Comparative Studies of Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Properties of African Bush Mango (irvingia Gabonensis) and Date (phoenix Dactylifera) Seeds

Non-timber forest products have become a vital source of income for rural dwellers, providing local communities with financial benefits and opportunities for sustainable forest management. Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as dates, belonging to the Family Arecaceae is one of the most abundant fruits in the world. Irvingia gabonensis, known as African bush mango, belongs to the Family Irvingiaceae, is a multipurpose tree species that makes important contributions to nutrition and economic growth. This study evaluates the nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of Irvingia gabonensis and Phoenix dactylifera seeds. Proximate composition was determined using standard method of AOAC, mineral composition was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method while vitamin content and anti-nutrient properties were determined using spectrophotometric method. The carbohydrate content of Irvingia gabonensis and Phoenix dactylifera was 13.38% and 76.93%, Protein content was 9.16% and 6.46% and Fat was 65.53% and 4.56% respectively. The mineral content also revealed that Irvingia gabonensis and Phoenix dactylifera contained 33.36mg and 67.02mg of sodium and 51.13mg and 0.13mg of calcium respectively. The vitamin A content revealed that Irvingia gabonensis and Phoenix dactylifera contained 1.76 mg and 8.15mg while vitamin C was 3.17mg and 1.32mg respectively. The result showed that Irvingia gabonensis and Phoenix dactylifera seeds are rich sources of calcium. The low-fat content observed in Phoenix dactylifera seeds suggests that the seeds could be effectively used for weight loss and could also reduce the risks of heart diseases. However, there is a need to create awareness on the nutritional benefits of consuming these seeds to improve human health.