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Fruit nutritive composition of Maesobotrya barteri, an under-exploited tropical African tree

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2008

Marc Nwosu Ogbuagu  and
Basil Agu
Marc Nwosu Ogbuagu
Affiliation:
Chem. Dep., Michael Okpara Univ. Agric., Umudike, PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
Basil Agu
Affiliation:
Chem. Dep., Michael Okpara Univ. Agric., Umudike, PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
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Abstract

Introduction. In Nigeria, the species M. barteri is under-exploited although the tree is of both medicinal and nutritional importance. It bears succulent black-purple fruits that are edible and stain the tongue. The seeds are often with a conspicuous caruncle, with the endosperm present or absent. We studied the nutritive values of the fruit and seeds. Materials and methods. After sampling the fruits in a forest of Abia State, Nigeria, they were washed and opened. The seeds were removed from the succulent portion (pulp). Both pulp and seeds were dried in an oven at 65 °C for 5 h, before being ground to obtain powdery samples. The crude protein, moisture, crude fat, crude fiber, ash contents, total carbohydrate, vitamin contents (A, C, E, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin) and mineral elements were determined. Results and discussion. The analyses showed that both the fruit and seed of M. barteri are good sources of essential dietary nutrients. The values obtained are comparably higher than those reported for some common tropical African fruits.

Keywords

NigeriaMaesobotrya barterifruitsseedsproximate compositionvitaminsmineral contentNigériaMaesobotrya barterifruitsgrainecomposition globalevitamineteneur en éléments minéraux
Type
Research Article
Information
Fruits , Volume 63 , Issue 6 , November 2008 , pp. 357 - 361
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences, 2008

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