Nowadays, the demand of traditional foodstuffs and by-products (Bio character) including traditional fermented milks by consumers is increased because of their numerous health benefits, important nutritional values and original organoleptic properties. A great diversity of indigenous food products that have potential functional properties is manufactured worldwide. The aim of the present work is to describe the main indigenous foodstuffs and by-products highly produced and consumed in the Adamaoua Region of Cameroon and to evocate their interesting potential functional properties, their utilizations and some related challenges. In the Adamaoua Region of Cameroon, the traditional foodstuffs produced abundantly and highly consumed are represented by four types: fermented milks (Pendidam and Kindirmou), a sun drying meat product (Kilishi) and honey bees. Pendidam and Kindirmou are dairy products produced by fermentation of raw fresh milk from cow origin. Kilishi is produced from a highly appreciated local zebu race “Goudali” meat after muscle meat cutting, trimming, slicing, sun drying, spicing and roasting operation steps successively. Honey bees are produced by exploiting local plants that confer its original taste and other organoleptic properties. All these foodstuffs are used mainly for feeding and therapeutic purposes. Thereby, the fermented milks produced in the Adamaoua Region of Cameroon are indigenous foodstuffs that cannot act only as nutrient sources but can also have potential health benefits like disease preventing or curing role. These dairy fermented products contain lactic acid bacteria (LABs) that produce a wide range of bioactive molecules such as biosurfactants that possess multiple interesting functional properties. One of the main challenges of the present study is to exploit the biosurfactants properties in fighting against diseases due to enveloped viruses (Covid-19, AIDS, Influenza, Hepatitis B and C viruses, etc.) and all their mutants, and against cardio and cerebro-vascular accidents.
Keywords: Adamaoua Region; Cameroon; Challenges; Fermented milks; Honey bees; Kilishi; Utilizations.