Evaluation of the Nutritional Potential of Irvingia Gabonensis Kernels Harvested in Sibiti in the Lekoumou Department of the Republic of Congo

<i>Irvingia gabonensis</i>, commonly known as wild mango, "Peke" or "Mawiki" in the Republic of Congo, is a tropical forest plant also found wild in savannahs. Belonging to the<i> Irvingiaceae</i> family, it is used in traditional medicine to treat ailments such as hernias, infertility, and dysentery. In Congo, outside of the main departments where it is found, the plant remains little known to the population and has so far been subject to low consumption. The objective of this study was to promote the value of <i>Irvingia gabonensis</i> kernels. A series of analyses were conducted to assess their nutritional potential. These analyses allowed us to determine that the almonds of the fruit of <i>Irvingia gabonensis</i> are rich in carbohydrates (50.41%), fat (39.2%), and a little less in proteins (8.33%), with a water content of 2.5%. The analysis of the chemical indices of the oil gave us respectively 4.84 mg KOH/g for the Acid Index, 196.32 mg KOH/g for the Saponification Index, 0.75 meq of O /Kg for the Peroxide Index, 4.1 for the Iodine Index and 191.48 for the Ester Index. The ash content was estimated at 2.06%. Among the minerals identified are Phosphorus: 1.39%, Sodium: 0.04%, Calcium: 0.10%, Magnesium: 0.19%, and Potassium: 0.33%. The calculated energy value is 587.76 Kcal / 100g.