Chemical studies of the seeds of Moringa oleifera (Lam) and Detarium microcarpum (Guill and Sperr)

Chemical studies of the seeds of Moringa oleifera (Lam) and Detarium microcarpum (Guill and Sperr)

2004

E05482

Seeds of Moringa oleifera and Detarium microcarpum were analysed for nutritional and antinutritional contents. The chemical properties of the oils were also determined. The concentrations (mg g-1) of the essential elements, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus and iron, respectively, were 77.4, 20.50, 1.19, 2.999, 3.75, 1.365 and 1.4 for M. oleifera and 105.00, 23.0, 0.22, 2.36, 16.25, 1.25 and 3.12 for D. microcarpum. M. oleifera contained higher amounts of proteins and lipids (40.19 and 41.58%, respectively) than D. microcarpum (11.24 and 35.94%, respectively). The amount of carbohydrate was higher in D. microcarpum (42.20%) than M. oleifera (9.11%). M. oleifera contained higher concentration of phytate (10.18 mg/100 g), hydrogen cyanide (0.58 mg/100 g) and saponin (2.052%) than D. microcarpum. The iodine values of the oils in M. oleifera and D. microcarpum were 59.48 and 58.02, respectively. Saponification values were in the range of 179-220.66. The acid value, free fatty acid and peroxide values were low (less than 9.0). The ester values of the oils ranged from 173.57-212.54. The high elemental composition, protein, lipid and carbohydrate contents of the seeds suggests that they could serve as supplementary sources of essential nutrients to man and livestock, provided the anti-nutritional content of the seeds are considerably reduced or eliminated.

4(6):711-715, JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

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