Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Rothmannia Longiflora Seed

Many plant species, especially less-known and underutilized ones are evaluated for their medicinal application, nutritional profile and energy potentials. This study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional, anti-nutritional, medicinal as well as energy potentials of Rothmannia longiflora seeds. The results obtained from proximate analysis seeds were; Moisture content (7.17±0.58%), Ash content (8.67±0.29%), Crude lipid (24.87±0.76%), Crude protein (4.62±0.12%), Crude fiber (2.33±0.29%), Available carbohydrate (59.51±0.02%), Energy value (480.15kcal/100g), Organic matter (84.16±0.59%), Carbon content (48.87±0.14%), C/N (33.20) and Nitrogen content (0.74%). The mineral analysis showed potassium as being predominant with value (180.00±6.25mg/100g) followed by sodium (10.75±0.4mg/100g), Calcium (5.21±1.13mg/100g), Magnesium (4.22±1.33mg/100g) and Phosphorus(0.65±0.002mg/100g) in that order while remaining elements were found in trace concentrations. The anti-nutritional factors analysed were oxalate (0.0045±0.08mg/100g), phytate (4.65±0.082mg/100g), cyanide (0.086±0.00mg/100g), tannins (0.013±0.001mg/100g) and nitrate (1.54±0.001mg/100g). The phytochemical constituents of the seed oil however revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, carotenoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides while showing absence of tannins, phlobatannins, phenols and anthraquinones. The results of the study indicated that Rothmannia longiflora seeds could be a good source of lipids, mineral elements and could as well find application in energy while the seed oil could also be an important material for traditional medicine and other industrial purposes.