Nutritional and Health Profiles of the Seasonal Changes in some Nutrients, Anti-nutrients and Mineral Contents of Treculia africana food crop

Environmental variables such as temperature, rainfall, sunshine among others are known to influence fruiting, seed formation and quality of food crops by different mechanisms. Levels of nutrients, anti-nutrients and mineral composition of periodically harvested seeds of Treculia africana (a legume) during the fruiting season were assessed to determine the influence of season on quality parameters. Standard methods of analysis were used to evaluate protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, moisture hydrogen cyanide, phytate, tannin, oxalate, alkaloid, saponinns and minerals. Highest nutritive and anti-nutrient values of seeds occurred at mid season and late season development periods respectively. Observed quality parameters were 14.55% protein, 5.74% fat, 2.10% crude fibre, 1.45% ash, 33.20% moisture, 50.14% carbohydrate, 0.45mg/100g HCN, 0.8 phytate 6.10mg/100g, 0.45mg/100g 1.65mg and 0.77mg/100g for early season seeds. The mid season seeds quality parameters increases were protein (5.1%) fat (0.34%) ash (0.22%), moisture (2.40%) carbohydrate (4.87%) and mean increase of 3.88% for anti-nutrient. Phytate, oxalate and phenolic values were highest at late season seeds. The mineral contents were comparable among the seasons. Calcium (20.0mg) and magnesium (280mg) recorded the least values in late season seeds. The relationship between seasonal changes in nutrients, anti-nutrients and seasons was significant (P < 0.05). The quality parameters are within the Recommended Daily Allowance for Nutrients, anti-nutrients and minerals but for calcium and magnesium. The seasonal changes posit Treculia africana as multi-purpose nutritional and health maintenance food crop.