Nutritional and Anti-Nutrient Composition of Three Kola Nuts (<i> Cola nitida, Cola acuminata </i> and <i> Garcinia kola </i>) Produced in Benin

Abstract

Kola nuts were regularly chewed by West Africans and Beninese in particularly. The aim of this study was to investigate nutritional and anti-nutrient content of three Benin's kola nuts (Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola). Proximate composition of the three species of kola nuts was assessed using standard analytical AOAC methods. Phenolics and flavonoids contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum trichloride methods, respectively. Mineral composition was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry method. Free and total amino acids were separated and quantified by HPLC. Protein content of the three kola nuts ranges from 4.95% (G. kola) to 10.64% (C. acuminata) whereas fat content ranges from 0.2 ± 0.00 (C. nitida) to 2.5 ± 0.42 (G. kola). Total phenolics abounded (2444.96 ± 81.56 µg Eq AG/100g) in C. acuminata, while flavonoids predominated (561.69 ± 22.10 µgEqQ/100g) in G. kola. The three species are a good source of magnesium and a copper provider was lowest in C. nitida (0.59 ± 0.08 mg/g) and in C. acuminata (0.65 ± 0.02 mg/g). The dominant total essential amino acids were threonine (C. acu-* Corresponding author. D. Dah-Nouvlessounon et al.1396 minata) and methionine (C. acuminata and G. kola), while the predominant non-essential total amino acids according to species were arginine (C. nitida and G. kola), proline (C. acuminata) and cysteine (G. kola). For the anti-nutrients factors, saponins were in great proportion (8.33% ± 0.25%), while the oxalates were in small proportion (0.44% ± 0.04%). The three species have an interesting nutritional composition, but these seeds have the relatively lowest amino acids content.

Effect of Garcinia kola seeds supplemented diet on growth performance and gonadal development of Oreochromis niloticus juveniles breed in ponds

“…In addition, bioflavonoids are known as plant chemicals with estrogenic activity, and studies have shown that estrogen promotes growth in common carp (Kocour et al 2005). As aforementioned above, phytochemical studies of Garcinia kola seeds have revealed relatively low levels of antinutritional compounds such as tannin, oxalate, phytate, and trypsin inhibitor (Omeh et al 2014, Dah-Nouvlessounon et al 2015. However, the increase in dietary supplementation of G. kola is naturally followed by that of the above-mentioned anti-nutritional components.…”

Genetic variability of bioactive compounds and selection for nutraceutical quality in kola [Cola nitida (Vent) Schott. and Endl.]

“…The aspartic acid helps to promote a robust body metabolism and it is used to treat depression and fatigue [12]. The kola industry offers a lot of employment and income opportunities to people involved in the harvesting, processing, packaging and transportation of nuts [13][14][15]. The crop has socio-cultural importance in Africa especially during traditional rites [16,17].…”

Nutritional Characteristics of Four Underutilized Edible Wild Fruits of Dietary Interest in Ghana

“…Accordingly, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is currently promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for nutrition and agriculture as a means to increase dietary diversity [7,8,9]. However, the main problem relating to the full exploitation of some of these wild fruits is the presence of some antinutrients, which have the potential to reduce especially protein and starch digestibility and mineral bioavailability [10,11,12].…”