TITLE:
Evaluation of the Biochemical, Antioxidant and Organoleptic Properties of Three Combinations of Pairs of Leafy Vegetables from the Department of Korhogo (Ivory Coast)
AUTHORS:
Patricia Penan Dehegnan Oulaï, Gboko Abiba Ouattara, Eugene Toma Zan Bi, Abdoulaye Toure, Sébastien Lamine Niamké
KEYWORDS:
Leafy Vegetables, Combination, Nutritional and Organoleptic Properties
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.17 No.2,
February
26,
2026
ABSTRACT: In Côte d’Ivoire, leafy vegetables are grown, sold, and consumed. The objective of this study was to contribute to food security by promoting the nutritional potential of three pairs of leafy vegetables consumed by the Ivorian population: Amaranthus hybridus + Ipomoea batatas (A), Amaranthus hybridus + Basella alba (B), and Ipomoea batatas + Basella alba (C). The biochemical, antioxidant, and anti-nutritional parameters were analyzed using standard methods. Regarding biochemical properties, the moisture, ash, lipid, protein, fiber, and carbohydrate content of combinations A, B, and C varied from 3 ± 0 to 3.1 ± 0.1, 10.6% to 14.2%, 5.5% ± 0.1% to 6.8% ± 0.2%, from 27.68 ± 0.0 to 29.68 ± 1.47; from 39.25% ± 0.25% to 44.75% ± 0.25% and from 46.445% ± 0.00% to 50.82% ± 0.02%. The mineral content varies from 3094 ± 5.00 mg/100g to 5267 ± 2.00 mg/100g; from 498.4 ± 2.00 mg/100g to 841.8 ± 2.00 mg/100g; from 47.47 ± 0.2 mg/100g to 90.6 ± 2 mg/100g from 5.6 ± 2 to 15.04 ± 0.2 from 2203 ± 2 to 3181 ± 2 and from 727.9 ± 2 to 930 ± 2 respectively for calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus, respectively. In terms of antioxidant properties, the polyphenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity vary from 363.5 ± 0.00 mg/100g DM to 378.5 ± 0.00 mg/100g DM, respectively; from 267 ± 0.014 mg/100g DM to 383 ± 0 mg/100g DM and from 80.35% ± 0.01% to 84.58% ± 0.00%. The oxalate and phytate content varied from 166.1 ± 0.25 mg/100g DM to 256.3 ± 0.15 mg/100g DM and from 4.7166 ± 0.00 mg/100g DM to 9.725 ± 0.00 mg/100g DM, respectively. The organoleptic evaluation revealed that combination B was generally acceptable, with the majority of panelists rating its color, aroma, and taste as “fairly to very pleasant.” The results suggest that combination B could be preferred for optimal consumption due to its organoleptic qualities and balanced nutritional composition.