Synergistic effect of drying methods and ultrasonication on natural deep eutectic solvent extraction of phytochemicals from African spinach (Amaranthus hybridus) stem.

The study evaluated the combined effects of drying methods (air drying [AD], hot AD [HAD], microwave drying [MD], and freeze-drying [FD]) and ultrasonication parameters (sonication temperature [STemp]: 40, 50, and 60°C) and heating time (STime: 60 and 120 min) on natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) extraction of phytochemicals from Amaranthus hybridus stem. Increasing the STemp increased the extraction yield (ECY) of the phytochemicals for all drying methods but increase in the heating time reduced the ECY slightly. MD combined with 60°C ST showed the highest ECY (53%), whereas HAD combined with 40°C ST had the lowest ECY (18%).

Production, acceptability, nutritional and pasting properties of orange-flesh sweet potato, cowpea and banana flour mix.

Promoting the intake of foods rich in vitamin A is key to combating the increase in vitamin A deficiency. This research focused on the utilization of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (a tuber-based food), cowpea (a pulse), and ripe bananas (a fruit) for the production of flour mix as a means to reduce Vitamin A deficiency in children. Different ratios of sweet potato-cowpea-banana (PCB) mix, resulting in 8 different blended samples, were optimized.

Fermented Gluten-Free Multi-Grain Cereal Paste Development: The Role of the Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) as a Dietary Supplement.

Vitamin A deficiencies is a becoming persistent among young children and a growing concern to parents in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in crisis-affected areas. Fermented cereal paste from maize, millets, and sorghum grains are significant food for young children. Thus, the study focuses on food fortification using orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) as fortifier as studies have confirmed the presence of nutrients that can help meet the Vitamin A dietary requirement.

Effects of cow dung and wood biochars and green manure on soil fertility and tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) performance on a savanna Alfisol.

Two field experiments were conducted concurrently in 2019. The study investigated the effects of single and combined application of wood biochar (WB) and cow dung biochar (CDB) with green manure (GM) on soil properties, performance, and tuber qualities of tiger nut. The treatments consisted of: CDB at 10 t ha, WB at 10 t ha, GM-Tithonia diversifolia at 10 t ha, CDB + GM, WB + GM, control.

Production of a Complementary Food: Influence of Cowpea Soaking Time on the Nutritional, Antinutritional, and Antioxidant Properties of the Cassava-Cowpea-Orange-Fleshed Potato Blends.

Soaking and incorporation of legumes for fortification are essential to a complementary food production process. Cassava, orange-fleshed potato, and cowpeas are sustainably cheap, locally available, and underutilized for food biofortification. This study investigated the effect of cowpea soaking time (3, 6, and 9 h) on different composition ratios of cassava, cowpea, and orange-fleshed sweet potato (CCP) blends (50 : 40 : 10 (EC), 50 : 30 : 20 (FC), 50 : 20 : 30 (GC), and 50 : 50 : 0 (HC)).