TI: Nutrient composition and nutritional importance of green leaves and wild food resources in an agricultural district, Koutiala, in Southern Mali.

AU: Nordeide-MB; Hatloy-A; Folling-M; Lied-E; Oshaug-A
AD: Nordic School of Nutrition, University of Oslo, PO Box 1046, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
SO: International-Journal-of-Food-Sciences-and-Nutrition. 1996, 47: 6, 455-468; 51 ref.
PY: 1996
LA: English

AB: The nutrient composition and the nutritional importance of green leaves and wild gathered foods were examined in an area with surplus food production in Mali in September 1994 and March 1995. Food frequency data was collected in 2 cross-sectional surveys. Focus group discussions with women in the area were used to collect information about seasonality, availability and preparation of various foods. Green leaves (Adansonia digitata, Amaranthus viridis, Tamarindus indica, Allium cepa), seeds and flour (Parkia biglobosa) and fruits (T. indica) were analysed for water, energy, fat, protein, minerals, amino acids and carotenoids. Availability and use of the foods varied with seasons. In the rainy season, wild gathered foods (e.g. Adansonia digitata) were used as much as fresh cultivated foods (e.g. Amaranthus viridis and Allium cepa). The wild food resources were more frequently used in rural than in urban areas, with Adansonia digitata as the dominating source of green leaves. Green leaves were rich in energy, protein and minerals (calcium, iron). Leaves of Amaranthus viridis were rich in beta-carotene (3290 µg/100 g). Chemical score in dried green leaves varied from 47 (Allium cepa) to 81% (Adansonia digitata), with lysine as the first limiting amino acid. P. biglobosa fermented seeds, with 35% fat and 37% protein were a complementary source of lysine in the diet. Based on seasonality, the frequency of use and the nutrient contents of selected green leaves and wild gathered foods in Koutiala district, it is concluded that these traditional and locally-produced foods are valuable and important nutrient contributors in the diet in rural and also urban areas.

DE: composition-; leafy-vegetables; fruits-; seeds-; flours-; forest-trees; onions-; rural-areas; urban-areas; seasonal-variation; feeding-frequency; protein-value; energy-content; fats-; minerals-; amino-acids; carotenoids-; protein-quality; leaves-; wild-foods; nutritive-value; tamarinds-; wild-plants; edible-species; foliage-; multipurpose-trees; tropical-crops
OD: Adansonia-digitata; Amaranthus-viridis; Tamarindus-indica; Allium-cepa; Parkia-biglobosa; man-; Allium-
GE: Mali-
BT: Adansonia; Bombacaceae; Malvales; dicotyledons; angiosperms; Spermatophyta; plants; Amaranthus; Amaranthaceae; Caryophyllales; Tamarindus; Caesalpinioideae; Fabaceae; Fabales; Allium; Alliaceae; Liliales; monocotyledons; Parkia; Mimosoideae; Homo; Hominidae; Primates; mammals; vertebrates; Chordata; animals; Least-Developed-Countries; Developing-Countries; ACP-Countries; Francophone-Africa; West-Africa; Africa-South-of-Sahara; Africa
CC: QQ050; QQ500; FF040; KK600; VV110; KK110; KK540; QQ070
CD: Crop-Produce; Food-Composition-and-Quality; Plant-Composition; Agroforestry; Diet-Studies-and-Health; Silviculture; Forest-Products-Miscellaneous,-including-Minor-Forest-Products; Other-Produce
PT: Journal-article
IS: 0963-7486
UD: 970416
AN: 971400080

Record 34 of 91 in CAB Abstracts 1996-1998/07