Nutritive value of a mixture of tigernut tubers (Cyperus esculentus L.) and baobab seeds (Adansonia digitata L.)

Abstract

AbstractThe seeds of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and the tubers of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus L.) were analysed chemically for their proximate composition and amino acids. The tubers contained 47.9% digestible carbohydrates, 32.8% oil and 3.8% crude protein. The baobab seeds contained 24.1% digestible carbohydrate, 29.7% oil and 28.4% crude protein. A mixture of the vegetables was prepared from three parts of the tigernuts and one part of baobab seeds, by weight, such that a 10% crude protein meal was obtained. The chemical score of the mixed vegetable was 51%, based on limiting amino acids, i.e. those which contain sulphur. The level of antinutritive substances, such as tannin and tryptic inhibitors, in the raw vegetables were reduced by soaking or boiling.