A comparative study of the chemical composition of entadapursaetha and pentaclethra macrophylla seeds and seed oils

Abstract

The proximate, physicochemical, mineral element and fatty acid composition of seeds and seed oils of Entada pursaetha and Pentaclethra macrophylla have been analysed and compared in order to establish any similarities/differences in their chemical composition and to evaluate the possibility of their suitability for nutritional or industrial purposes. The proximate analyses of the seeds showed that the oil yield of P macrophylla: 40.21 mg/100 g is by far greater than that of E pursaetha: 4.26 mg/100 g but the carbohydrate content is vice versa (E. pursaetha: 45.36 mg/100 g; P. macrophylla: 3.84 mg/100 g). The protein content of both seeds is high (23.19-33.00 mg/100 g) and is greater than those of high protein animal sources like beef, oyster, pork and marine fishes. The physicochemical properties of the oils are comparable with those of conventional oils and suggest the suitability of these oils as edible oils. Results of the analysis for the mineral element contents of the flour of both seeds showed that potassium is the most prevalent mineral present in the two seeds followed by magnesium for P. macrophylla and phosphorus for E pursaetha. Analysis of the oils for fatty acids indicates that both oils contain more of unsaturated fatty acids than saturated ones. This is of great nutritional significance.