Abstract
The seeds of Delonix regia were investigated for proximate, antinutrient, mineral, amino acid and vitamins compositions while the physicochemical properties, fatty acids and acylglycerols of its oil were also determined. Moisture, crude fibre, ash, crude fat, crude protein, carbohydrate, tannin, oxalate and saponin were 10.12 ± 0.59 %, 14.6 ± 0.44 %, 1.03 ± 0.02 % 17.16 ± 0.15 %, 8.75 ± 0.04 %, 48.34 %, 1.28±0.02mg g–1, 2.57±0.02mg g–1, and 2.89±0.02mg g–1, respectively. The seed contained 1604.0±0.1mg 100 g–1 Na, 1144.0 ± 0.2 mg 100 g–1 Fe, 920.0 ± 0.6 mg 100 g–1 Zn, 284.0 ± 0.1 mg 100 g–1 Mn, 114.0 ± 0.1 mg 100 g–1 Cu, 9.1 ± 0.1 mg 100 g–1 K, 4.1 ± 0.1 mg 100 g–1 P, 4.0 ± 0.1 mg 100 g–1 Mg, and 1.5 ± 0.1 mg 100 g–1 Ca. The ratios of Na/K and Ca/P were 176.26 and 0.37, respectively. Glutamic acid (147.95mg g–1 protein) and methionine (10.87mg g–1 protein) were the most and least abundant amino acids, respectively. The oil was liquid at room temperature, sweet-smelling, amber and had high saponification (203.40±6.72 mg KOH g–1) and iodine (121.03±3.02 g 100 g–1) values. The most abundant fatty acids in the oil followed the order; linoleic acid (C18:2, 37.1 %)>palmitic acid (C16:0, 23.90 %)>stearic acid (C18:0, 8.20 %)>linolenic (C18:3, 7.6 %)>oleic (C18:1 Δ 9, 4.91 %)>ricinoleic acid (C18:1, 4.50 %). The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was 0.83. Vitamin E (33.68 mg 100 g–1) and triacylglycerols (96.62 %) accounted for the highest contributions to vitamins and acylglycerols, respectively, in the oil. These results showed that the seeds were nutritive and good for both nutrition and industrial uses.
Highlights
Oils from vegetable sources especially their seeds have recently gained prominence and attention because of their wide range of uses
The values were lower compared to the values reported for tannin and phytate in Colocasia esculenta according to Lewu et al.[21], for Colocasia esculenta L. and saponin reported by Jukanti et al.[22] for Cicer arietinum L. but have higher oxalate content than values obtained by Amata and Nwagu[6] for D. regia
Results obtained in the current study showed lower concentrations of Mn, Cu, K, Mg and Ca but higher values of Na, Fe and Zn than results of mineral contents obtained by Amata and Nwagu[6] for D. regia seeds while it is higher than the results obtained for fruits of Antheraea pernyi and leaves of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
Summary
Oils from vegetable sources especially their seeds have recently gained prominence and attention because of their wide range of uses They are good sources of food and raw materials for industries for the production of lubricants, fuel for paraffin lamps, additives for paint formulation and soap production.[1,2] Due to continuous demands for edible and industrial oils, various sources of oil, especially from seeds of relatively neglected plants that are in abundance in our locality, are continuously being investigated to supplement the existing ones. Delonix regia is a legume and belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae It is a beautiful, semi-deciduous tree known as flame of forest in Nigeria and grows to heights of about 18 metres. The mature fruit splits open into two halves revealing the elongated hard seeds.[3,4,5,6,7,8] D. regia leaves and seeds have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer and antioxidant properties.[5,6] Pharmacological, phytochemical and proximate investigation of D. regia showed that it contains bioactive compounds and essential minerals such as tannin, saponin, phenolics, flavonoids, reducing sugars, triterpenoids, anthraquinones, amino acids, alkaloids, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.[9,10]
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