, Vitex doniana and Cleome gynandra are three indigenous species whose seeds contain oil that can provide interesting alternatives to conventional seed oil species. This review focused on the physicochemical characteristics of their seeds and the nutritional properties of the extracted oils. Scientific articles and reports were collected and needed information was extracted and synthesized. Ricinodendron seed oil is higher (51.83 mg/100 g) than that of Vitex (28.55 mg/100 g) and Cleome (27.35 mg/100 g). The three seed oils are polyunsaturated oils. Ricinodendron seed oil is composed mainly of linoleic acid (28.3-51.1%). Cleome seeds oil is mainly composed of linoleic acid (56.3% -61.1%) and oleic acid (19.6-23.9%). Ricinodendron seed oil can be used for the preparation of fast drying binder and resins. Vitex seed oil can be used for the production of resin, paint and skin cream production. No application of Cleome seed oil has been stated.

Effects of provenance, pre-treatment and seeds’ mass on germinability and seedling growth of socio-economically important Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile and Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) Pierre in Benin (West Africa)

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile and Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) Pierre are socioeconomically important but endemic species to sub-Saharan Africa. This study was conducted to assess the germination capacity of their seeds and seedling growth according to seed provenance, seed mass and pre-treatment techniques as a contribution to the development of strategies for their conservation and domestication in Benin. The seeds were randomly collected in the species occurrence phytodistricts. A split-split plot design with three replicates was used. The survival analysis and generalized linear mixed effects models were implemented on the data. Findings were that the heaviest seeds ( B. aegyptiaca seed mass ≥ 3 g and R. heudelotii ≥ 1.50 g) , provided the highest germination rates (73.60 ± 5.19% and 62.50 ± 5.71%) with seeds scarified with a hammer first emerging at day-8 and day-10 for B. aegyptiaca and R. heudelotii respectively. For B. aegyptiaca seedlings, the seeds from North Borgou phytodistrict scarified with a hammer and the heaviest seeds showed the highest total height (36.43 ± 1.03 cm), basal diameter (2.84 ± 0.03 mm), the greatest number of leaves (32) and ramifications (1). The heaviest seeds of R. heudelotii showed also the highest total height from the day-28 after sowing (26.73 ± 13.56 cm) until the day-105 (151.97 ± 6.37 cm) and those from Pobe phytodistrict showed the highest basal diameter (12.53 ± 1.47 mm) and the greatest number of leaves (14), with almost no ramification during the trial period. These findings constitute a step towards upscaling the reproducibility of these species for better contribution to economies while serving for restoration plans.

Variability of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Potential of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Euphorbiaceae) at Fine Scale in Southern of Benin

Ricinodendron heudelotii (Euphorbiaceae) is an oilseed plant with high socio-economic value. Unfortunately, the seed’s tegumentary dormancy causes low germination and severely limits its large-scale spread. Germination and juvenile growth of eleven provenances from Benin and Central African Republics were tested under four different pre-treatments (control, lime scarification, soaking in water for seven days and scarification followed by soaking in water for three days) in order to provide information for use in the reforestation and improvement of R. heudelotii. In a Fischer block with three replicates of ten seeds, the daily and final germination (nine months) was recorded and the cumulative germination rate, average germination time and survival rate were calculated. In addition, total height, diameters at the collar and above the cotyledons, internode length, total number of leaves and seedling internodes were measured quarterly. Germination and growth of juveniles were significantly different between provenances and pre-treatments. The highest germination rate (%) in short duration (d) was recorded with seeds both scarified and soaked for three days in water from Akouho (20%, 42.08 d), CRAPP (36.67%, 18.82 d), Agrimey (33.33%, 18.30 d), Ilikimou (26.67%, 19.94 d) and Woroko (26.67%, 19.25 d) and then lime scarified seeds from Massi (80%, 14.46 d), Itchede (80%, 21.29 d) and Lobaye (60%, 19.11 d). Seedlings from seeds that were scarified and soaked for three days in water showed optimal growth for all traits; Lobaye and CRAPP provenances showed the best height growth (33.22±1.45 and 31.96±1.15 cm) while Massi and Illikimou provenances showed the best growth in collar diameter (1.08±0.06 and 1.11±0.09 cm). Provenances and pre-treatments revealed a discrete variation in germination and growth of R. heudelotii. Scarification on the one hand and scarification coupled with soaking into the water for three days on the other hand, are the best pre-treatments to increase seedling production while the best provenances are Lobaye, Massi and Itchede. These provenances are potential seed sources for Forestation Program in Benin.