The African Oil Bean

Source: nature

Hello everyone,today I took on a survey to share with you all, the vital information associated with one of the African local plant by the name African oil bean.

Source: nature

The African oil bean known as Pentaclethra Macrophylla, is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family,Fabaceae. It belongs to the Mimosoid Clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae, kingdom of Plantae, order of Fabales. It belongs to Pentaclethra Macroloba species.
The name Pentaclethra is derived from Ancient Greek,penta meaning 'five', and Cleithro meaning 'bolt', which alludes to the five imbricate sepals and five petals joined at their bases,this defines the species of the genus.
This plant produces 47.90% oil content making it necessary for industrialists. The demand for vegetable oils has for long been widening in Nigeria as industries rely mostly on the popular vegetable oils like palm oil, groundnut oil and coconut oil for the preparation of their various products. The increasing demand for vegetable oils and fats in Nigeria, for both domestic and industrial purposes, in recent times, is partly due to the nutritional needs of the teaming population and the increasing number of industries that acquire oils and fats as their primary raw material.
However, in Nigeria, being a tropical country, has wide variations in climatic conditions and therefore has a wide variety of domestic plants that propagate oil.
The African oil bean is a native of tropical Africa and belongs to the family of Leguminosea. This plant is popular in Nigeria where it is known by different names such as: Apara in Yoruba, Ukana by the Efiks in Southern Nigeria for the seed as well as the fermented product, and the most prominent which is Ugba in Igbo, as it serves as condiment and meat substitute among different consuming populations.

Source: nature

The trees are mostly found in the Eastern and Southern parts of Nigeria. This tree grows to a height of about 21m up to 6m in girth and it is well branched, forming crown-like canopy. It flowering takes place between March and April after which the pods has turned brown and woody when matured, then splits open explosively releasing about eight flat, glossy brown seeds measuring about 5-7cm in diameter and weighing between 15-20g.
The mesocarp of this plant seed serve as food,eaten as snack or dessert (evening meal) or used as condiment. It is prepared by first boiling for about 12hr,chilled,sliced,wrapped in plantain leaves and allowed to ferment for a period of 2-4 days at cool temperature. It may then be mixed with palm oil,spiced and eaten with cooked cassava chips(African salad) or yam. African oil bean(Pentaclethra Macrophylla) has been reported to be rich in protein(48%),amino acids and fatty acids.

Source: nature

This African oil bean was also analyzed for its proximate composition. This analysis revealed its proximate percentage as;

1. 9.3% crude protein
2. 21.66% crude fibre
3. 39.5% moisture and
4. 38.95% carbohydrate respectively.
   The seed oil was also analyzed for mineral content and physiocochemical characteristics. These mineral elements are; Ca>Mg>Pb>Fe>Mn>P>Cu. The analysis showed that Calcium had the highest concentration of all minerals analyzed. These mineral elements are from the twenty(20) most vital elements, which include; Calcium(Ca),Magnesium(Mg),Iron(Fe),Copper(Cu),Lead(Pb),Manganese(Mn),and Phosphorus(P).
   (a) Calcium is a vital mineral element which helps and support the building up of the bones and teeth in the human body. It also helps muscles to move and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and every part of the body.
   (b) Magnesium is a mineral nutrient that helps the body to stay healthy. It helps regulating the muscles and nerve functions, it assists in preserving the blood sugar levels and blood pressure. This element is a nutrient involved in making protein,bone and DNA.
   (c) Phosphorus as a mineral element, plays an important role in how the body uses carbohydrates and fats. It is also needed for the body to make protein for the growth,maintenance and repair of cells and tissue.
   (d) Copper is another mineral element that is essential in nutrient for the body together with Iron. It enables the body to form red blood cells. It helps in maintenance of healthy bones,blood vessels, nerves, and immune system, and it also contributes to Iron absorption. Sufficient Copper in a diet may help prevent Cardiovascular disease and Osteoporosis.

The importance of the African oil bean seed is numerous to our body system more than its neglect. The evaluation of the composition and characteristics of African oil bean seed has shown that the oil has some domestic and industrial potentials.

Thank you for your time................

Reference: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2008.1337.1339