DETERMINATION OF THE PROXIMATE COMPOSITIONS, NUTRITIONALLY VALUABLE MINERAL, FUNCTIONAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF WONDERFUL KOLA (BUCCHOLZIA CORIACEA)

Abstract

Levels of some nutrients, antinutrients, antioxidants, mineral composition, and functional properties of the seeds of Buccholzia coriacea. Engl. (Capparaceae) ‘the wonderful kola’ were determined using standard analytical methods. The result of the proximate analysis on dry weight showed high ash content of 4.52 %, crude fat of 9.58% and crude fibre of 4.19 % ( for dried seed) compared to fresh seed of 1.23 %, 6.5% and 3.34 % for ash content, crude fat and crude fibre respectively. The mineral content showed that potassium, phosphorus, calcium and sodium of 150 mg/kg, 36.80 mg/kg, 37.50 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg respectively were found to be the most abundant nutritionally valuable minerals with higher values in the dried than fresh The antinutritional factors analyzed showed that tannin, oxalate and terpernoid were in lower range in both fresh and dried seeds with lowest values in dried for oxalate and Tannins of 0.97 mg/g and 0.78 mg/g respectively than the range of values reported for most kolas and herbs. Phytates and saponin were higher in dried seed flour than fresh seed. The antioxidant assay revealed that vitamin C was found to have the highest value of 46.85 mg/g in fresh sample extracted with methanol. The free radical scavenging ability was high in both fresh and dried seed. The highest free radical scavenging ability of 91.55 mg/g was observed in methanolic extract of the fresh seed. The use of methanol gave the highest values for antioxidant assay analysed in the fresh seeds especially for ferric reducing antioxidant of 178.65 mg/g.