Nutrient Contents of Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima Linn.) Seeds

Abstract

Physical parameters and nutrient contents of the whole seeds and seed nuts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. were determined using gravimetric, Spectrophotometric and titrimetric method of analyses. Organic matter was high in both whole seeds and seed nuts 93.78-95.50 %, followed by dry matter 90.95-92.70 %. Crude protein was between 42.97-48.08%, carbohydrate was found to be 18.30-39.10%, crude fibre was between 5.98-9.06 %, crude lipid 5.65-6.0 %, and moisture content was between 7.30-9.05 % in whole seeds and seed nuts respectively. Abundance of mineral elements in whole seeds and seed nuts of C. pulcherrima were found to be in the order: phosphorus > magnesium > sodium > potassium > calcium> iron. Sodium to Potassium ratio (Na/K) was 1.23-130 while Calcium to Phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) was 0.25-0.66 for whole seeds and seed nuts. The calorie value was 217.47-312.15 kcal/100g. The length of pod (LOP) was 9.28±0.03 cm, the breadth of pod (BOP) was 1.52±0.14 cm, number of seeds per pod (NOSPP) was 7.0±1 while the weight of seed was 1.07±0.16 g. There was no correlation between the LOP and the NOSSP at 95% with r= 0.52. C. pulcherrima could be a good source for low cost plant protein, good source for iron, as well as good source for calcium. The whole seeds were found to be richer in nutrients then the seed nuts expect for the mineral element phosphorus and magnesium.