Physico-chemical properties of the African pear and Black olive from different agro-ecological zones of Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction. Dacryodes edulis and Canarium schweinfurthii are two tropical multi-purpose trees in Cameroon which produce fruits (African pear and Black olive, respec- tively) for human consumption, which are marketed more and more on the national and international markets. This study aimed at characterising these two fruits starting from their physical and chemical properties. Materials and methods. Fruits were collected during the harvest peak in three agro-ecological zones of Cameroon. The physical properties measured were the weight, the length, the fruit circumference and the pulp thickness, while the chemi- cal analyses included the moisture and protein, lipid and ash contents. Results. The fruits from the humid forest were largest (96 g), whereas the smallest came from the grassland (54 g). The highest pulp per fruit content (69% for the African pear and 57% for Black olive) was observed in fruits harvested in the humid forest zone. The strongest correlation (r = 0.25) between the fruit weight and that of pulp was observed for Black olive produced in the humid forest zone. The crude protein rate was highest (8%) in fruits from the humid forest, whereas that of the lipids (42%) prevailed in the semi-forest zone. Conclusion. The humid forest zone offers the best agro-ecological conditions for commercial production of the fruits of D. edulis and C schweinfurthii. These two fruits contain proteins and lipids in significant quantities and can, consequently, be used as alternative sources for these nutritive elements. Cameroon / multiple-use trees / Dacryodes edulis / Canarium schweinfurthii / fruits / proximate composition