Nutritional Composition and Fatty Acids Profile of Ficus Exasperata Fruit and Fruit Oil

Abstract

The proximate compositions, mineral elements contents and fatty acids profiles of fruit oil of Ficus exasperata were studied with a view to investigating its nutraceutical potentials. The proximate analysis showed that the fruit contain valuable nutrients; (g/100g) crude protein (11.38 ± 0.02), crude fibre (16.78 ± 0.04), ash (9.68 ± 0.01), crude fat (4.28 ± 0.00), moisture content (7.58 ± 0.01), and carbohydrate (67.48 ± 0.01). The results of mineral analysis (in mg/100g) revealed the presence of potassium (3262.28 ±6.87), calcium (1721.00 ± 4.04), iron (330.81 ± 8.32), titanium (28.00 ± 0.01), manganese (18.08 ± 0.18), copper (14.04 ± 1.51), chromium (0.08 ± 0.02) and nickel (0.37 ± 0.11). The fatty acids profile showed that the fruit oil contains higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (54.54 %) and oleic acid (18.89 %). The major saturated fatty acids detected include stearic acid (9.10 %), and palmitic acid (7.32 %). Thus the fruit could be another dietary source of nutraceuticals.

Keywords: Fatty acids, Ficus exasperata fruit, Mineral elements, Nutraceuticals, Proximate constituents.