Abstract
Nutrient and antinutrient constituents in seeds of Sphenostylis stenocarpa were determined. The proximate composition revealed that S. stenocarpa seed contains 12.44% moisture, 18.55% protein, 2.41% lipid, 2.93% ash, 1.95% fibre, 74.16% carbohydrate and 392.50 kcal caloric value. The antinutrients analysis showed that the seed contains 15.25 mg/100 g hydrocyanide, 144.14 mg/100 g tannins, 1.01 mg/100 g phytate and 61.60 mg/100 g oxalate. It may be concluded that the seeds of S. stenocarpa contribute to nutrient intake by the consuming populations in Nigeria and contain some pharmacological evidence for the treatment of stomach aches and acute drunkenness can serve as an antimalarial, antidiabetic, fertility agent, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer and cardioprotective agent. Key words: Nutrient, antinutrient, Sphenostylis stenocarpa.
Highlights
In Nigeria, it is seen in local places in the southern part of Nigeria, where it is cultivated by poor farmers as a security crop
The results show that the seed contains (12.44%) moisture, (18.55%) protein, (2.41%) lipid, (2.93%) Ash, (1.95%) fibre, (74.16%) carbohydrate and (392.50 kcal) caloric value
The results indicate that the seed contains hydrocyanide (15.256 mg/100 g), tannins (144.144 mg/100 g), phytate (1.006 mg/100 g) and oxalate (961.60 mg/100 g)
Summary
Many traditional methods of food preparation such as fermentation, cooking and malting increase the nutritive quality of plant foods though reducing certain antinutrients such as phytic acid, polyphenols and oxalic acid (Hotz and Gibson, 2007) Such processing methods are widely-used in societies where cereals and legumes form a major part of the diet (Chavan and Kadam, 1989; Phillips, 1993). Nutrient Moisture contents Crude protein Crude lipid Ash Crude fibre Carbohydrate Caloric value (Kcal) Polyphenols such as tannins have anticancer properties, so foods such as green tea that contain large amounts of these compounds might be good for the health of some people despite their antinutrient properties (Chung et al, 1998). Very little is known about the economic and nutritional value of S. stenocarpa, this studies aim to add to the existing information the nutritional and antinutritional value of the said seed crop
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