Nutritive and Anti-Nutritive Evaluation of Wonderful Kola (Buccholzia coricea) Seeds

Abstract

Levels of some nutrients, anti-nutrients and dietary fibre of wonderful kola (Buccholzia coricea) seeds were determined using standard analytical methods. Crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, moisture contents and calorific values were 13.28%, 2.50%, 1.70%, 4.53%, 77.18%, 1.34%, and 384.33% Kcal, respectively. The total, insoluble and soluble dietary fibre contents were found to be 11.77%, 11.09%, and 0.68%, respectively. Elemental analysis of the seeds indicated that the dried seeds contained magnesium (1.58%), sodium (1.20ppm), potassium (1.26ppm), phosphorus (0.18mg/g) and calcium (0.17%). Anti-nutrient composition of saponin, oxalates, tannins and phytates in mg/100g. The values were 4.03±0.26, 1.06±0.04, 0.11±0.004 and 3.18±0.01, respectively, while trypsin inhibitor was 0.53±0.07 TIU. These results reveal that these seeds contain appreciable amounts of nutrients especially carbohydrates and proteins with good caloric value and low levels of toxicants and should be included in human diets to supplement our daily allowance needed by the body.