Monosaccharide profile of "Mendim Me Zon": Beverage from Solanum aethiopicum Shum berries

Solanum aethiopicum Shum is a plant belonging Solanaceae family. These berries are used for their food and pharmacological virtues. For instance, they are commonly consumed in the form of hot-drink, so called “Mendim Me Zon” used by the forest people. Revitalizing and detoxifying properties are attributed to this beverage. The bioactivity of this drink is often attributed to its secondary metabolites. While monosaccharides also have a biological activity that may contribute to the virtues of this tea.  The present work was carried out to analyse the carbohydrate fraction of “Mendim Me Zon”. The extract prepared following the preparation conditions of “Mendim Me Zon” was analysed to determine its proximate composition, including soluble carbohydrates, proteins and total phenolic compounds. The monosaccharide profile was established using gas chromatography. Results show that carbohydrates were its most abundant constituent in the extract, although the taste was bitter. This taste is certainly determined by phenolic compounds present in the extract. Gas chromatography analysis of the extract showed that extract was composed of pentose (fucose), hexoses (mannose, galactose and glucose), hexosamines (glucosamine and galactosamine), uronic acid (glucuronic acid) and sialic acid (N-acetyl-neuraminic acid). Fructose was absent from the extract, while the mannose was relatively more abundant. These results might suggest that “Mendim Me Zon” contains monosaccharides and their derivatives with many beneficial biological functions. The monosaccharide profile justifies the traditional use of this drink as a nutraceutical. However, further studies including toxicological one are still needed to determine the safety and efficacy of “Mendim me Zon”.