Saturday, 14 March 2026

Determination of Proximate and Antinutrient Composition of Hura crepitans Seeds from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Nigeria | Chapter 6 | Chemistry and Biochemistry: Research Progress Vol. 9

 

Hura crepitans is traditionally grown as a shade tree and has also been found to be useful in many ethnomedicinal applications, such as its use in the treatment of leprosy and as an antimicrobial, among others. Although sandbox trees are being used as shade in most parts of the world, the tree is one of the underutilised trees in Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the proximate and antinutritional composition of the seeds of   H. crepitans. Analysis of proximate and antinutrient composition of Hura crepitans (Sandbox tree) seeds obtained from the campus of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene were carried out using standard analytical procedures. The recommended methods of AOAC were used for proximate analysis. The result of the proximate composition analysis showed that H. crepitans seeds contain moisture content (13.875 ± 0.176%), crude fat (36.750±1.060%), crude fibre (0.5±0.000%), crude protein (36.625±0.884%), ash content (0.25±0.000%) and carbohydrate (25.875±0.200%). The result of the antinutrient analysis showed that H. crepitans seeds contain phytic acid (phytate) (0.615±0.002mg/100g), hydrogen cyanide (3.289±0.003mg/100g), oxalate (1.386±0.001mg/100g) and tannins (8.130±0.003mg/100g). Tannins had the highest concentration, while phytate had the lowest concentration of all the antinutrients analysed. The antinutrients can be removed during processing. The result of the proximate composition reveals high crude fat and protein contents of the seed of H. crepitans, showing that the seed is nutritional. It was concluded that sandbox tree seeds possess all the analysed antinutrients, which can even be removed during processing. Findings from this study, therefore, suggest intensified research on the seeds of H. crepitans so as to harness its potential in the production of animal feed.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Etiowo George Ukpong
Department of Chemical Sciences, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria.

 

Janet Monday Tom
Department of Chemical Sciences, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria.

 

Okon Effiong Okon
Department of Chemical Sciences, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria.

 

James Okon Effiong
Department of Chemical Sciences, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria.

 

Promise–Godsfavour Mfon Bobson
Department of Chemical Sciences, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cbrp/v9/6685

 

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