Investigating the effect of varying geographical regions on the biochemical constituents, and metabolite profile of Ximenia caffra (Wild sour plum), for potential commercialisation

In the realm of sustainable development, universal access to safe and nutritious food and medicine is paramount, particularly championed by the "Zero Hunger" initiative. This study was carried out to investigate three (3) objectives, namely (i) to investigate the effect of geographical variation (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen) on the production of secondary metabolites with medicinal implications from Ximenia caffra leaves, (ii) to analyse and compare the metabolite profiles of Ximenia caffra fruits from these three regions and so as to assess their commercial viability and (iii) to assess the biochemical constituents of Ximenia caffra fruit harvested from the three regions in respect of potential commercialisation. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to analyse the leaves of Ximenia caffra (Wild sour plum) from the three regions to characterise their metabolite profiles and medicinal implications. Study results revealed the presence of glycosylated metabolites and free sugars, particularly in samples from Tzaneen. Furthermore, Tzaneen samples revealed N-acetylserotonin, epicatechin, and sarcosine, while Giyani samples contained homogentisate and homovanillate. These findings underscore the importance of considering geographical distribution when screening Ximenia caffra leaves for medicinal purposes, as regional differences significantly affect their metabolite profile and potential therapeutic applications. In terms of metabolite profile of Ximenia caffra fruit, analysis revealed a consistent core set of metabolites across the regions, including sugars, amino acids, and organic acids, indicating a stable biochemical composition. However, specific metabolites such as ascorbate, riboflavin, and sugar alcohols showed significant regional variation. Samples from the Tzaneen region demonstrated higher concentrations of beneficial metabolites such as ribose and ascorbate, suggesting its adoption for large scale cultivation for potential commercialisation purposes. Concerning the nutritional values of Ximenia caffra fruit, the highest total phenols (17.2 GAE g) and vitamin E (31.8 mg per 100 g DW) were obtained from fruits in Bushbuckridge. Therefore, plant breeders and horticulturalists should be mindful of varying geographical factors when considering breeding programmes of wild sour plum for commercial purposes.

Ka lekaleng la tlhabollo ya moyagoile, phihlelelo ya lefase ka bophara ya dijo tša phepo le dihlare ke ya bohlokwa kudu, gagolo yeo e thekgwago ke lenaneo la “Zero Hunger”. Nyakišišo ye e dirilwe go nyakišiša dinepo tše tharo (3), e lego (i) go nyakišiša khuetšo ya phapano ya lefelo (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen) go tšweletšo ya dimetapolaete tša go ba le ditlamorago tša kalafo go tšwa go matlakala a Xemenia caffra, (ii) go sekaseka le go bapetša diprofaele tša metapolaete tša dienywa tša Xemenia caffra go tšwa go dilete tše di fapanego (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen), go sekaseka kgonagalo ya tšona ya kgwebo le (iii) go sekaseka dikarolo tša dikhemikhale tša diphedi tša dienywa tša Ximenia caffra tšeo di bunnwego go tšwa go dilete tša lefelo tše di fapanego (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen), go kgonagalo ya go dira kgwebo. Mabapi le spektrokophi sa Tumo ya Makenete ya Nyuklea (NMR), yeo e sekasekilwego ka go šomiša matlakala a Ximenia caffra (Letšhidi) go tšwa dileteng tše di fapanego go utulla diprofaele tša metapolaete le ditlamorago tša tšona tša kalafo. Dipoelo tša nyakišišo di utullotše go ba gona ga dimetapolaete tša tlaekhosilaete le swikiri ya mahala, kudu go disampole go tšwa Tzaneen. Go feta fao, disampole tša Tzaneen di utullotše N-Acetylserotonin, epicatechin, le sarcosine, mola disampole tša Giyani di be di na le homogentisate le homovanillate. Dikutullo tše di gatelela bohlokwa bja go ela hloko kabo ya lefelo ge matlakala a Ximenia caffra a hlahlobelwa kalafo, bjalo ka diphapano tša selete di ama kudu profaele ya metapolaete le dikgopelo tša kalafo tšeo di ka bago gona. Mabapi le profaele ya metapolaete ya seenywa sa Ximenia caffra, tshekaseko e utolla sete ya motheo ye e sa fetogego ya dimetapolaete go ralala le dilete, go akaretšwa swikiri, diesiti tša amino, le diesiti tša okaniki, go laetša sebopego sa dipayokhemikhale tše di tiileng. Le ge go le bjalo, dimetapolaete tše itšego tša go swana le ascorbate, riboflavin, le dialkhoholo tša swikiri di bontšha phapano ye kgolo ya selete. Disampole go tšwa seleteng sa Tzaneen di bontšha maatla a godimo a dimetapolaete tše di holago go swana le ribose le ascorbate, e šišinya kamogelo ya yona ya temo ye kgolo ka merero ye e ka bago gona. Mabapi le dikelo tša phepo ya dienywa tša Ximenia caffra, difenole tša palomoka ya godimodimo (17.2 GAE g) le bithamine E (31.8 mg 100/g DW) di hweditšwe go tšwa dienyweng ka Bushbuckridge. Ka fao, batswadiši ba dibjalo le ditsebi tša temo ya dibjalo ba swanetše go ela hloko dilete tša lefelo tše di fapanegobjalo ka mabaka ge ba nagana ka mananeo a tswadišo ya matšhidi ka mabaka a kgwebo.

hi ntsakelo wa nhluvukiso wa nkarhi wo leha, mfikelelo wa misava hinkwayo wo hlayisa mirhi na swakudya swa kahle i wa nkoka swinene, ngopfu loko wu rhangeriwa hi vurhangisiwa by "Zero Ndlala". Dyondzo leyi yi lavisisa swinharhu (3) swikongomelontsongo, ku nga (i) ku lavisisa switandzhaku eka hambano wa ntivo-misava (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen) eku tshoveriweni ka timethabolayiti leti nga na switandzhaku swa vutshunguri to huma ka matluka ya Xemenia caffra, (ii) ku xopaxopa no pimanyeta tiphurofayile ta mihandzu ya metabolayiti ta Xemenia caffra to huma ka swifundzhantsongo swo hambana (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen), ku xiyaxiya loko ti nga xaviseka na (iii) ku xiyisisa swisimeki swa bayokhemikali swa muhandzu wa Ximenia caffra yi tshoveriwa ku suka ka swifundzhantsongo swo hambana (Bushbuckridge, Giyani, Tzaneen), loko swi nga xaviseka minkarhi leyi taka. Mayelano na Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sipekisitirosikopi, ley iyi xopaxopiweke hi ku tirhisa matluka ya Ximenia caffra (Wild sour plum) ku suka ka swifundzhantsongo ku humesa tiphurofayilli ta metabolayiti na switandzhaku swavutshunguri. Mbuyelo wa dyondzo wu paluxa vukona bya timetabolayiti leti glukhosilitetiwileke nan kala chukela, ngopfu ngopfu eka tisampulu to suka eTzaneen. Ku yisa emahlweni, tisampulu ta Tzaneen ti paluxa N-Acetylserotonin, epicatechin, na sarcosine, kuri leswaku tisampulu to huma eGiyani leti nga na homogentisate na homovanillate. Swikumiwa swi tilahata nkoka wo tekela enhlokweni hangalaselo ku ya hi ntivo-misava loko matluka ya Ximenia caffra ya sikiriniwa hi xikongomelo xa swa vutshunguri. tanihi hi ku hambana ka swifundzhantsongo nkokahato swi va na xiave ka phurofayili ya methaboliti na switsaleriwa swi nga na vutshunguri. Hi ku landza phurofayili ya methaboliki ya muhandzu ya Ximenia caffra, nxopelo wu paluxa nkoka wo fanana wa timethaboliti eka swifundzhantsongo, ku katsa chukela, aside ya amino, na tiasidi ta oganiki, ti kombisa leswi nga hansi swa bayokhemikali ya kahle. Hambiswiritano, timethaboliki to to kathi to fana na ascorbate, riboflavin, na chukela ringa na alikhoholo no kombisa ku hambana ka nkoka wa xifundzhankulu. Tisampulu to huma exifundzhenintsongo xa Tzaneen ti kombisa ntekeriwo wa le henhla ka mbuyelo wa timethabolayiti ku fan ana ribose na ascorbate, ku no bumabumela ku byariwa ka ntswongelo wa xikalo xikulu ku ya ka swikongomelo swa ha taka. Mayelano na mikoka ya muhandzu wa Ximenia caffra, ntsengo wu nga le henhla wa phenols (17.2 GAE g) na vhitamini E (31.8 mg 100/g DW) wu kumekile ku suka ka mihandzu ya le Bushbuckridge. Hikwalaho ka sweswo, swimilana swo tshovela swin’wana na horticulturalists tihotikhalichuralisiti swi fanele ku ehleketelela swifundzhankulu swo hambana swa ntivo-misava tanihi swilo loko ku tekeriwa enhlakweni tiphurogireme ta tipulami hi swikongomelo swo xavisa.

M. Sc. (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences)

Department of Agriculture and Animal Health