eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Microbiological Research 2328-4137 2025-12-22 13 6 143 148 10.12691/ajmr-13-6-4 AJMR20251364 article Mamy EKLOU eklouenyae@gmail.com 1 Kodjo Djidjol¨¦ ETSE 2 Komlan Edj¨¨du SODJINOU 2 Moubarak MOUMOUNI 2 Benziwa Nathalie JOHNSON 2 Bayi Reine DOSSOU 3 Yaovi AMEYAPOH 3 Raoufou RADJI 3 Akossiwoa M-L QUASHIE 3 Laboratory of Microbiology and Food Quality Control (LAMICODA), University of Lom¨¦ 01 BP 1515 Lom¨¦-Togo Physiology-Horticulture-Biotechnology Team (PHOBIOT), Forestry Research Laboratory (LRF) -Climate Change Research Center (CRCC), University of Lom¨¦ 01 BP 1515 Lom¨¦-Togo Higher School of Biological and Food Techniques (ESTBA), University of Lom¨¦ 01 BP 1515 Lom¨¦-Togo The nutritional and phytochemical benefits that can be obtained from packaging corn-based foods using Marantochloa species are poorly documented scientifically. This paper therefore aims to determine the edibility and nutritional potential of M. cuspidata, M. purpurea, and M. mannii in the packaging of these foods in Greater Lomé. The properties of the leaves were analyzed using aqueous extraction. Their toxicity was assessed using human blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The antioxidant potential of the leaves was assessed using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). Total phenols were determined by spectrophotometry using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. The toxicity of the three species is identical to that of the average tolerated negative control standard and significantly lower than that of the 100% DMSO positive control. All the aqueous extracts showed with DPPH inhibition percentages of 58.50 ± 3.31 for M. purpurea, 40.94 ± 28 for M. mannii, and 14.90 ± 8.17 for M. cuspidata, respectively. In addition to the insignificant presence of phenol, bioactive metabolites such as tannins, terpenes, phytosterols, and cardiac glycosides were identified. These results therefore show that the leaves studied have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. They help preserve the texture, color, and smell of packaged food, as well as its vitamin and lipid content. It is therefore necessary to promote the domestication of these species for the health, economic, and ecological well-being of the Togolese capital. https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajmr/13/6/4/ajmr-13-6-4.pdf Corn-based foods Marantochloa leaves Food wrapping Nutritional properties Bioactive components Species domestication