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The Compositional Analysis of <i>Adansonia digitata</i> (baobab) and <i>Tamarindus indica</i> (tamarind) Fruit Seeds


JK Kilungu
CK Njoroge

Abstract

Seeds from two indigenous wild trees namely Adansonia digitata (baobab) and Tamarindus indica (tamarind) were analyzed. From this study, the protein contents were observed to be 24.98% and 17.99 % for baobab and tamarind respectively. These values are fairly high compared to cereals and root crops such as whole maize 9.3% and fresh cassava 1.2% which are the main staples in the regions where baobab and tamarind grow. The oil contents were observed to be 14.50% and 4.32% for baobab and tamarind respectively. The level in baobab is adequate for commercial extraction. The fatty acid profile in baobab oil, revealed 25.26%, 36.25% and 37.57% for palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids respectively. This kind of oil should render itself to long term storage, as its degree of unsaturation is not too high. The seeds were observed to have 4.69% and 1.95% ash in baobab and tamarind respectively with high levels of macro and micronutrients that are of dietary importance like calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and manganese. The study revealed that the seeds from both sources have the potential to be used as food, while baobab seeds have a potential to be used for industrial oil extraction.

Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol.4(1) 2002: 15-28

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eISSN: 1561-7645