NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF MANGO SEED KERNEL

Abstract

Seed kernels of two cultivars (Chausa and Dusheri) of mango (Mangifera indica) were analysed for chemical composition, lipid classes, fatty acid composition, amino acid profile and chemical evaluation of protein quality. The seed kernels constituted about 18% of the total fruit and had 5% protein, 6–7% crude fat, 0.19–0.44% tannins, iodine value of 34–44 and saponification number 202–213. Oleic acid (42%) and stearic acid (39%) were the principal fatty acids in the oil. The in vitro digestibility was low in these cultivars, possibly due to the presence of tannins. Sulphur-containing amino acids (methionine+cystine) and isoleucine were the limiting amino acids in Chausa and Dusheri, respectively. The essential amino acid index and protein quality index were high, thus indicating the good quality of the protein in mango seed kernel.