Comparative studies of the level of toxicant in the seeds of Terminalia catappa (Indian Almond) and Coula edulis (African Walnut)
Keywords:
Toxicant, Indian almond, African walnut seeds, Comparative studiesAbstract
The mean concentrations of tannin, oxalate, hydrogen cyanide and phytic acid in the seeds of Indian
almond fruits were found to be 3820.00mg/100g, 140.80mg/100g, 8.64mg/100g and 2546.72mg/100g
respectively. In the seed of the African walnut fruits, the corresponding mean concentrations were
2898.00mg/100g, 48.40mg/100g, 10.80mg/100g and 1932.00mg/100g respectively. The concentrations of
these toxicants in the two seeds were significantly different from each other when subjected to t-test
statistics. Their concentrations were also compared with the concentration of the respective toxicants in
some edible fruits. The concentration of phytic acid in these fruits was relatively higher than the
concentration of phytic acid reported for some common fruits