Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 2021, Vol. 9, No. 11, 579-584 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/9/11/4 Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jfnr-9-11-4 Biochemical Study and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Solanum torvum (Swartz) Fruits Used as Fruiting Vegetables in Togo Mamatchi Melila 1,* , Bayi Reine Dossou 2 , Kodjo Djidjolé Etse 1 , Firmin Sika 3 , Koffi Batchazi 4 , Essodjolon Kanabiya 1 , Laurance Adjo Amegah 5 , Koffi Gilbert Lakpo 1 , Koami Ameyran 1 , Kou’Santa Amouzou 1 1 Faculty of Sciences (FDS), University of Lome, 01Post Box 1515 Lome 01, Togo 2 Higher School of Biological and Food Techniques (ESTBA), University of Lome, 01Post Box 1515 Lome 01, Togo 3 Faculty of Health Sciences (FSS), University of Lome, 01Post Box 1515 Lome 01, Togo 4 Togolese Institute of Agronomic Research (ITRA) 01 Post Box 1163 Agoè-Cacavéli, Togo 5 Higher School of Agronomy (ESA), University of Lome, 01Post Box 1515 Lome 01, Togo *Corresponding author: Received September 27, 2021; Revised November 02, 2021; Accepted November 08, 2021 Abstract The fruits of Solanum torvum are used as fruiting vegetables and in traditional medicine in Togo, to treat anemia and several infectious diseases. However, no study has been conducted on its nutritional potential in Togo. The present study aims to valorize this species through its biochemical compounds in the interest of food security. The contents of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, mineral salts and vitamin C of the fruits of Solanum torvum have been thus evaluated by the usual methods of AOAC. The contents in biochemical compounds have been of 71.42 ± 0.52% for total carbohydrates, 16.49 ± 0.47% for proteins, 7.71 ± 0.19% for lipids, 4.65 ± 0.46% for ash, 2.44 ± 0.36% for vitamin C and 421 ± 2.01% for metabolizable energy. The spectrophotometric analyses revealed the presence of minerals such as Na, Ca, Mg, K, P, Zn and Fe at interesting levels with Na/K ˂ 1, Ca/P > 1 and Ca/Mg > 1 in the analyzed Solanum torvum fruits. The results thus indicated that the fruits of S. torvum have an appreciable nutritional value similar to that of vegetables and legumes that enter the human diet daily. These fruits would thus contribute to the fight against nutrient deficiencies. The valorization of this pharmaco-nutritional plant in human food is therefore of interest. Keywords: Solanum torvum, fruits, biochemical composition, nutritional value, Togo Cite This Article: Mamatchi Melila, Bayi Reine Dossou, Kodjo Djidjolé Etse, Firmin Sika, Koffi Batchazi, Essodjolon Kanabiya, Laurance Adjo Amegah, Koffi Gilbert Lakpo, Koami Ameyran, and Kou’Santa Amouzou, “Biochemical Study and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Solanum torvum (Swartz) Fruits Used as Fruiting Vegetables in Togo.” Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, vol. 9, no. 11 (2021): 579-584. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-9-11-4. 1. Introduction Food plants play an important role in the human diet, especially as sources of vitamins, minerals and phytonutraceuticals [1]. A diet rich in vegetables has been associated with a low risk of cardiovascular disease, anemia, gastric ulcer and cancer [2]. Indeed, the fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa, the leaves and pulp of Adansonia digitata and the pulp of Sclerocarya birrea are used to treat hypertension, anemia and nutritional deficiencies [3]. The same is true for Moringa oleifera leaves, which not only have therapeutic potential but also have interesting nutritional characteristics [4,5]. In many African countries, edible plants are used as food and contribute significantly to the nutritional needs of the population [6]. In Togo, several food plants are used in the pharmacopoeia; this is the case of Solanum torvum. The fruits of this plant are used in the diet of the Togolese population. Moreover these fruits have proven antioxidant and antimicrobial properties [7,8]. The phytochemical studies have indicated that the fruits of this species contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and coumarins [7,8,9]. Studies [10] reported that the fruits of Solanum torvum possess significant nutritional value. Moreover, the study on the nutritional value of Solanum torvum fruits revealed that they contain vitamin C at interesting levels [11]. In addition the leaves and the fruits of this plant are used in many traditional medical practices in Africa [6-12]. Malnutrition remains one of the major public health problems in Africa. It is estimated that low vegetable consumption in unbalanced diets is responsible for about 31% of ischemic heart disease and 11% of strokes [13]. This is related not only to the quantity and quality of the food we ingest but also to the lack of information and