Introduction: In Burkina Faso, sesame is one of the most widely grown oil and
rend crops. Several varieties are grown in different regions, but little is known
about their nutritional characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate
the impact of the production area on the nutritional characteristics of two sesame
varieties grown in Burkina Faso.
Methods: The biological material consisted of sesame varieties S42 and Humera
from two production areas of Burkina Faso. The physicochemical characteristics,
macronutrients, and minerals of whole and hulled grains were determined
according to standard methods. The study showed a significant difference
(p < 0.05) between the grain samples of the two sesame varieties from the
two areas for the weight of 1,000 grains, moisture, ash, protein, fat, and
carbohydrate contents, and energy values.
Results: The color parameters (L*, a*, b*) of the samples did not show any
significant difference. The mineral contents of the seeds of the two sesame
varieties varied from 95.51 ± 7.07 to 1,057.01 ± 7.07 mg/100 g for Calcium,
169.32 ± 7.07 to 364.56 ± 7.07 mg/100 g for Potassium, 142.52 ± 7.14 to 261.58 ±
1.41 mg/100 g for Magnesium, 2.46 ± 7.07 to 4.54 ± 7.07 mg/100 g for Zinc,
3.48 ± 7.07 to 9.65 ± 7.07 mg/100 g for Iron with a significant difference (p <
0.05). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the biochemical
composition of whole and hulled sesame grains, with a decrease in ash, protein,
and mineral contents and an increase in total sugars and fats.
Conclusion: This study showed that the production area and hulling have an
impact on the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of the grains of
sesame varieties S42 and Humera. In view of their nutritional composition, these two sesame varieties constitute a good source of nutrients. The nutritional potential
of sesame will lead to increased consumption of whole or processed sesame, as
well as an increase in its production in Burkina Faso.

climatic zones of Burkina Faso, hulling, macronutrients, minerals, physicochemical characteristics, sesame seeds