Abstract
In the quest for finding ways of utilizing shea nut cake (SNC), 24 samples of SNC were obtained from six industries to investigate the presence of microbes, minerals, proximate and phytochemical constituents. The samples were examined for total coliforms, total viable, faecal and Escherichia coli contamination. Other microbes were isolated and identified with the aid of the API kit. The SNC samples were also screened for bioactive (medicinal) potentials. The proximate and mineral constituents of the waste product were studied as well. The means in log cfu/g of total coliforms, total viable, faecal and Escherichia coliwere: 1.95 ± 0.74, 4.98 ± 1.17, 0.82 ± 0.49, and 0.48 ± 0.42, respectively. Other microbes identified were:Brevibacilllus agri, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The phytochemical screenings of extracts of the cake samples revealed that SNC contains saponins, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids and reducing sugar. The proximate results indicated that the SNC has 13.03 ± 1.70% crude protein, 59.37 ± 8.66% carbohydrates, 23.38 ± 10.15% crude fat, 4.25 ± 0.79% ash content, 5.29 ± 0.98% moisture and 8.71 ± 0.85% fibre. The N, K, and Mg contents of the cake were respectively: 2.96 ± 0.39 mg/kg, 4.05 ± 0.62 mg/kg, and 1.43 ± 0.65 mg/kg. The rest of the minerals were: P (0.22 ± 0.04) mg/kg, Na (0.40 ± 0.05) mg/kg, Ca (0.51 ± 0.09) mg/kg, Cu (0.09 ± 0.05) mg/kg, Hg (0.10 ± 0.56) mg/kg and Pb (0.13 ± 0.07) mg/kg. This study highlights the potential applications of the SNC in the feed, animal, fertilizer and therapeutic industries. Key words: Shea nut cake, microbiology, proximate-mineral composition, phytochemicals, Ghana.
Highlights
The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) occurs predominantly in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana and some parts of the Brong Ahafo region (FAO, 1988)
The shea nut industry holds a potential for the development of northern Ghana
Shea nut cake (SNC) has much more nutritional quality than previously thought since the protein, carbohydrates, fibre, potassium and magnesium contents observed in this study were quite high
Summary
The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) occurs predominantly in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana and some parts of the Brong Ahafo region (FAO, 1988). The shea tree attains height of about 6.1 m and girths of 61 centimeters in the wild when it is often ravaged by bushfires. They can reach heights of about 15 m and 17 cm girths under protected conditions. It has been reported that more than 2.5 million tons of shea kernel produced worldwide were used for the production of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and confectionery and edible fats (Ghana News Agency, 2006). Shea butter is produced by women and women groups throughout the year in almost every community in the Northern regions of Ghana.
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