ISSN 2375-074X
African Journal of Plant Breeding ISSN 2375-074X Vol. 3 (4), pp. 167-171, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Proximate and chemical composition of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn) fruit pulp in the Guinea Savanna of Nigeria
Okolosi B. N1*, F. O. Brorhie2, Akpan S. W1 and Ojugho C. Bridget1
1Plant Breeding Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil palm Research, NIFOR P.M.B. 1030, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
2Department of Crop Production and Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile-Ife, Oyo State.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 24 June 2014
Abstract
Results of the analysis of variance showed that the mean squares for agro ecology were highly significant (p≤0.05) for proximate (crude protein, crude fibre, crude lipid and ash) and chemical (acid value, peroxide value, iodine value and saponification value). Total ash, fats, crude fibre, crude protein and total carbohydrate, ranged between 5.1-7.3, 17.28-19.22, 9.0-11.55, 6.24-8.36 and 55.35-9.11, respectively. Chemical analysis revealed that acid value and peroxide value ranged between 1.54-2.40 mgKOH/kg and 3.52-7.02 meq/kg, while saponification and iodine values were between 131.54 mgKOH/g and 146.29 mgKOH/g and 36.9 I2g/100 and 52.2 I2g/100 g respectively. The proximate and the chemical composition values obtained in this study showed that the shea fruit pulp is rich in protein, total carbohydrates crude fibre and chemical values. The proximate and the chemical composition values also indicate that the Nigerian shea fruit pulp has adequate nutrients equivalent to other edible fruits, thus growing of shea butter tree and consumption of its nutritious fruits should be promoted.
Key words: *Vitellaria paradoxa*, proximate composition, chemical composition, Guinea savanna.