PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND MINERALS CONTENT OF TWO VARIETIES
OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA SEEDS FROM BENIN

Blandine S. AKABASSI1, Fifa T. D. BOTHON1*, Jacques ADOVELANDE2, Félicien
AVLESSI1, Dominique C. K. SOHOUNHLOUE1
Page No. 31-36

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (Malvales) varieties are widely used in sub-Saharan Africa as plant food
and in folk medicine. Several studies have focused on the variety sabdariffa of different countries;
but the one that from Benin has not been investigated. The present study has evaluated some
physicochemical characteristics and mineral content of two varieties of Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds
from Benin. The Physicochemical analysis result obtained were as follows:96.12 ± 0.17 and 96.19 ±
0.05% of dry matter, 5.40 ± 0.40and 4.94 ± 0.10% of ash, 4.69 ± 0.07 and 2.31 ± 0.02% of crude
proteins, 0.7l ± 0.03 and 1.09 ± 0.05 mg/ml of vitamin C respectively for sabdariffa and altissima
varieties seeds. Spectroscopy used for mineral analysis revealed in the two seeds varieties:43.10 ±
0.003 and 71.68 ± 0.002% of manganese, 12.91 ± 0.002 and 9.89 ± 0.17mg/kg of copper, 128.54 ±
0.40 and 85.08 ± 0.12 mg/kg of iron , 44.47 ± 0.60 and 16.24 ± 0.06mg/kg nickel, 231.53 ± 0.2and
440.51 ± 0.58mg/kg sodium, 61.44± 0.57and 45.94 ± 0.04 mg/kg zinc. Following the above
results,Hibiscus sabdariffa varietyaltissima and Hibiscus sabdariffa varietysabdariffa seeds can be
usedas food supplement or additive to resolve or prevent nutriments deficiency consequences.
Keywords : Hibiscus sabdariffa, variety, physicochemical characteristics, nutrients.