Nutritional potentiality and antinutritional properties of Telfairia occidentalis from Côte d’lvoire

The present study sought to valorize Telfairia occidentalis in Côte d’Ivoire for a more recurrent use and to determine the biochemical and nutritional characteristics of the powdered almonds of this plant, then to determine the phytochemical compounds and the anti-nutritional factors as well as the chemical characteristics of the oil extracted from the almonds. Regarding the biochemical and nutritive composition of Telfairia occidentalis almond powder, the results showed that the powders were low in moisture (2.83 ± 0.28 %). Lipids and proteins were very important (35.62 ± 0.06 % and 29.15 ± 0.03 %) respectively. The most present amino acids were: Methionine (3.7 mg/100 g), Cystine (4.44 mg/100 g), lysine, aspartic acid, leucine and arginine varied from 0.15 to 0.37 mg/100 g. Several phytochemicals were measured in the powder of Telfairia occidentalis almonds. The results indicated that polyphenols were 272.68 ± 0.46 mg/100 g, flavonoids were 8.32 ± 0.3 9 mg/100 g, tannins were 165.09 ± 0.19 mg/100 g and alkaloids were 1.1 ± 0.1 %. The powder also contained some anti-nutritional factors such as phytates (49.39±0.71 mg/100 g) and oxalates (43.5 ± 0.86 mg/100 g).