Determination of the Nutritive Value of Ceylon Almond (Terminalia catappa) and Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea) Seeds from Sabaragamuwa Region of Sri Lanka

Aims: The Global population is increasing at an accelerated rate while food security is moving in towards a negative direction. Therefore, identification and utilization of underutilized food resources are important to attain sustainability. The present study focused on seeds of two underutilized plants namely; Ceylon almond (Terminalia catappa) and Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) as a source of edible oil production and to evaluate nutritional factors of the seed meal for potential application as a food/feed source.

Methodology: The moisture content of the seeds was determined according to the method of AOAC 925.09. The fat content of the seeds was evaluated through the Soxhlet method followed by FAME determination through GC method. The crude protein content of the defatted seed meal was analyzed according to the method of AOAC 991.20 and AOAC 2011.14 procedures was followed to determine the mineral content of the seed meal using ICP-OES.

Results: The study revealed that both of the seeds contained high levels of moisture content and Terminalia catappa seed exhibited the highest moisture content (30.0%). The seeds of Terminalia catappa contained 18.08% of fat and major fatty acid was palmitic. The crude protein content of defatted seeds of T. catappa was 35.11% and it had a high level of potassium (K) according to the ICP-OES analysis. Clitoria ternatea seed oil contained the least amount of fat (10.8%) and the major fatty acid was oleic (50.87%); an unsaturated fatty acid. The seed meal of it contained 50.16% of crude protein and major minerals were potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Conclusion: The C. ternatea seed meal is an excellent source of protein. However, seeds contain relatively low level of fat compared to T. catappa seeds. Both seed meals are good source of minerals.