NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF PILIOSTIGMA RETICULATUM SEED

The nutritional compositions of piliostigma reticulatum seed was determined.The seeds of the species selected were analyzed for their nutrient and mineral elements.Proximate analysis, mineral analysis and antinutritional analysisof piliostigmma reticulatum was carried out using standard analytical techniques, photo spectrometric method and titrimetric method of analysis.Results obtained showed the percentage (%) Moisture contents as7.6±0.03,Ash as 9.80±0.14,Crude fiber as 6.50±0.702,Crude protein as 2.63±0.04,Crude lipid as 8.40±1.72 and total carbohydrate as 58.27.The relatively low moisture content reveals good storage stability while the high carbohydrates level indicates that the seed are potential energy source, however the low protein content suggest limited usefulness as a primary source of protein.The findings also revealed appreciable concentration of calcium contents as 1632.33±2.19mg/g,magnesium contents as 61.21±0.09mg/g,potasium contents as 1803±8.88mg/kgand that of sodium content as 86.3±7.50 highlighting the seeds as a rich source of essential macro minerals.Iron content as 7.2±0.79,zinc content as 4.56±0.19mg/gand manganese as 197mg/g.The antinutritional analysis of the seeds shows phyates as 0.28mg/100g,saponin as 0.21mg/100g,oxalate as 0.04mg//100g and tannins as 0.01mg/100g.