Nutritive Assessment of the Fruit Pulp of Coelocaryon oxycarpum , an Aromatic Plant Consumed as Spice

The fruit pulp of Coelocaryon oxycarpum (Cox) , an aromatic plant, is consumed as a spice in the eastern part of Cote d’Ivoire. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical as well as the nutritive properties of Cox fruit. The fruit pulp powder showed relatively high level of proteins (16.16% dm), crude fiber (46.98% dm), carbohydrate (24.20% dm), vitamin B 6 (47.68 mg/ 100 g dm), vitamin B 2 (33.91 mg/100 g dm), ash (5.09% dm), but low fat (7.57 % dm) and energy (189.19 Kcal/100 g dm). Mineral composition (mg /100 g, dm) revealed that potassium (1566.71±47.15) was the most abundant mineral followed by Mg (126.79), calcium (124.21) and phosphorus (113.9). It contained also appreciable amount of iron (21.68± 7.26). Amino acid profile (mg / 100 g, dm) showed proline (654.73), valine (314.82) and leucine (141.22) as major amino acids. Therefore, the dried pulp of Cox fruit could be considered as a potential source of nutrients and may be of use in food industries as a source of ingredients with high nutritional value.