Author(s)

Mamadou Sanou, Mah Alima Esther Traoré, Hyacinthe Kanté-Traoré^*, Korotimi Traoré, Abel Tankoano, Charles Parkouda

Institute for Research in Applied Sciences and Technologies (IRSAT), National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Sclerocarya birrea fruits and almonds are used in human nutrition and are a source of income for the rural population of Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physico-chemical and nutritional characteristics of Sclerocarya birrea A. rich (Anacardiaceae) almonds from Burkina Faso. Fresh ripe fruits of Sclerocarya birrea were collected in three regions of Burkina Faso: the North, the Mouhoun loop and the Hauts-Bassins. The physicochemical parameters of almonds and oil extracted from almonds were determined using AOAC methods. Amino acids were measured by HPLC and minerals by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results show that Sclerocarya birrea almonds have a moisture of 4.16% ± 0.40% with 4.47% ± 0.20% total ash; 28.89% ± 2.08% protein; 56.46% ± 2.36% total fat and 10.18% ± 2.14% carbohydrates. Amino acid profile showed that almonds contain all the essential amino acids, with high levels of histidine and phenylalanine. Total ash analyzed consists mainly of calcium (192.85 ± 169.17 mg/100g), potassium (806.71 ± 324.48 mg/100g), magnesium (386.57 ± 176.03 mg/100g) and sodium (28.68 ± 20.55 mg/100g), with a Na/K ratio of 0.03 ± 0.01. Almonds also contain iron (3.33 ± 1.50 mg/100g) and zinc (6.46 ± 3.06 mg/100g). Sclerocarya birrea oil has a refractive index at 20˚C of 1.46 ± 0.00, an iodine value of 25.40 ± 3.18 g I₂/100g and a saponification value of 190.29 ± 10.25 mg KOH/g. S. birrea almonds of Burkina Faso are a source of protein, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals and essential amino acids for the diet and deserve to be developed.

Sclerocarya birrea, Nutritional Composition, Physico-Chemical Parameters, Burkina Faso

Sanou, M. , Traoré, M. , Kanté-Traoré, H. , Traoré, K. , Tankoano, A. and Parkouda, C. (2024) Assessment of Physicochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Sclerocarya birrea A. Almonds and Oil from Burkina Faso. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 14, 2850-2862. doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2024.1410187.