Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T03:21:56.182Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Nutritional composition of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) fruit pulp across its major distribution zones in Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2008

Felix D. Ugese ,
Paul K. Baiyeri  and
Benjamin N. Mbah
Felix D. Ugese
Affiliation:
Dep. Crop Prod., Univ. Agric., P M B 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria
Paul K. Baiyeri
Affiliation:
Dep. Crop Sci., Univ. Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Benjamin N. Mbah
Affiliation:
Dep. Crop Sci., Univ. Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Get access

Abstract

Introduction. The widely recognised dietary and socio-economic value of the shea nut and its butter extract seems to have diminished the usefulness attached to the shea fruit pulp, which is also very important. This is evident from the dearth of scientific information on the nutritional content of the pulp. Materials and methods. We determined the nutritional composition of shea fruit pulp of fruits collected in seven locations spread in the southern Guinea savanna, northern Guinea savanna and the Sudan savanna of Nigeria. Results. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of agro-ecological zones on carbohydrate, protein, fibre and energy. The southern Guinea savanna zone recorded comparatively more carbohydrate and energy content than the other two zones, while maintaining lower values for protein and fibre. Conversely, all nutritional traits varied significantly across the fruit pulps for fruits collected in the individual locations surveyed in the three zones. Values for carbohydrate, protein and fat ranged from 29.3–45.3%, 2.6–7.0% and 0.7–1.7%, respectively. Correlation analysis established a positive significant relationship between carbohydrate and energy, but its relationship with fibre and protein was negative and significant. Fibre content maintained a negative relationship with energy while being positively correlated with protein. Principal component analysis identified fibre, energy, ash, protein and moisture as nutritional traits that could be used in classifying shea fruit pulp. Discussion. Our study showed that the Nigerian Vitellaria fruit pulp has adequate nutritional content that is comparable with that of other species. The strong statistical linkage between fibre and protein in shea fruits presents an attractive combination, particularly for children of the rural zones with restricted access to the more conventional and expensive food sources.

Keywords

NigeriaVitellaria paradoxafruit pulpsproximate compositionNigériaVitellaria paradoxapulpe de fruitscomposition globale
Type
Research Article
Information
Fruits , Volume 63 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 163 - 170
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences, 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Keay R.W.J., Trees of Nigeria, Clarendon Press, Oxford, UK, 1989, 476 p.
Irvine F.R., West African Crops, Oxford Univ. Press, New York USA, 1969, 272 p.
Dupriez H., DeLeener P., African gardens and orchards: growing vegetables and fruits, Macmillan Press Ltd., London, UK, 1989.
Maranz, S., Kpikpi, W., Wiesman, Z., Saint Sauveur, A., Chapagain, B., Nutritional values and indigenous preferences for shea fruits (Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. F.) in African agroforetry parklands, Econom. Bot. 58 (2004) 588–600. CrossRef
Umali B.E., Nikiema A., Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn, Record from protabase, Oyen L.P.A., Lemmens R.H.M.J. (Eds.), PROTA, Wageningen, Neth., 2002.
Anon., Agroforestry database, Int. Cent. Res. Agrofor., ICRAF, 2000.
Vickery M.L., Vickery B., Plant products of tropical Africa, Macmillan Press Ltd., London, UK, 1969, 116 p.
Badifu, G.I.O., Lipid composition of the Nigerian Butyrospermum paradoxum kernel, J. Food Compos. Anal. 2 (1989) 238–244. CrossRef
Boffa, J.M., Yameogo, G., Nikiema, P., Taonda, J.B., What future for the shea tree? Agrofor. Today 8 (4) (1996) 5–9.
Popoola, L., Tee. N.T., Potentials of Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn F. in agroforestry systems in Benue State, Niger, J. Ecol. 16 (2001) 20–24.
Lamien, N., Sidibe, A., Bayala, J., The joy of cooking: recipes for the success of shea tree, Agrofor. Today 8 (4) (1996) 10–11.
Hoe, V.B., Sing, K.H., The nutritive value of indigenous fruits and vegetables in Sarawak, Asia, Pac. J. Clin. Nutr. 8 (1979) 24–31.
Ologe K.O., Nigeria: relief and hydrography, in: Pigeonniere L.A. (Ed.), Africa atlases: Nigeria, Ed. J.A., Paris, France, 2002, pp. 57–59.
Anon., Official methods of analysis, Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem (AOAC), 4th ed., Washington DC, USA, 1980.
Joslyn M.A., Methods of food analysis, 2nd ed., Acad. Press, New York, USA, 1970, 560 p.
Anon., GENSTAT Release 4.24 DE, Discov. 2nd ed., Lawes Agric. Trust, Rothamsted Exp. Stn., UK, 2005.
Yan, W., GGEBiplot – a Windows application for graphical analysis of multi–environment trial data and other types of two-way data, Agron. J. 93 (2001) 1111– 1118. CrossRef
Roberts M.B.V., Biology: a functional approach, 2nd ed., Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., Singapore, 1976, 656 p.
Agboola S.A., An agricultural atlas of Nigeria, Oxf. Univ. Press, London, UK, 1979, 248 p.
Lombin G., Soil science, in: Youdeowei A., Ezedinma F.O.C., Onazi O.C. (Eds.), Introduction to tropical agriculture, Longman Group Ltd., London, UK, 1986, pp. 84–87.
Umoro Umoti, U., Okiy, A., Characteristics and composition of the pulp, oil and cake of the African pear, Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H. J. Lam., J. Sci. Food Agric. 38 (1987) 67–72.
Leakey, R.R.B., Potential for novel food products from agroforestry trees: a review, Food Chem. 66 (1999) 1–14. CrossRef
Anon., Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard, Microsoft, 2003.
Baiyeri, K.P., Tenkouano, A., Genetic and cropping cycle effects on proximate composition and antinutrient content of flour made from eleven Musa genotypes, Glob. J. Pure Appl. Sci. 12 (2006) 177–182.
Rice R.P., Rice L.W., Tindall H.D., Fruit and vegetable production in Africa, Macmillan Publ. Ltd., London, UK, 1987.