Chemical compositions of <i>Cussonia bateri</i> (Jansa Seed) - An underutilized spice in Nigeria

Background: The potentials of most indigenous crops have not been fully exploited. The underutilized crops, if well-harnessed, can play a great role in promoting food security both in Africa and globally.Objective: Chemical (nutrient and antinutrient) compositions of Cussonia bateri - an underutilized spice in Nigeria was evaluated.Methods: The jansa seeds were procured from Orie Ugba Market in Umuahia. The seeds were sorted, washed with water, oven dried using hot air oven at 55oC for 6 hours and milled into fine powder. The proximate, vitamin, mineral and antinutrient contents of the spice were determined using standard analytical methods. The data generated were statistically analyzed, and presented as means of triplicate analyses.Results: The results showed that the spice was high in fat (25.71%), carbohydrate (51.23%), crude fibre (3.42%), thiamin (2.69mg/100g) and riboflavin (0.90mg/100g). The spice also contained appreciable amounts of crude protein (9.18%), pyridoxine (0.64mg/100g), magnesium (22.89mg/100g), phosphorus (47.72mg/100g) and potassium (69.67mg/100g). The spice contained 6.45mg/100g of tannin and 0.82mg/100g of phytate.Conclusion: The nutrient compositions of jansa seeds spice were comparable to those of many other wellknown indigenous spices; hence, incorporating this spice in diets can contribute significantly to people's nutrient intakes. The phytate and tannin contents of the spice were low; thus, will not pose health hazard or decrease bioavailability of minerals, but will be beneficial to health. Creation of awareness of benefits of this spice in food preparation is recommended.