Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential food and industrial values of a tropical and underutilized indigenous plant.
Design/methodology/approach - Specimens of a dry-milled plant, namely: Zizyphus spina-christi, were subjected to chemical analysis to determine their proximate, mineral, sugar, and amino acid compositions using standard procedures.
Findings - The fruit pulp was found to be a good source of energy, carbohydrates and rich in Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn, whereas the seeds are rich in crude fiber. Essential amino acids are 32.96 percent in fruit pulp and 25.22 percent in seeds, whereas non-essential amino acids are 61.25 percent in fruit pulp and 73 percent in seeds.
Originality/value - The nutritional composition of the plant materials suggests that they may find use in food formulation operations and as industrial raw materials.