Nutritional potential, antinutritional factors, mineral bioavailability and pesticide content of seven herbal spices from Burkina Faso gastronomy

Abstract

Introduction In Burkina Faso, several culinary herbs are commonly used as spices, thus contributing to the national culinary identity. Despite their significant use, they remain insufficiently characterized, which limits their valorization and the assessment of their contribution to food security. This study aims to evaluate the nutritional and antinutritional composition, as well as pesticide contamination, of seven commonly consumed herbal spices. Materials and methods Standardized proximal, spectrophotometric, and titrimetric analyses determined the macronutrient content, some essential minerals, and antinutritional factors. Amino acids and pesticides were quantified by chromatography. Results and discussion The highest ash content (2.50% ± 0.06% dry matter) was observed in Apium graveolens . The highest protein (7.76 ± 0.09 mg/100 mg) and lipid (14.21% ± 0.15%) levels were observed in Allium cepa . Notable mineral concentrations were observed in A. graveolens , including calcium (220.36 mg/100 g), iron (26.75 mg/100 g), and sodium (69.23 mg/100 g); and in Ocimum basilicum , with magnesium (53.59 mg/100 g). Except for methionine, which was absent in A. graveolens and A. cepa , all other essential amino acids were present in the samples. The highest levels of ascorbic acid and lycopene were observed in Anethum graveolens . β-carotene and chlorophyll were more abundant in Petroselinum crispum . Anthocyanins were present in low concentrations in all samples. Regarding antinutritional factors, the highest levels of phytates and condensed tannins were very low, observed in Petroselinum crispum (5.08 ± 0.108 mg/100 g) and Anethum graveolens (29.43 ± 0.71 mg/100 g), respectively. Anethum graveolens , O. basilicum , and Petroselinum crispum share a similarity based on their richness in pigments and antioxidant compounds. Contamination levels exceeding the maximum residue limit were found for aldrin in A. cepa and for carbofuran in O. basilicum, indicating poor agricultural practices. These results show that these plants have complementary nutritional profiles.