Determination of the Mineral Composition of the Pulp and Evaluation of the Acute Toxicity of the Seeds of Carica Papaya L. Consumed in Lubumbashi and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Abstract Background: This work aimed on the one hand to determine the mineral and phytochemical composition of Carica papaya in order to guarantee the food safety of consumers, and on the other hand to evaluate the acute toxicity of papaya seeds. Methods: The papayas were bought on the Mzee market in Lubumbashi and that of Selembao in Kinshasa. Fruit sampling was done according to the ISO 7002 standard on agricultural and food products; the papayas were firm, mature, without stains or physical damage. Results: The analysis results of the papaya pulp showed both for the samples from the city of Lubumbashi and for the city province of Kinshasa that it contains respectively 85.87% and 84.46% water; 0.59% and 0.53% ash content. The mineral evaluation of our two samples presented a potassium content of 200±8 mg, magnesium 13.12±3mg, calcium 22.15±2mg, sodium 3mg±0.5 for the sample from Lubumbashi and 192, 32±8mg of potassium, 14.458±3mg of magnesium, 20.58±2mg of calcium and sodium 3.58±0.5mg for the sample from Kinshasa in macroelements. Concerning the trace elements, after analysis we found as zinc content (0.29 ± 0.1 mg and 0.12 ± 0.1 mg), copper (0.02 ± 0.01 mg and 0.14 ± 0.01mg), iron (2.22±0.5 mg and 2.04±0.5 mg) respectively for Lubumbashi and Kinshasa. The chemical screening indicates the presence of alkaloids, saponosides, tannins catechics, flavonoids and anthocyanins in the palm wine and ethanolic extract of the seeds of Carica papaya and an absence of cyanogenic glycosides and gallic tannins. Conclusion: With mild toxicity, the seeds of the fruit of Carica papaya L. can be used with moderate risk by the population.