Phytochemical and nutritional compositions of two varieties of Anacardium occidentale L

Abstract

The study investigated phytochemical and nutritional composition of the two varieties of Anacardium occidentale (red and yellow varieties) apple, bark, leaves and nuts. Standard techniques were utilized to examine the samples. Phytochemicals, proximate analysis, mineral composition and vitamin content, were all determined on the samples. The obtained data from phytochemical analysis showed that in all the sixteen extracts: glycosides, flavonoids, phenol and protein were present in fifteen extracts except in acetone extract of the bark. Results of proximate analysis revealed that percentage ash contents of yellow varieties of the apple, nuts, leaves and bark had higher values of 8.54, 4.97, 3.51 and 2.51 % respectively than the red varieties. The mineral compositions of nuts, apple juice, leaves and bark from red and yellow varieties revealed highest potassium contents in the apple juice with the value of 41.28±4.31 mg. Generally, phosphorus had the highest value of 129.52±0.25 mg among the minerals studied followed by copper with a value of 61.28±0.01 mg in the nut of the red variety. The red varieties of the nut, apple, and leaves had higher vitamin C content than the yellow variety. The red varieties of the nut, apple, and leaves had higher niacin, (B3) than the yellow variety. The rich presence of these phytochemicals, minerals compositions and other nutritive values supports the use of the different parts of Anacardium occidentale in ethno-medicine and equally creates the possibility for their use in drug formulation.