PROTEINS, AMINO ACIDS AND FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION OF NUTS FROM THE MEXICAN ENDEMIC RARITY, Pinus maximartinezii, AND ITS CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

"Seeds of blue pine, Pinus maximartinezii, have long beenused for human consumption. However, no chemical analysis ofits nutrient components has been carried out. In this paper, thecontent of kernel proteins, amino acids and fatty acids is reportedand compared with some pinyon pines and other nut species.Proximate analysis showed that blue pine contains about31% crude protein, 66% defatted protein, 42% crude fat, 2%carbohydrates, 9% crude fibre, 4% ash, and 4% moisture. It contains 18 different amino acids, including all the essentialones, and six different fatty acids; of these about 84% are unsaturated.Nuts of blue pine are of outstanding dietary value andappear to be a promising resource, but the impact of seed harvestingsize on the population stability needs to be thoroughlyevaluated in order to insure its sustainable use. A conservationstrategy for P. maximartinezii, should urgently focus on protectingthe specific habitat where this endemic rarity occurs."