A Comparative Analysis of Nutritional and Chemical Composition of Eight Seeds Used as Native Medicine in West Africa

Abstract

Background: Rising cost of healthcare globally has prompted governments to seek for ways to treat diseases and reduce costs, plants products offers hope. Aims: To technically conduct a comparative investigation of the nutritional and chemical composition of eight seeds used for treating diseases in West Africa. To determine edibility, suggest new food, prompt suitable choices and provide easy access of consensus evidence to busy healthcare professional. Place and Duration of Study: Dept of Public Health, College of Health Science, Walden University, Minneapolis, USA, and Dept of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria between September 2022 and June 2023; research collaboration. Methodology: A systematic review supported by a community approach to intervention services theory was used to determine seeds’ composition. Search engines used, Google, Google scholar, Fire fox, and Safari. Results: Macro and micronutrients are predominantly present. Only three seeds are consumed as food, the rest are thrashed, and some do not have enough evidence as much as modern medicine is concerned; thus, authors goal is education of both health practitioners and the public about the seeds’ nutritional usefulness. Highest concentration of carbohydrates, 78.49% occurred in Chrysophillum albidum, while Plukenatia conophora ranked last, Tetrapleura tetraptera shows highest protein, while Magnifiera indica scored last, 5.67%. Carica papaya contains the highest fat, 28.3%, with Plukenatia conophora ranking last, 4.28%. Fibre concentration in Annona muricata was high, 35.20%, while Magnifera indica scored the least, 2.35%. Ash level in Tetrapleura tetraptera was highest, 5.59%, least amount occurred in Chrysophyllum albidum, 0.84%. Picralima nitida showed the highest energy level, 1468 Kcal/100 g, Magnifiera indica scored the least, 32.51 Kcal/100 g. Outcome would be beneficial to users. Conclusion: The seeds are rich in nutrients, which link them to health control.