ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES FROM HEART OF OIL PALM TREE (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS JACQ.) CONSUMED IN C?TE D'IVOIRE

The heart of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a vegetable, very little consumed in C?te d'Ivoire and unknown to the population. The aim of this study is to evaluate its nutritional potential in order to contribute to a wide consumption and valorization. Thus the physicochemical and functional properties of different parts (proximal, median, distal) of heart of oil palm tree were assessed. Some physicochemical results obtained are as follows: moisture (5.87?0.01 - 10.83?1.16 %), crude proteins (10.7?0.66 - 13.12?0.69%), crude fiber (21.98?0.02 - 34.9?0.1 %), ash (6.91?0.07 - 8.28?0.51%), carbohydrates (39.85?0.06 - 46.42?0.11%) and energy (270.45?0.04 ? 33.65?0.01 kcal/100g). The major mineral is the Potassium (1412?224.65 - 1787.43? 75.57). Some functional properties studied are as follows: Bulk density (0.54?0.01 - 0.57?0.01 g/cm3), Foam capacity (26.31?0.72 -31.61?0.54%), Water absorption capacity (453.15?1.6 - 568.7?0.89%), Water solubility index (25.4?0.28 - 30.25?0.21%), Paste clarity (0.16 - 0.21%), Wettability (135.9 - 330 sec). The physicochemical and functional properties of different parts (PP, MP, DP) from heart of oil palm tree core show significant differences (P < 0.05).