Phytochemical Screening and Nutritional Evaluation of African Oil Bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla) Seeds.

Abstract

The chemical composition, phytochemical screening and antinutrients composition of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla) seeds were determined. Matured seeds were collected, they were shelled and pulverized into a fine powder and kept in air tight sample bottle for further analysis. The seed is rich in protein (34.420.02%), oil (44.240.10%) and energy (577.04 Kcal/100g). the seeds can therefore be classified as oil seed. The most abundant elements in mg/100g of the seed are sodium (Na) (280.65 0.05), potassium (K) (235.650.05), magnesium (Mg) (210.700.50), calcium (Ca) (201.470.01) and phosphorus (P) (196.110.01) while iron (Fe) (8.710.02), zinc (Zn) (6.56 0.10), copper (Cu) (5.25 0.05) and lead (Pb) (3.54 0.04) were of lower concentrations. Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) were not detected (ND). Tannin, saponin and flavonoid were present while cardiac glycoside and alkaloid are absent. Anti nutritional factors were low with the following values: phytic acid (0.720.01mg/100g), tannin (1.240.05mg/100g), trypsin inhibitor (2.010.01TIU A /mg of protein) and haemaglutinin activity (1.890.10 HU B /g sample). The result of the research work showed that African oil bean seed has a potential for dietary improvement in food industries.