Comparative studies of the proximate composition, and anti-nutritional factors of Garcinia kola

Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the comparative studies on the proximate composition and anti-nutritional factors of Garcinia kola. The proximate composition and anti-nutritional factors were performed on the seed kernel, fruit pulp, and the fruit pod of Garcinia kola. Analyses for nutritional (moisture content, ash, protein content, crude fibre, fat, carbohydrate) and anti-nutritional (phytate, oxalate tannin, alkaloid, saponin, flavonoid) composition were conducted. The fruit pod had higher ash content than the fruit pulp and seed kernel. The fruit pulp had the highest moisture content, followed by the fruit pod and lastly by the seed kernel. The protein and fat contents of the seed kernel and fruit pod were similar but higher than those of the fruit pulp. Carbohydrate content was higher in seed kernel than in the fruit pulp and fruit pod. The results of anti-nutritional analyses indicated that the seed kernel and fruit pulp of Garcinia kola did not have a high concentration of anti-nutrients. Thus, the consumption of the species is not detrimental to health and can be used as food supplements in food manufacturing.

Keywords

• garcinia kola
• anti-nutrient
• proximate analysis
• rainforest