The Chemical Composition of Liquid and Solid Endosperm of Ripe Coconut

E. I. Adeyeye

Department of Chemistry, University of Ado Ekiti, P.M.B. 5363, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

The ripe fruit of coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.) was analysed for its anatomical and nutritional compositions. The liquid endosperm was 156±40.43 ml (141.13±31.76 g); had 0.45±0.07 % crude protein, 1.26±0.0 % ash; 102.85 mg/100 g Ca, 279.49 mg/100 g Na and 348.46 mg/100 g K but low in As, Mg, Ni, Fe and Co. The solid endosperm was 312.64+18.32 g or 23.54% of total weight; had 9.86±0.48 % crude protein and 4.10±0.32 % crude fibre; had high values of As, Ca, Zn, Cu, Na and K but P was not detected; highest essential amino acid was arginine (Arg), its pI was 2.6, had a percentage of Cys (62.87) in TSAA with a limiting amino acid of 0.22 (22%) recorded for isoleucine (Ile).

Ripe coconut; Liquid; solid endosperm; Chemical composition