Nutritional and Phytochemical Properties of Pachira aquatica Seed Grown in Nigeria
Afolayan S. Sunday *
Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Km 3, Asa Dam Road P. M.B. 1489, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Igbum, O. Gillian
Department of Chemistry, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria.
Igoli, O. John
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria.
Salawu R. Adenike
Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Km 3, Asa Dam Road P. M.B. 1489, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Afolabi A. Adewale
Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Km 3, Asa Dam Road P. M.B. 1489, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Enenche E. Daniel
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study investigated the nutritional and phytochemical properties of seeds oils and flours from Pachira aquatica seed cultivated in Nigeria. Proximate composition and phytochemical composition were determined by standard methods while mineral content of the seed flours and oil was determined using Thermo Scientific iCAP 6200 Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and Agilent 7900 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The oil which was extracted using Soxhlet extraction method had a yield of 44.43%. The proximate composition of the flour gave carbohydrate 18.12%; moisture 9.74%; protein 19.90%; ash 4.11%; fat 44.43; fibre 3.70%; while phytochemicals showed that phenol was 4.90 mg/100 g; Tannins 0.76 mg/100g; flavonoids 0.68 mg/100 g; glycosides 17.54%; saponins 6.03% and alkaloids 10.68%. Macro-element concentrations from the seed oil and seed flour respectively were 63.55 and 10611.74 mg/Kg K; 22.38 and 628.44 mg/Kg Mg; 67.55 and 4007.86 mg/Kg P; 52.65 and 1387.00 mg/Kg Ca; 17.95 and 35.23 mg/Kg Na. Micro-elements were 4.18 mg/Kg and 24.59 mg/Kg Cu; 4.43 mg/Kg and 40.16 mg/Kg Fe; 1.50 and 9.61 mg/Kg Mn; 2.92 mg/Kg and 25.68 mg/Kg Zn; 2.74 mg/Kg and 15.40 mg/Kg Al; 0.82 ( mg/Kg103) and 2.27 ( mg/Kg103) Ni; 1.11 ( mg/Kg103) and 3.30 (mg/Kg103); 3.55 (mg/Kg103) and 17.19 (mg/Kg103) B; 0.20 (mg/Kg103) and 0.40 ( mg/Kg103) Mo; 0.01 (mg/Kg103) and 0.03 (mg/Kg103) Se.
Toxic elements recorded 0.17 and 0.85 µg/Kg Cr; 0.18 and 0.23 µg/Kg Co; 0.01 and 0.01 µg/Kg As; 0.01 and 0.02 µg/Kg Cd; and 0.09 and 0.11 µg/Kg Pb for the seed oil and seed flour respectively. The investigation showed that Pachira aquatica seed is safe and nutritious for domestic purposes and industrial applications. The energy value indicates that the seed is a good alternative source of energy and could be taken when energy given food is required as it falls within the recommended energy dietary allowances especially for children. The bioactive properties of Pachira aquatica seed shows that it has medicinal potential worth exploring for pharmacological purposes.
Keywords: Pachira aquatica seed, seed oil, proximate, phytochemical, minerals composition, Nigeria.