Evaluation of Proximate, Sugar and Fatty Acids Compositions of African Walnut (Plukenetia conophora Mull. Arg.) Root Bark

Abstract

African walnut (P. conophora Mull. Arg.) root is used traditionally as antitussive and expectorant. The decoction and infusion of the root is often taking without any standard measurement, hence the need to investigate the proximate, sugar compositions and fatty acids content of its root bark with a view to establish its industrial and pharmacological importance. Proximate, sugar, and fatty acids were determined using standard methods as described by Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The proximate analysis showed that the root bark contained high amount of moisture (71.70 ± 0.01)%, followed by crude fiber (18.80 ± 0.01)% while protein and ash contents were (3.42 ± 0.01)%, and (2.84 ± 0.02)%, respectively, and crude fat was (1.34 ± 0.01)%. Sugar analysis revealed that the root contained sucrose (4.37 ± 0.02) %, glucose (3.28 ± 0.02) % and maltose (0.86 ± 0.02)%. The fatty acids analysis showed that the root bark contained saturated, mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fatty acids. The prominent saturated fatty acid was stearic acid with the value of 4.10% while oleic acid (33.88%) was the highest for mono unsaturated fatty acid. Linolenic acid with the values of 35.57% was the prominent among the polyunsaturated fatty acids. The study has revealed the presence of some essential nutrients in the root bark of African walnut in moderate proportion which suggest the potential utilization of this plant part as nutrient, addictive, or supplement in drug and cosmetics formulation.