Fatty and amino acid compositions in dry (Brown) and fresh (Yellow) tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) in the south western part of Nigeria

Ayoola P B

Fatty and amino acid compositions in dry (Brown) and fresh (Yellow) tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) in the south western part of Nigeria

Authors
Ayoola P B

Abstract
Fresh (yellow) and dry (brown) Cyperus esculentus nuts are common nuts that most people eat indiscrimately without minding its contribution to the body system and the medicinal implications of the nuts to the society as a whole. The nutritional and medicinal uses of these nuts are scarcely evaluated and reported, therefore, the need for this research. Fresh (yellow) and dry (brown) Cyperus esculentus nuts were obtained from a local market called “Aarada market” situated at Ogbomoso South Local Government Area, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Fatty and Amino acid compositions were determined using standard methods of analysis. The fatty acids analysis result showed that the nuts contained saturated, mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fatty acids, where the prominent saturated fatty acid was lauric acid with the value of 13.57% fresh (yellow) and 18.74% dry (brown) respectively. The prominent fatty acid in the mono unsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid with the values of 37.58% fresh (yellow) and 39.65% dry (brown) respectively. The prominent polyunsaturated fatty acid was linoleic acid with the values of 38.77% fresh (yellow) and 43.28% dry (brown) respectively. The amino acids composition results revealed that dry (brown) Cyperus esculentus nut contained more of the essential and non essential amino acids than the fresh (yellow) type. Histidine (2.97±0.01 and 3.15±0.05%), leucine (8.15-8.57%), isoleucine (3.76 ± 0.01and 3.95 ± 0.01%), phenylalanine (7.45±0.02 and 7.64±0.02%) and valine (7.12 ± 0.02and 7.23±0.01%) were abundant in the dry tiger nut (essential amino acid) while tryptophan (0.57±0.08 and 0.72±0.02 %), threonine (0.49±0.01 and 0.68±0.01%) and methionine (1.26±0.01 and1.35±0.02 %) were in traces. Tyrosine (4.65±0.01 and 4.88±0.01%), cysteine (1.89±0.02 and 2.26±0.02%) and lysine (2.04±0.02 and 2.18±0.02 %) were abundant in the dry tiger nut (non-essential amino acid) while tryptophan (0.57±0.08 and 0.72±0.02%), threonine (0.49±0.01 and 0.68±0.01%), methionine (1.26±0.01 and1.35±0.02%) and arginine (1.08±0.01 and1.35±0.05%) were in traces. The dry (brown) nut is more nutritious, stable and durable considering the amount of both essential and non-essential amino acid compositions in the nut and the unsaturated fatty acids present. However, apart from being nutritious, it could be used in drug formulation and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, Cyperus esculentus (Tiger nuts) could be recommended as diet and medicine mostly for diabetes patient.

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