Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl.: Chemical Diversity and Potential for Bioactive Compounds in Modern Pharmacological Applications

Ceratotheca sesamoides is a plant species having notable nutritional and medicinal properties, but it remains unexplored in West Africa, despite its importance in traditional agro-food systems. This study aimed to characterize the genetic, agromorphological and biochemical diversity of local accessions in Burkina Faso and propose sustainable valorization strategies for the species. Forty-nine samples were collected from different agro-ecological zones. Genetic diversity was analyzed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, with data processed by GenAiEx version 6.501, revealing significant variation among accessions. Genetic structuring was examined using the Neighbor-Joining method, identifying three distinct genetic groups. Agromorphological, physico-chemical and biochemical diversity were assessed using statistical tools in R version 4.3.3. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences in traits between groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed to study the relationships between key bioactive compounds like polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and essential minerals, such as magnesium, copper and sodium. These findings suggest substantial potential for the species in therapeutic and nutritional applications, supporting its sustainable valorization.