Proximate and Mineral Safety Index of Hunteria umbellata Seeds

Abstract

Hunteria umbellata is widely used in African traditional medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, inflammatory conditions, and other ailments. This study evaluated the nutritional quality of Hunteria umbellata to establish its suitability as a potential food source. Dried seeds of Hunteria umbellata were processed into flour and subjected to proximate and mineral analyses using standard analytical methods. Proximate parameters, including moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and carbohydrate contents, were determined. Mineral analysis focused on essential macro- and microelements; mineral ratios and the mineral safety index were also determined. The proximate composition revealed that Hunteria umbellata seeds contained low moisture (8.10 ± 0.03%) and appreciable levels of crude fat (24.03 ± 0.05%), carbohydrate (33.34 ± 0.03%), crude protein (17.42 ± 0.03%), crude fibre (9.06 ± 0.05%), and ash (8.05 ± 0.03%), indicating considerable nutritional value and good storage stability. Mineral analysis showed the presence of essential elements, with potassium being the most abundant (610.72 mg/100 g), followed by phosphorus (218.52 mg/100 g) and calcium (181 mg/100 g), while selenium was the least abundant (0.03 mg/100 g). The low Na/K ratio and high K/Na ratio suggest potential benefits for maintaining cardiovascular health and electrolyte balance, particularly in relation to the control of high blood pressure. Hunteria umbellata seeds also possess substantial nutritional potential and contain bioavailable minerals that are essential for human nutrition.